Melting pot of cultures

City's dazzling history and impressive architecture make it a fascinating destination for visitors to Russia

Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, is a place where you can enjoy the integration of cultures, unique architecture and retrace the steps of Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Russian Communist Party and leader of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.

It's only a one-and-a-half hour flight from Moscow, and it has been dubbed "the sports capital of Russia".

The city, which will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, is also home to the Kazan Kremlin, the best place to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the Kazanka River, a tributary of the Volga.

In 2000, the Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It consists of buildings dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, with Eastern Orthodox churches and mosques.

The Khanate of Kazan, with Kazan as its capital, was one of the successor states of the Golden Horde, originally a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate established in the 13th century. It originated as the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire in the early 15th century.

The Siege of Kazan in 1552 was a turning point for the city. It was then that Ivan the Terrible, the first to proclaim himself Czar of Russia, conquered the state and ordered the building of the Kazan Kremlin.

Adjacent to the river bank are the Governor's Palace and the 58-meter-high red brick leaning Suyumbike Tower. The tower's name is linked to the last queen of the Khanate of Kazan, Suyumbike. On the gate of the tower are symbols of a golden sun and crescent, and nearby are the mausoleums of and monuments to the Kazan khans.

Nearby, built from local white sandstone, is the Annunciation Cathedral, which boasts magnificent icons and frescoes. One of them is Our Lady of Kazan, which depicts the Virgin Mary as the city's protector.

A little distance away is the white and blue Kul Sharif Mosque, which was rebuilt in 2005. It's a new landmark in Kazan and one of the largest mosques in Europe.

It is painted white and blue inside and has an exquisite blue crystal lantern hanging from its golden ceiling.

The first floor of the mosque has a miniature of the structure, which is named in honor of the statesman and imam Seid Kul Sharif.

During the Siege of Kazan, the imam and his pupils were killed while defending Kazan from Ivan the Terrible.

When in Kazan, you can also visit the Lenin House Museum, which was opened in 1937 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Lenin's family rented the house in 1888 but only stayed for nine months.

At the museum, visitors can learn about the family's daily life from the modestly furnished rooms.

Lenin studied law at Kazan Federal University but was expelled because he joined the students' protest against the czar's government in 1887.

At the university, visitors can sit in Lenin's seat in the classroom.

Near the university is a statue of Lenin in his student years.

If you want to enjoy Kazan - which means "cooking pot" in the Turkic language - hop onto a double-decker city tour bus to see the streets.

Incidentally, the marriage registry office building in the city looks like a giant cooking pot. Situated on the other bank of the Kazanka River, the building is surrounded by sculptures of legendary animals.

Tatarstan's Ministry of Agriculture and Food building in the city is Gothic in style, with a 20-meter-high iron tree forming part of its gate.

The building is also decorated with winged snow leopards, a symbol of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The building is near a street lined with restaurants and shops.

Some of Kazan's streets are named after famous Russians such as Maxim Gorky. At the age of 19, Gorky attempted suicide near the river but the bullet he fired missed his heart. He survived, left Kazan and became a well-known writer.

Bauman Street is the city's main pedestrian street. On sunny days, the square with a fountain attracts pigeons.

The city also has a soft spot for cats. Besides a stone sculpture of the Kazan Cat, you will find all kinds of souvenirs related to cats, such as refrigerator magnets and small porcelain sculptures.

Legend has it that during the Siege of Kazan, the Kazan Cat warned the Khan of the Russian troops who were tunneling underneath the fortress.

In 1745, Empress Elizabeth ordered 30 cats brought from Kazan to St. Petersburg to catch mice in the Winter Palace.

One of the other attractions in Kazan is the Soviet Lifestyle Museum, which has a large collection of daily necessities from Soviet times, ranging from children's toys and cosmetics to badges with Lenin's picture on them.

Visiting the museum is like traveling back in time. You can select different army uniforms and hats and dress up as a soldier.

The museum also has dolls and small sculptures of Misha - the Russian Bear mascot of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Among the other interesting exhibits are a metal mold for baking pancakes in the shape of Misha, and an electronic postcard with lights.

xulin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 11/17/2017 page18)