Vladivostok was founded in 1860 on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and in April 1880 it officially obtained a city status. In 1889 Vladivostok became a marine military fortress.
The history of the city is reflected in the symbol of Vladivostok with a depiction of a tower, crossed anchors, and a tiger.
Vladivostok is a leading scientific center in the Russian Far East, it houses the headquarters of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. There are 11 higher education institutions, which are attended by about 70,000 students. The major universities include the Far- Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok Medical University, Maritime State University, Pacific Navy Institute, Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services.
The architecture of Vladivostok is a mix of different styles. There are many unusual buildings constructed between 1880 and 1900. Various architectural styles and traditions reflect the influence of both Western and Oriental culture.
A small China-town district remains in the downtown area. Many years ago Chinese built an amazing maze of houses, yards and passageways here. Now, it’s a historical center where one can make shopping, drink a cup of coffee, go to the cinema or just walk around, for example, on the embankment - a place for recreation and entertainment.
On the threshold of the APEC forum, which will be held here in 2012, Vladivostok will be enriched with new hotels and bridges over the Golden Horn Bay and to the Russian Island.
Today, visitors may view some of the old Russian Orthodox churches with the golden domes, old Catholic and Lutheran churches as well as new churches built in recent years.
There is a number of theaters in Vladivostok. The biggest and the most popular is Primorsky Territory Drama Theater. Most guests of the city visit the Museum of Primorsky Regional Studies named after Vladimir Arsenyev, a famous Russian scientist, writer and explorer of the Russian Far East. The museum owns collections on local ethnography, geology, history, flora and fauna.
Art lovers will enjoy Vladivostok State Picture Gallery which holds a great number of paintings. Private art galleries such as “Arka”, “Portmay” are worth visiting as well.
Vladivostok has much to offer to any tourist looking for entertainment: cinemas, billiard clubs, bowing, shopping malls, restaurants and cafes, where one can enjoy Oriental and European cuisine and taste delicious seafood. Those who are interested in travelling, diving and admiring wild nature have many options within and outside Vladivostok.