Pogranichny is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement

Urban-type settlement

Urban-type settlement ; , selyshche mis'koho typu ) is an official designation for a type of locality used in some of the countries of the former Soviet Union...

) and the administrative center of Pogranichny District

Pogranichny District

Pogranichny District is an administrative and municipal district of Primorsky Krai, Russia; one of the twenty-two in the krai. It is located in the southwestern portion of the krai. The area of the district is . Its administrative center is the urban locality of Pogranichny...

 of Primorsky Krai

Primorsky Krai

Primorsky Krai , informally known as Primorye , is a federal subject of Russia . Primorsky means "maritime" in Russian, hence the region is sometimes referred to as Maritime Province or Maritime Territory. Its administrative center is in the city of Vladivostok...

, Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of the Russian border with China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

 and 140 kilometres (87 mi) northwest of Vladivostok

Vladivostok

The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...

. Population:

It was founded in 1898 as the railway station of Grodekovo , named after Nikolay Grodekov, a Governor of Priamurye. The settlement was given its present name in 1958.

Transportation

If one were to travel from Vladivostok to Manchuria

Manchuria

Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...

 along the former Transmanchurian rail line

Chinese Eastern Railway

The Chinese Eastern Railway or was a railway in northeastern China . It connected Chita and the Russian Far East. English-speakers have sometimes referred to this line as the Manchurian Railway...

, Grodekovo will be the last Russian station before entering China. Because currently ( November 2008), there is no direct passenger service from e.g. Vladivostok

Vladivostok

The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...

 to Harbin

Harbin

Harbin ; Manchu language: , Harbin; Russian: Харби́н Kharbin ), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River...

, one needs to change at Grodekovo from a train coming from Ussuriysk

Ussuriysk

Ussuriysk is a city in Primorsky Krai, Russia, located in the fertile valley of the Razdolnaya River, north of Vladivostok and about from both the Chinese border and the Pacific Ocean. Population: -Medieval history:...

 to one leaving for Suifenhe City

Suifenhe City

Suifenhe , is a city in southeastern Heilongjiang province, Northeast China, located situated where the former Chinese Eastern Railway crosses the border with Russia's Primorsky Krai.The city shares its name with the Suifen River....

, and vice versa. The rail service operates only twice a week, however, so most border crossings are by bus or car.

Notable people

Russian actor Leonid Yarmolnik

Leonid Yarmolnik

Leonid Isaakovich Yarmolnik is a Soviet and Russian actor and film producer.-Biography:Leonid Yarmolnik was born on January, 22nd, 1954 in Grodekovo of Primorsky Krai to the family of the Soviet Army officer. In 1960th Yarmolnik's family has located in Lvov. Leonid studied there at musical...

 and Mayor of Barnaul

Barnaul

-Russian Empire:Barnaul was one of the earlier cities established in Siberia. Originally chosen for its proximity to the mineral-rich Altai Mountains and its location on a major river, the site was founded by the wealthy Demidov family in the 1730s. In addition to the copper which had originally...

 Vladimir Kolganov were born in Grodekovo. Russian poet Arseny Nesmelov died here.