evidence: Until the Treaty of Aigun in 1858, what is now Vladivostok was Chinese territory. The major Russian port is a two-hour drive away, sometimes with an additional two hours to clear customs. Most of Hunchun's residents have been there before so they also know that most of Russia is still oriented toward Europe. "If we had the sea, it would be a lot more dynamic around here," said Yue. "It's all historical stuff but it's on everyone's mind," said another local shopkeeper.