Excursion to Kitay-gorod: Tolstoy and the Peasant

Meeting of Epochs in Kitai-Gorod: Tolstoy and the Peasant

Moscow, a city of contrasts and surprises, has always been a source of inspiration for writers and thinkers. In this city, at the crossroads of eras, an amazing story happened, connected with China Town, where the past and the future intertwine in an amazing dance of time.

It was a warm summer day when Leo Tolstoy, the famous writer and philosopher, was strolling along the narrow streets of Kitai-gorod. His attention was drawn to every paving stone, every arch, reminiscent of the rich historical past of this place. Tolstoy, a man of deep thought and creativity, often drew inspiration from these ancient streets, where every corner breathed history.

Suddenly he noticed an unusual figure standing near one of the ancient walls. It was a serf peasant who, for unknown reasons, found himself in the Moscow of the future. His clothes, clearly not from this time, attracted the attention of passers-by. The peasant, confused and surprised, seemed to be looking for an answer to the riddle of his displacement.

Leo Tolstoy, driven by curiosity and kindness, approached him. He greeted him politely and began a conversation, asking how he had ended up in this time. The peasant told him about a strange dream in which a mysterious figure appeared to him, promising to show him the future. When he woke up, he found himself in this amazing world, where the familiar fields and villages were replaced by high-rise buildings and flickering lights.

Tolstoy, listening attentively, could not help but admire the strength of spirit of this simple man. He understood that Moscow, with its fast pace and new technologies, could be a real mystery for a visitor from the past. The writer offered the peasant to take him around Kitai-gorod, tell him about its history and show how the past and the present are intertwined in this amazing place.

Together they walked along the ancient streets, where each building had witnessed many events. Leo Tolstoy spoke of famous residents of Moscow, of merchants and boyars, of how Kitai-gorod had always been a center of trade and cultural exchange. The peasant, delighted by what he heard, began to understand that his travel through time was not accidental, but perhaps fateful.

Soon, with a feeling of gratitude and understanding, he said goodbye to Tolstoy, promising never to forget this amazing day. The writer, inspired by this meeting, continued on his way, reflecting on how times and destinies intertwine in this great city.

***

Of course, this story is just a figment of the imagination, created to make you smile. But if you want to know the real facts, we invite you to the excursions of the Radius bureau, where history comes to life!

  1. On July 18th, we participated in the "Soul of Moscow" group tour led by Alexander. Kitay-gorod and its surroundings revealed a new side to us, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of us began intensively studying related materials to broaden our horizons. We'll be back, and we highly recommend it! You won't regret it.
    Alexander July 20, 2026
  2. Good afternoon, on June 23rd we had a tour called " The Soul of Moscow ," led by Alexander. He's a very pleasant young man. We visited such lovely courtyards and alleys with him that we never even knew existed, and we learned so much. We really enjoyed everything, and we hope to continue our acquaintance. Alexander! Thank you! We had a great time with you, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. See you there!
    Tatyana, Galina, Nadezhda June 24, 2026
  3. This isn't my first time with Radius. This time, I took the Moscow metro . The goal was not only to admire the underground palaces but also to learn how to navigate the metro. As a resident of a region without a metro, I was a bit apprehensive and didn't understand how to navigate the metro. Of course, the internet helps, but live communication is much better. Tour guide Yulia handled this task perfectly. The information was accessible and interesting, the presentation was calm, and the communication style was very friendly. Thank you very much for the tour and the practical experience.
    Julia June 20, 2026
  4. Good afternoon! I gave the "Soul of Moscow" tour to some of the capital's guests. We were thrilled to hear our guide, Anton. It was so informative and engaging, and very warm. To say we were absolutely delighted is an understatement. It turned out to be a truly family-friendly excursion. We learned so many interesting facts. The material was presented professionally, all our questions were answered, and we saw so much. It was simply WOW! Thank you so much, Anton, he's the best!!!!! From now on, I'll only come to you, the Radius team. I highly recommend it. I promise we'll see each other again soon on other tours.
    Inna May 26, 2026
  5. Overall, the tour left a positive impression! Thanks to Alexander for the walk through the courtyards and atmospheric spots of Kitay-Gorod; we certainly wouldn't have done it on our own. The tour was comfortable, and the guide spoke confidently and calmly. One thing we personally missed: we would have liked more of the historical part, relating to ancient Moscow and the history of Kitay-Gorod. There were quite a few stories about the Soviet period and the bar scene, but for our group, this wasn't particularly relevant. We think the program could be a little more tailored to the age and interests of the group. It would also have been interesting to add more historical facts, monuments, and details about old Moscow and the area itself. That said, the tour was still interesting, and some places and churches were truly memorable. These aren't really "cons," but rather suggestions for an even more comprehensive program.
    Ksenia May 25, 2026
  6. Hello! We had a corporate group of 10 people. Our guide was Anton, and we had a tour of Bulgakov. I would like to point out the excellent organization; everything went smoothly. The managers were very accommodating to our changes in the number of participants. The bus was very comfortable. Anton is a super-engaged and motivated guide. He lives this history and is delighted to share his knowledge and create an unforgettable experience. Everything went well. I highly recommend it!
    Oleg February 19, 2026
  7. Thank you for a fascinating tour! It gave me so much food for thought to explore! Note: Review of the "Zamoskvorechye" tour with guide Maria.
    Eugene December 7, 2025
  8. I'd like to express my gratitude on behalf of our team! Thank you for keeping to our scheduled schedule despite our lack of organization. Our colleagues appreciated your preparation for the tour! It was informative. Note: Review of the "Modern Residential Complexes, Factory Past, and Avant-Garde" tour of the ZILART residential complex with guide Maria. Maria prepared and conducted a customized tour for employees of the Samolet Group of Companies development company.
    Team of the Samolet Group December 7, 2025
  9. Thank you! You have great talent. Good luck! ☺️ You're a wonderful guide! Thank you again! Note: This is a review of the corporate tour "The Heart of the Capital" with guide Maria.
    Dmitriy December 7, 2025
  10. Thank you for a wonderful day today!!)) Note: review of the excursion "The Soul of Moscow" with guide Maria
    Natalia December 7, 2025
  11. On behalf of the whole family, I want to thank you for a very informative and interesting tour! Note: This is a review of the "Palace Dungeons" tour with guide Maria.
    Eugene December 7, 2025
  12. Good afternoon! I'd like to express my gratitude and that of my guide for organizing the tour! We were very pleased. We'd like to do it again in October, but on a different route — ZIL. Note: This refers to the tour for Samolet Group developers, led by guide Maria.
    Elya September 27, 2025
  13. Thanks to Alexander for the bar tour of Baumanka ! It was fun, exciting, and we discovered so many new places! Awesome! May we reach new heights!
    Kira August 9, 2025
  14. Good afternoon! I was on a tour of Sukharevskaya Square — we went all the way to Tsvetnoy Boulevard. I didn't expect it to be so interesting! For those wondering whether to go — go for it! It truly became one of my most memorable summer memories!
    Kirill August 4, 2025
  15. Anastasia, good morning! Thank you and Masha for yesterday! The speakers are happy. The connection through the headphones was often lost, especially at the checkpoint, but that's just our current situation. You could hear if you were standing close, no more than 1.5 meters away. Colleagues have already asked for your contact information. I'd be happy to share it and look forward to another opportunity to work with you. Special thanks to the Director for the Bureau . Note: " Heart of the Capital " tour for participants of the 2025 Moscow Oncology Forum. Guides: Anastasia and Maria.
    Tina July 8, 2025
  16. We'd like to thank Anton and Alexander for leading the tour! It was fascinating to hear how the Krasnaya Presnya district developed and how Prokhorov's influence on our city's development. It was a pleasant immersion into a quiet, previously unexplored area!
    Dmitriy July 8, 2025
  17. Good afternoon, thank you so much, Anastasia. The " Uncle Gilyai " tour was fantastic. Even though we're Muscovites and know a lot about Moscow, the experience was amazing, so much new and interesting happened. We'll definitely be back.
    Victoria July 8, 2025
  18. Thank you for the " Heart of Moscow " and " Khamovniki " tours. Anton, a knowledgeable and passionate Moscow guide, gave me the tour. He's a great storyteller, intelligent, well-read, and captivating. You've truly opened up my Moscow to me! I'll definitely be back next summer to explore Moscow with you. I'll recommend your wonderful tour program to all my friends!
    Julia July 1, 2025
  19. Excursions with the Radius travel agency are always a positive experience if you choose them. We planned a tour of Zamoskvorechye on our next visit. We've worked with our guide, Anton, before. We'll definitely recommend him to everyone we know. The tour is informative, not overloaded with dates, and the information is comprehensive yet easy to understand, as it's presented in a light, narrative manner, not like a history textbook, dry and academic. Thank you for this approach. We'll definitely use the Radius agency again on our next visit to Moscow.
    Tatiana June 23, 2025
  20. Thank you so much for the tour of Zamoskvorechye . Despite the weather, it was very interesting and informative! Note: this refers to the tour with guide Anton.
    Tatiana May 6, 2025
  21. A huge thank you to Anastasia. We had a fantastic tour of the Patriki district. We learned so much. Anastasia is a true master of her craft. The tour was captivating, not at all boring, lively and interesting. Everyone was delighted. We were full of new impressions. I definitely recommend it. You won't be disappointed!
    Anna May 6, 2025
  22. We explored the Soul of Moscow with my family and Radius on my birthday. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk! Anton shared so many interesting facts about the capital and its history, taking us into spiritual depths no one else had even suspected. Most of us were either born or longtime Moscow residents who spent a lot of time walking around. It was educational, heartwarming, and unforgettable. 🙂 Overall, this wasn't my first time walking around Moscow with Anton, and each time was a real adventure!
    Olga May 4, 2025
  23. Anastasia, good afternoon! I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful tour on Saturday — we absolutely loved the walk, the information, and the conversations with you. We spent a long time afterwards discussing what stood out and what struck us. It seems like you've lived in Moscow your whole life, and we studied Moscow studies in school, but it turns out there's so much you still don't know! Overall, thank you so much; my mom said it was the best birthday present ever! Note: This is about the " Soul of Moscow " tour.
    Arina January 13, 2025
  24. Good day to all! I would like to share my impressions of the excursion "Journey to Christmas". Our guide was Anastasia. So! Everything was just magical: a slight frost of -4, snow, numerous Christmas trees, decorations, lights, garlands and all this to the interesting educational story of Anastasia. Despite the fact that we knew something about the New Year, there was a lot that was new, unexpected and interesting. And all this to the music of Tchaikovsky. In general, we are delighted. Thank you for the New Year mood you gave us. It is priceless!!!! Thank you!
    Victoria January 5, 2025