The Russian Pavilion

A Fairy Tale Castle

The Russian Pavilion is somewhat like the kingdoms that populate children's fairy tales. The well-known Russian children's writer Nikolay Nosov once said the best city in the world should be one that appeals to all children.

Accordingly, the Russian Pavilion is specifically designed for families with children. Visitors to the pavilion can follow the "Adventures of Dunno and his Friends," a story written by Nosov.

The main exhibition area of the pavilion is also child-friendly: the section "City of Flowers" features fairy tale-style images of children, with a great deal of color and flair. In this "City," sewage pipes are made out of mushrooms and the cars in the street run on strawberry jam, making for a whimsical place for kids to visit.

The Russia Pavilion features bright scenery.

The "City of Sun" area features a translucent labyrinth for kids to navigate. The labyrinth is permanently illuminated by an artificial "sun," creating a spectacular playground for children. The area also features houses shaped like fruit; visitors can find some inventions designed by Russian youth here. There are also some caves for kids to explore; the caves feature some children dressed as fairy tale characters, educating their pint-sized peers in ways to conserve energy at home.

Lastly, the "City of Moon" creates a lunar playground where children can hang out. It shows the history of human exploration on the Moon and the achievements of the Russian space program.

Of course, the Russian experience wouldn't be complete without Matryoshka nesting dolls; children can purchase these as souvenirs at the pavilion.

The Russian nesting doll is in high demand at the Expo Park.