An ovaa - a traditional sanctuary made of Buddhist prayer ribbons and blessing scarves - at Buibinsky Pass on the scenic M-54 - basically the only road that connects Tuva with the rest of Russia. The Yergak-Targak-Taiga ridge visible in the background forms Tuva's natural boundary.

Entrance sign that reads "Republic of Tuva" in Russian and depicts a Chinese-styled dragon and the region's seal - a yellow horseman; to the left is an ovaa - a traditional sanctuary made of poles with Buddhist prayer ribbons and blessing scarves attached. From 18^th century up until 1912, Tuva was part of the Chinese Qing Empire, and the Chinese cultural influence, although largely forgotten, can sometimes spring up in new landmarks such as this one.

Soviet-era built environment in central Kyzyl - the Tuvan capital. Founded in 1914 as Belotsarsk (Russian for "City of the White Tsar"), the city became capital of the independent Tuva and was renamed Khem-Beldir (the Confluence) in 1921 as it sits at the confluence of two rivers that form one of the longest rivers in the world - the Yenissei. Under the influence of Communist Russa, the Tuvan government has again renamed the city in 1926. Kyzyl is Tuvan for "Red". The population rose significantly from 87,000 in 1991 to 116,000 in 2016 due in part to migration of rural Tuvans to town after the collapse of the Soviet collective farms in the countryside. Over the last 25 years however, there has not been a single block of flats built in Kyzyl, its infrastructure is gradually dilapidating, and new arrivals mostly settle in illegally built slums on the outskirts. Of Russia's 83 regions, Tuva is the worst economic performer mostly relying on federal subsidies.

An unfinished new wing of the National Museum of Tuva; its construction faltered due to lack of funds.

A museum in Chadan dedicated to the current Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu. It opened in 2015 in his former family house. Born in Chadan in 1955 into a family of an animal technician Alexandra Kudryavtseva who was sent to Tuva from Russia to help upgrade local stock breeding and later became a prominent local Communist official and a local newspaper editor and also a Communist official Kuzhuget Shoigu, Mr Shoigu rose to prominence in early 1990s and has held various top ranking posts in the Russian government ever since. Since he became a defense minister in 2012, a local cult of Mr Shoigu's personality has developed in Tuva, and especially in his hometown Chadan.

Detail of the first Tuvan flag dating back to 1921 preserved at the National Museum in the capital Kyzyl. Once part of a vast medieval Turkic Khaganate, Tuva became a remote province of Chinese-run Mongolia in 18^th century and remained so until 1912. When the Qing Empire collapsed that year, Tuvan tribal leaders appealed to the Russian tsar Nicholas II for protection, and in 1914 a Russian protectorate known as Uriankhai Territory (Uriankhai was a Mongolian term for Tuvans) was established and its capital Belotsarsk (Russian for "City of the White Tsar") founded. When the Russian Empire collapsed in turn just 3 years later, Tuva was left on its own until 1921 when it declared independence but delegated foreign policy to the Soviet government. It was only recognized by neighboring Russia and Mongolia though while all other countries continued to consider it a Chinese territory. Up until 1944 when the People's Republic of Tuva has formally joined the Soviet Union, it was a de facto Soviet protectorate. Interestingly, Taiwan continues to formally consider Tuva part of Greater China. Unusually for an overcentralized Russia, Tuva celebrates its main holiday coinciding with the day of independence (15 August) not the day when it was incorporated into the Soviet Union (11 October).

Founded in 1885 when Tuva was still formally part of the Chinese Qing Empire, Turan became the first Russian permanent settlement in Tuva. Russian farmers and merchants began penetrating into the isolated and remote Tuva even earlier, quiclky realizing how immensely profitable the trade in cattle was with the indigenuous Tuvans who bought firearms, tobacco, alcohol, and other industrially made items from them. Unlike most of Russia's territorial gains, Tuva became a Russian protectorate mostly through trade and political influence, without firing a single shot. The blue church visible in the foreground was built in the early 20 century, the new one is being built by a local businessman.

Aimir, a native of Chadan, is a 5-year student at the Moscow Mining University, coming home every summer. After graduation, he wants to join Lunsin - a Chinese mining company operating in Tuva. Asked whether the residents of Chadan are really proud of their famous fellow townsman - current Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu - he answers after pondering for a second: "Yes, we are proud. When police in Moscow check my papers [a routine 'Asian-looking' Russians and Central Asian migrants face almost every day] they immediately let me go when they see my home address - Sergei Shoigu Street".