The Amur River: Between Russia and China

In the heart of Asia, where Mongolian steppe meets Siberian forest, the Amur River begins—Earth’s tenth-longest river, over 1,600 kilometers long, marking the border between Russia and China, one of the most strictly protected in the world. Along the banks lie forgotten villages, ancient graves, Mongolian temples, the ruins of Soviet facilities—and among them, under the shadow of great history, people try to live. They belong to different peoples and cultures, speak different languages, and keep different memories of the past of these lands. Some fought to stay in their native places; others ended up here against their will.

Colin Thubron, one of the best-known Western authors of travel books, began his more than half-century-long literary career with a visit to China and the USSR. “The Amur River” becomes the culmination of his remarkable career.