Winter in Moscow: what master classes are being held as part of the Chinese New Year festivities

The Chinese New Year in Moscow festival is being held in the capital until February 9. It takes in some twenty sites. Moscow residents and visitors can watch fascinating shows of drumming and circus performances, taste Asian dishes and take memorable selfies against a background of themed decorations. The program is designed for all tastes and ages and also includes workshops. Some of these will be led by participants from China.

“All those interested are welcome to practice calligraphy, make Chinese traditional lanterns and fans, and play board games including the Chinese versions of chess and dominoes. The classes are held at various sites, including Tverskaya Boulevard, Manezhnaya Square and Tverskaya Square," said Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

The main points of attraction are Manezhnaya Square and the area where it joins Revolution Square. In pagoda-style pavilions, visitors can learn more about Asian culture, painting and tea ceremonies. Here they will have a chance to create a wide range of items with their own hands, including shadow theater puppets, gifts, decorations for the house, fireworks of various kinds, and musical instruments.

Specially-invited experts will talk about the traditions of celebrating the New Year in China, prepare sweet gifts and cut out dragons from cardboard and paper. There will also be master classes on playing board games. Experts will talk about the history of xiangqi chess, and organize competitions among fans of go, or weiqi, a board game in which opponents, using either white or black stones, try to fill the entire board by displacing each other.

On Tverskaya Square Moscow residents and visitors will make fans, weave decorations for the home using string and coins, and make traditional Asian lanterns.

On Tverskoy Boulevard visitors can paint a toy red train and become the owner of a pendant in the form of a golden dragon. All those who wish to will be able to decorate ceramic items such as piggy banks, teapots and cups. The creators of the best paintings will receive a red paper panel with Chinese characters in gold as a gift.

In total, more than 400 events will take place during the festival. Admission is free, and no registration is required. You can find out more details on the events page of the online edition of the Russpass-journal.

The festival in honor of the Chinese New Year is a part of the large-scale Winter in Moscow project.

The Winter in Moscow project is the main event of the season, and brings together a variety of events taking place in the capital until February 28. Moscow residents and visitors are invited to remember their traditions and history, warm themselves with tea and hot pies, go skating, watch performances on ice, make gifts to people who find themselves in a vulnerable situation and show care for those in need.

A wide range of events in the open air and in the city’s cultural and sports institutions have been organized for Moscow residents and visitors to the capital. The atmosphere of traditional winter activities takes in the whole city, and includes with more than 1,900 sites. The largest festivals of the capital including Moscow Estates, Moscow Tea Party, City of Light, have incorporated organically into the project. All information about the project and events of the winter season can be found in a special section on the mos.ru website.