The history of the Amur region began 350 years ago, when Cossack explorers embarked on an expedition along the most powerful river of the Far East. In 1858, an agreement was finalized between China and the Russian government regarding the extensive embankment on the northern side. In the same year the administrative center of the Amur region, Blagoveschensk, was founded.

The Amur region's southern region is rich farmland sprawled along a 1,243-kilometer border with northern China. The region's north is sparsely forested tundra bordered by the vast Sakha republic. The region is also rich in gold and currently occupies 3rd place for all of Russia in gold production. Many of the settlements in the Amur region were established solely for the extraction of gold and lumber.

Although Blagoveschensk is one of the least accessible and therefore least visited major cities, it is a singularly attractive city and one of the oldest in the Russian Far East. The city lies on a flat riverbank, separated by a kilometer of river from the modern Chinese city of Hei-Hei. The city is strikingly clean; its many ornate 19th century buildings were repaired during its recent 140th anniversary celebration.

The river between Chinese Hei-Hei and Russian Blagoveschensk is guarded by an old Russian gunboat anchored in mid-stream, several deserted WWII vintage pillboxes, and a decaying fort whose buildings date from Tsarist times. In contrast to the Russian city's 19th century buildings and Soviet-era apartment blocks, the Chinese city across the river is made up of new skyscrapers, office buildings and hotels.

Blagoveschensk and the Amur region are profiting from nearby China. Cooperation with the Chinese city just 800 meters across the Amur river, has led to an international free trade zone, which has spurred the development of infrastructure and production in both cities. A lively cross-border shuttle trade (via ice road in winter and ferry in summer) fills Blagoveschensk markets with low-cost Chinese foodstuffs and clothing.

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