A city of plywood and canvas prints

Russia prepares to host two international summits

The Russian city of Ufa will host two major international summits this summer — a BRICS summit on July 8-10, and a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting on July 10. Up to 10,000 guests are to pass through Ufa in the coming weeks. According to Russian travel blogger Ilya Varlamov, private investors have allocated about 6 billion rubles ($108 million) for infrastructure and hotels, while the government invested 2.5 billion rubles ($45 million) into the airport, the river embankment, and dormitories. Another 2 billion ($36 million) rubles were allocated for the reconstruction of a large congress hall, and the city’s administration additionally spent about 600 million rubles ($10.8 million) on renovations. Despite the efforts, Ufa doesn’t look quite ready. Varlamov visited Ufa to see how authorities are finishing up last-minute details.

Instead of renovating some of the buildings, the city covered them up with banners and painted plywood.

Here's the same technique used on a facade of an old factory building.

Can you spot the construction trailer in this park?

Or look at the five-start lawn in front of this new five-star hotel.

In case you're struggling, the lawn in front of the hotel is actually made from sheets of plastic grass.

Check out more photos of Ufa's summit preparations here.