Sikachi-Alyan is located in Khabarovskiy District and is home to a cultural heritage site of regional significance. It lies on the right bank of the Amur and the Malyshevskaya protoka, in the area of the Gasy rock and the adjoining terrace. The petroglyphs of Sikachi-Alyan are classified as an archaeological monument of federal significance. They date from the Neolithic, the Early Iron Age and the Middle Ages. The rock art thus spans several historical periods rather than depicting the history of a single era.
Cultural History in Sikachi-Alyan
The Nanai national homestead “Stoybishche Sorodichey” offers a different way to explore the village’s history. There, Indigenous people of the Amur appear in national dress, sewn according to old traditions and decorated with ornaments typical of the people of the Amur. The hostess tells visitors how the Nanai and Ulchi lived in this area more than 100 years ago. The homestead also has a community family museum. The hostess’s account relates to a much more recent historical period than the eras to which the petroglyphs are attributed.
Cuisine and Excursions to the Petroglyphs
At “Stoybishche Sorodichey,” visitors can try fresh tala, fish soup, dumplings made with Far Eastern fish, teas made from local herbs and other dishes from the national cuisine. Alongside the cultural presentation, cuisine is another distinct part of the visitor experience. Depending on the season, visitors can travel from the homestead by boat, on foot or by snowmobile to the upper or lower petroglyphs. The choice of transport therefore depends on the season. Confirm arrangements before your trip.
A Further Look at the Wider Khabarovsk Region
Beyond the local cultural theme, the wider Khabarovsk Region also offers natural areas and protected areas with their own distinctive character. Anyuyskiy National Park was established on December 15, 2007, and covers 429,400 hectares on the western slope of the central Sikhote-Alin, in the Anyui River basin, a large right-bank tributary of the Amur. Shantar Islands National Park protects marine mammal habitats and bird nesting sites, as well as the archipelago’s coastal ecosystems, rock formations and island vegetation.
Water routes in the wider Khabarovsk Region vary in length, duration and season. In Komsomolskiy Nature Reserve, the “K serdzu sapowednika” route is 46 kilometers long, takes an estimated 12 hours and is offered from May to October. The “Po akwatorii Schantarskich ostrowow” route in Shantar Islands National Park is 223 kilometers long, takes eight hours and 30 minutes, and is offered from July to September. The comparison shows that distance alone does not indicate how long a trip will take: the longer route is listed with a shorter duration. Confirm current arrangements with the relevant protected area; for the Shantar route, also check permit requirements.
Discover more destinations: Krasnorechenskoye, Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, Khabarovskiy District, Nikolayevsky District, Komsomolskiy District.
Go to the wider travel overview: Khabarovsk Region.
