Kitay-gorod

Historic core area in Moscow, Russia Kitay-gorod's central location in Moscow Iverskiye Gates leading to Red Square are the only extant gates of the Kitay-gorod wall; they were demolished in 1931 by the Soviet Union and rebuilt in the 1990s. Kitay-gorod (Russian: Китай-город, romanized: Kitay-gorod, lit. 'China-city', Russian pronunciation: [kʲɪˈtaj ˈɡorət]), also referred to as the Great Possad (Великий Посад) in the 16th and 17th centuries, is a cultural and historical area within the central part of Moscow in Russia, defined by the remnants of now almost entirely razed fortifications, narrow streets and very densely built cityscape. It is separated from the Kremlin by the Red Square. Kitay-gorod does not constitute a district (raion), as there are no resident voters, thus, municipal elections are not possible. Rather, the territory has been part of Tverskoy District, and the Central Administrative Okrug authorities have managed the area directly since 2003. Destruction during the Soviet era All 10 chapels, 7 out of 18 parish churches, the Cathedral of the Nikolo-Greek Monastery, and two monastery bell towers were demolished in Kitay-gorod in the 1920s