How the Chinese Conquered Moscow in One Day

Today's individual excursion began in an unexpected place - in the very heart of Moscow, in Krivokolenny Lane, where the guide met our guests at their hotel. The initial idea was to tell the participants about the history of the old lanes and buildings, but the plans changed a little: the first thing the guests needed to do was find a bank to exchange currency. It was their only day in the capital before their trip to Norilsk, so the guide helped them get their bearings.

The snowfall and cold Moscow air surprised the guests, especially considering that their next destination was harsh Norilsk. While the excursionists were looking for a bank, the guide actively helped, went inside with them and talked. The female translator who accompanied her leader provided support in translation, and after all technical issues were resolved, the group went by taxi to the city center.

The first stop was GUM, where the guests took a short stroll and then visited the Historical Museum. There they enthusiastically studied the exhibits, starting with the most ancient eras, covering periods from the Paleolithic to the 17th century. The guests' attention was drawn to the finds made in Central Russia, the Southern Urals and Siberia. Of particular interest was the connection between the ancient tribes of the southern part of modern Russia and ancient Greece. The excursion participants animatedly discussed how cultural ties with Greece existed even before the baptism of Rus - in the 6th-4th centuries BC.

Visitors looked curiously at medieval weapons, including a six-footed sword and chain mail. A translator translated the names into Chinese, which delighted her boss. The topics of the Mongol conquests also brought up interesting parallels with Chinese history. All this created a surprisingly lively dialogue about culture and history.

After the museum, the tour continued on Red Square. The guests, like many others, were eager to take beautiful photos as a keepsake. They were interested in both Lenin and the workplace of the Russian president. Despite the busy program, the guide managed to help the participants with various organizational issues, including adaptation to Moscow.

During the conversation with the group leader, it turned out that he, while studying Russian, chose the Russian name Boris, although his real name sounds completely different in Chinese. The translator, who can be called Ksenia due to the consonance of her Chinese name, also shared her story. The guests were interested to learn even such trifles as the origin of the word "Zaryadye" - from the shopping arcades.

The author's excursion was filled with cultural exchange with foreigners from the Celestial Empire. In the museum, the guests were amazed by the ancient glass vessels of the 4th-3rd millennia BC. They did not believe that in such a distant past people were able to produce glass, given the high melting temperatures. Only after checking the information on the Internet, the guests were convinced of the authenticity of the exhibits. Demographic issues were also raised: they were amazed that the guide, like many of his peers, did not have brothers and sisters, while they imagined Russia as a country of large families.

The excursion was not only educational, but also became a platform for cultural dialogue, where each side learned something new.