Kitay-gorod (Moscow)

Russia / Moscow / Moscow
 invisible, historic district
Kitay-gorod (Russian: Китай-город, IPA: [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.
Beside Kitay-gorod in Grand Duchy of Moscow in ancient Russia. Older sources said that people with darker skin than other ethnic groups of Russia sold goods and traded with other peoples in the area of the Kitay sea. Kita (pl. kity) is a somewhat obsolete word for "plait" or "an item made by braiding". A 17th-century Russian source states "У шапок янычары имели киты" ("U shapok yanychary imeli kity"), meaning "The Janissaries had braids hanging from their caps". In his 1967 book Rise of Russia, author Robert Wallace asserts that the term might mean a rough-hewn defensive bulwark made from woven wicker baskets filled with earth or rock – and thus Kitay-gorod means "Basket city". Kitay could also be derived from an old word for the wooden stakes used in construction of the quarter's walls. Gorod is simply the Russian word for "city", derived from the ancient gord. Kitay (Russian: Китай) is also the modern Russian name for China, and cognates with the historic Khitan people of northeastern China. Kitay cognates with the English Cathay.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitay-gorod
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   55°45'16"N   37°37'30"E

Comments

  • Of course, there is nothing to compare with China. When the name was given (12-13 centures), russian people didn't knew that the state of China even exist:) From Wkipedia: "Accordingly the popular translation might be Chinatown" - INCORRECT! Nobody calls it "Chinatown". Everybody calls it "Kitai-gorod". "Most scholars, however, tend to derive Kitai from an old word for the wooden stakes used in construction of the quarter's walls" - CORRECT! This is old russian word.