Ulan-Ude (Улан-Удэ)

Ulan Ude used to be called Verkhneudinsk, but in 1934 its name was changed to Ulan-Ude. Nowadays it has become fairly large and it is the capital city of Buryatia. It sits on the eastern banks of the Uda River at its confluence with the Selenga, some 100 km (62 mi) from Lake Baikal. Russia's seat of Buddhism, the Ivolginsk Datsan, is situated in Ulan-Ude.

There are several places of interest in Ulan-Ude. The Ethnographic Museum of the peoples of Transbaikal is one of Russia's largest open-air museums. It exhibits finds from the era of the Slab Grave Culture and the Xiongnu up until the mid-20th century. It also contains a collection of wooden architecture of Siberia. Odigitrievsky Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox church. It was Ulan-Ude's first stone building. Construction took place from 1741 to 1785. The main square in Ulan-Ude is called the square of the Soviets. It features a monument in the form of the head of Lenin. It was placed there to commemorate Lenin's 100th birthday in 1971.

Ulan Ude is 4,360 km east of Moscow. There are several hotels and restaurants in town.