Red Square is a famous public square in the Tverskoy District, measuring 695 meters long and 130 meters wide. It is home to iconic buildings such as Lenin's Mausoleum, the Saint Basil's Cathedral, and the Kremlin. Located to the east is the GUM department store, with the National Historical Museum nearby. The New Square, formerly known as "Burnt Place," gradually became Moscow's main marketplace. Red Square is also used for various public ceremonies and occasionally as the coronation site for the Russian Empire's Tsars. Since its creation, the Russian government has used Red Square for official ceremonies and expanded it after the burning of Moscow by Napoleon's army in 1812. The locals widened the square while rebuilding their homes. By the 1920s, Red Square merged with the nearby Vasilyevsky Square, forming its current size. The name Red Square does not come from the color of the bricks or its connection to the Soviet Union (some mistakenly think it refers to red walls), but rather from the Russian word "Красная" (krasnaya), meaning red or beautiful. It was originally used for the Chudov Monastery and later transferred to the adjacent square.
Gum National Department Store
GUM, located on the east side of Red Square and behind the Kremlin, is one of the world's top ten famous shopping malls. On December 2, 1893, Alexander III personally opened and inaugurated GUM. However, the present-day GUM is not the same as the one over 120 years ago. The current GUM was renovated on the basis of the old site in 1953. GUM has three floors and a European classical style, which resembles a palace. With a business area of about 80,000 square meters, GUM not only doesn't stand out as a department store next to surrounding buildings but also enhances the overall beauty of the area.
Manezh Square is located in front of the State Historical Museum in Moscow, Russia, and it is a favorite spot for locals and tourists. "Manezh" in Russian means "riding" or "taming horses". The central exhibition hall, located on the west side of the square, used to be a horse riding arena, hence the name "Manezh". The building of the central exhibition hall was built in 1817 and was originally used as a training ground for court officers practicing horsemanship. Later, it was converted into an exhibition hall.
"Alexander Garden" is located outside the red walls of the Kremlin in a rectangular shape, divided into three parts: upper, middle, and lower. It has a total length of 904 meters and a width of about 150 meters. The garden was built in 1821 to commemorate Tsar Alexander I, the fourteenth ruler of the Romanov dynasty. Nowadays, it is a popular leisure place for Moscow residents, with beautiful flowers, lush trees, and a blend of fountains, sculptures, buildings, and gardens.
The sculpture depicts the portrait of Alexander I, commemorating his leadership of the Russian-led anti-French alliance's victory over Napoleon I and the revival of European monarchies. On the side of the statue base, there are two reliefs depicting the largest-scale battles in history: one is the battle outside Leipzig from October 4th to 7th, 1813, and the other is the victorious entry of Alexander I into Paris on March 19th, 1814. In 1825, Alexander I died suddenly at a sanatorium, which has remained a mystery to this day, giving rise to many speculations.
During his reign, Alexander I reformed the Russian military system, introducing the corps system and abolishing the aristocratic control of the military. He led Russia to rise in the anti-French alliance, winning several historical events such as the Great Fire of Moscow, the Polish Constitution, and agricultural reforms. Although he did not abolish serfdom, he played a significant role in leading Russia towards modernization, leaving a remarkable chapter in history books.
Sparrow Hill View Terrace
Sparrow Hills Observation Deck is located at the highest point of Sparrow Hills (formerly known as "Lenin Hills") in Moscow, with the main building of Moscow University behind it and the Moscow River flowing slowly at its feet. When the weather is clear, one can enjoy the beautiful view of Moscow from the observation deck: Moscow University's main building, one of the "Seven Sisters" Stalinist-style buildings; Luzhniki Stadium, the main venue for the 2018 World Cup, where the grand opening ceremony and exciting final will take place; the Kremlin, Russia's most classic architectural complex; the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the most typical representative of Russian Orthodox churches, and so on.
Hotel Retro Moscow on Kurskaya
The Moscow Metro has always been recognized as the world's most beautiful metro, with buildings of varying styles and elegant and gorgeous designs. Each subway station is designed by different architects, with the use of marble, granite, ceramics and colorful glass inlaid with various reliefs, carvings and murals, and the lighting fixtures are very distinctive, like a magnificent palace, known as the "underground art palace". The elegant and gorgeous Moscow Metro has always been the pride of the Russian people. Each trip is like experiencing a baptism of beauty. The subway is actually charged, but with a 6 yuan ticket, you can "visit" for a long time, and it's no different from free.
Carlominsk Manor
The Kolomenskoye estate is a natural reserve located south of the Kremlin, spanning both banks of the Moskva River and covering an area of 345 hectares. In the 14th century, it served as a summer residence for the Grand Princes of Moscow and later the Tsars of Russia. Beginning in the 16th century, many rulers such as Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great built their villas here.
Chalizino Nature Reserve
The Tsaritsyno Nature Reserve is located southeast of Moscow. In the 18th century, the Russian Empress Catherine II grew tired of the estate in Karamelinsk and ordered the construction of Tsaritsyno, hoping that the new palace would replace Karamelinsk as the summer residence of the royal family. At that time, Tsaritsyno was also called the "Empress Village", and it was home to the largest collection of Gothic-style palace buildings in Russia.
Zaryadye Park is located in the heart of Moscow, just a stone's throw away from the Kremlin. The park covers an area of 13 hectares and was started in 2014, completed in late August 2017 and officially opened on September 9, Moscow's 870th anniversary. Russian President Putin and Moscow Mayor Sobyanin attended the opening ceremony, and the park welcomed its first visitors on September 11. Zaryadye Park is one of the most magnificent garden complex built in Moscow in nearly 70 years, with a building area of 78,000 square meters and can accommodate up to 15,000 visitors at the same time. The park's design concept is modern and innovative, integrating natural elements with urban life, demonstrating the designer's unique craftsmanship. This park is far more than a simple description of words, as for how beautiful and unique it is, it awaits everyone to explore in person!
