Along the Russian border

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The above scene looks like it might be along a Russian street. Actually, it’s in the Chinese border city of Manzhouli, where most shop signs are in Cyrillic to attract Russian traders. As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I was up there last week. Here’s a link to the article I wrote. Be sure to click on the video accompanying the article.

Posted by Tim Johnson at Mar 24, 2009 2:12:39 AM | Permalink

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Comments

Russian language is just like any other languages - it's like Indian or Thai languages. Their letter N is look like letter H, B look like number 6 and U look like the letter Y. I was there from end Nov'09 to early Dec'09. Indeed, I struggled very hard to read and understand their maps and train or bus schedules because all written in Russian but I managed to picked up a few letters that symbolised an alphabet. Never the less, you are surprise to know the younger generation speak good English. Whereby, the older generation are friendlier and welcoming. Mind you, they have good customer service despite my knowledge of understanding their language. I enjoyed my stay there, it's a beautiful country with nice and friendly people. Pearl Chang, Singapore

Posted by: Pearl Delia Chang | December 19, 2009 at 04:30 AM

funny seeing two stores one with Cyrillic letters and the other with Chinese characters next to each other ...now I have no idea what the Chinese characters mean but I know Cyrillics (ok not Russian... I know Serbian..but they are pretty much similar)..anyway the yellow writing on red background if it was written in english aplphabet it would be "TehnoSila"...which mean TechnoForce...

Posted by: Alessandro | December 11, 2009 at 09:22 AM

XOXO Russian language so funny!!!

Posted by: Viagra Online | December 09, 2009 at 12:38 AM

thanks for sharing

Posted by: buy viagra canadian | November 06, 2009 at 10:55 AM

Very interesting! Looking forward to more photos as you explore that vast corner of the country...

Posted by: Carvin | October 19, 2009 at 05:32 PM

What some people don't realize is that China is such a diverse country that they have Hans, Mongols, Tibetians, Muslims and those closer to Russian descent as well. It's a massive, massive country.

Posted by: Curt | October 19, 2009 at 05:31 PM

Stranger in a strange land, eh?

Posted by: Ed | October 19, 2009 at 05:30 PM

Tim you should write more stories like this as im totally engulf.Thanks for sharing!!

Posted by: forex trading system | October 17, 2009 at 02:43 PM

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Posted by: Buy Viagra | July 30, 2009 at 04:21 PM

Tim you should write more stories like this

Posted by: tda | March 25, 2009 at 08:53 AM

That was the border crossing for Chinese going into Russia. Apparently the one for Russians coming into China is busier. But honestly, the guard, one other guy and my taxi driver were the only people there.

Posted by: Tim J | March 24, 2009 at 11:04 PM

Nice story Tim. I mean almong many of your nice stories :). Actually, stuff in ManZhouLi is more expansive, if not much more than most of the big northern cities. You can by whole sale goods in Harbin and sell them in ManZhouLi and still make a considerable amount of profit. It was one of the "cities of furtune" in 1990s.

Posted by: Sparkle | March 24, 2009 at 05:56 PM

Is Russian with Chinese characteristics anything like English with Chinese characteristics ?

Posted by: Bill | March 24, 2009 at 10:03 AM

Was that all at the border, just a soldier? Seems very porous.

Posted by: meh | March 24, 2009 at 03:09 AM

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