Khabarovsk lies only 30km from the Chinese border and has a long history intertwined with China. It was ceded into Russia in 1858 and was granted town status in only 1880. In 1894, the Russian Geographical Society was formed there and began building many cultural and art buildings, so the city now holds much Russian culture, as well as very distinct Asian culture. Unlike most of the former Soviet Union cities, Khabarovsk was never closed to foreigners, and because of this, it has always had a very international identity and is still, today, a very charming tourist city. One of the main architectural attractions is the Transfiguration Cathedral, constructed in 2004. This beautiful cathedral is the third tallest in Russia!