When it comes to Russia, what do you think of? The mysterious communist country behind the Iron Curtain? The vigorous and courageous nationals? Railways and polar bears on the cold Siberian plains? Or, the colourful churches with onion domes and Russian dolls? Russia, the largest country in the world, has way more than that. More beautiful facets of Russia are waiting to be explored. 

To begin your journey in this country of vast land, you can take a flight by legendary “always punctual and flyable” Aeroflot. The flight will land in one of the airports in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, where are full of Russian-and European-made aeroplanes. After your arrival, you will be amazed by the spectacular Moscow Kremlin and Winter Palace and find out how enormous Russia is. Then, you can take a ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway, the longest railway line in the world, and explore the Russian ice field while listening to the Soviet Union folk song “Katyusha”. As the railway spans eight time zones, you can find out more about Russia from West to East. 

You may find an old church hidden in the snow, the imperial city in the olden days or even architecture and people of ethnicities that seem like from other countries. After travelling from the European-style cities, the land of Tatars which looks like Central Asia, to the Ural Mountains which divide Europe and Asia, you will find out more Mongolic flavour in the continent of Russia. When you arrive at Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world you will be astonished by this. 

From the lake water in summer blue to the blue ice condensed from bubbles in winter, you will be filled with amazement by Mother Nature. As you arrive in Vladivostok, 9,288km away from Moscow, you can drive from the Pacific coast to the Kamchatka Peninsula – the land of ice and fire. The volcanoes in the snowfield are just like Russians. When you talk to them, you will find they have a warm heart concealed under the frigid poker faces. With several cups of vodka, you two become friends for life! Russia is more than you have expected and full of surprises to search for!

Extended reading:

【你所不知道的戰鬥民族】Vodka當水飲？嘆食唔慣香港飲宴 (Chinese only)

【你所不知道的戰鬥民族】原來「冬天的冠軍」都話香港凍？ (Chinese only)

被遺忘的國度：俄羅斯的外飛地「加里寧格勒」 (Chinese only)

Russia's strange bread-sniffing ritual

The town that gave Russia its name