A cruise is a good way to experience the culture of Tartarstan

A soldier in shining armor with a sword and shield shows how to fight in the Middle Ages. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]

Exhibits also include weaponry used by the Russians during World War I.

The final destination, Sviyazhsk, is a tranquil town-island with ancient churches and cultural monuments. Only about 300 residents live there.

It's a perfect place to enjoy the scenery, and you will bump into cute cats and see billboards with cartoon cat images.

In 1551, Ivan the Terrible built Sviyazhsk as a fortress in only four weeks and initiated the conquest of the Kazan Khanate from there.

In Sviyazhsk, visitors can experience life in the Middle Ages.

There, soldiers in shining armor show how to fight with swords and shields.

You can also shoot an arrow or crossbow and try on a suit of armor there, and also take photos with a king and knights dressed in traditional costumes.

In July, the Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the cathedral's frescoes features Saint Christopher with a horse's head, though he is mostly shown with a dog's head in Eastern Orthodox icons.

Another must-visit is the Trinity Church－the only preserved wooden church on the town-island. It was built without any nail.

A bit like Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, Sviyazhsk was used as a political prison in the early 20th century.