For the Glory of the Soviet Union - 'old Moscow' reopens in Beijing

Beijing Boyce has noted the return of an old Beijing stalwart, the Moscow Restaurant over near Xizhimen, after a three months renovation.

The establishment dates back to the halcyon days when the Soviet Union and the new People’s Republic of China were buddies and Soviet aid and technical assistance flooded into the PRC – along with an Exhibition Center constructed on what was then the northwestern edge of Beijing. The center also housed the Moscow Restaurant. Both the center and the eating establishment have managed to survive the vicissitudes of Chinese-Russian relations and the breakneck pace of Beijing's contemporary redevelopment.

According to the official Beijing government website:

“In 1954, the former Soviet Union built the Moscow Exhibition Center complex, including the Moscow Restaurant, in order to display the economic and cultural achievements of the Soviet Union. After the exhibition, the Moscow Restaurant opened its business to the public. Because of its unique architecture and cuisine, the Moscow Restaurant quickly earned a good reputation in Beijing. People affectionately call it ‘Laomo’ which is roughly translated ‘old Moscow.’”

The placed experienced ups and downs with the rest of the country as China split with the Soviet Union and went through the upheavals of the 1960s and early 70s. It closed for a period in the 1960s, later reopening serving Chinese food.

By 1984 it was back serving Russian fare and has stayed open ever since, save for several short periods of renovation. Unlike much of the city, the restaurant has managed to retain its original appearance, providing Beijingers with a unique slice of the city’s modern city.