Chita

No one stops here and those that have find out why and wished they had listened to advice both verbal and written... However, we do mention it as this is where the Trans Mongolian route from China meets the mainline Trans Siberian from Vladivostok. It is also the first major city in Russia when coming from Beijing. Manzhouli on the Chinese/Russian border is where the boggies are changed to the different rail guages in each country. Zabaikalsk is on the Russian side and depending on which way you are going, customs and immigration is processed here as well.