Russians succumb to lure of Hunchun

Signposts in Hunchun are in three languages - Chinese, Russian and Korean - and many residents speak Russian.

In her spare time, Aleksand likes going to the public square to exercise.

Hunchun set up automatic currency-exchange machines in 2011.

In order to cater to expatriates and ensure their legal rights, the city has established a center to help them in all aspects of life and make their stay more enjoyable.

As more Russians have come into the city, the local government has made targeted changes to regulate social services, including shopping, medical care, housing and education.

Russians in the city who rent a house need to get their visas renewed every three months, while those who have bought a house in the city need to get their visas renewed once a year, according to the city government.

Urcov, 51, moved to Hunchun with his family in 2008 and bought a 160-square-meter apartment for 480,000 yuan. He and his wife have five children. The two eldest are attending college in Russia, while the other three - aged 10, 7 and 4 - live with them in Hunchun.

The children, all of whom can speak Chinese, said that the teachers are more patient than their teachers at home. In Russia, classes last from 8 am to 11 am, but here they have classes all day.

According to local statistics, most Russian families in Hunchun are from Vladivostok.

Since 2007, 79 Russian families have bought apartments in Hunchun. More than 175,000 expatriates visit the city annually, and the number is growing at the rate of 20 percent a year.

Oleg Siniavskii-Zhukov and his wife Nadezhda moved here in 2010. The husband said that many of their friends, who are still in Vladivostok, also want to move here since hearing their story.

Oleg Siniavskii-Zhukov, who is 67, worked in shipping before retirement, but a sense of adventure made him move, and the deal was sealed after he heard about Hunchun.

Meanwhile, his wife has learned to speak basic Chinese and is teaching Russian.

Local people have embraced their new Russian neighbors.

A local resident surnamed Li said that the Russians have been good for business.

"Many Russians come here to live and travel," he said. "They buy things, they have opened Russian restaurants. Many people outside of the city heard that Hunchun is like a 'little Russia' and would like to come here to experience it."

Care homes in the city are also considering opening services for the Russians.

Chen Jing, a manager with a welfare center, said that the institution has already added 500 beds.