VDNKh Central Pavilion, Moscow (must see)

Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, abbreviated as VDNKh or VDNH, Russian: ВДНХ, pronounced [vɛ dɛ ɛn xa]) is a permanent general purpose trade show and amusement park in Moscow, Russia. Between 1991 and 2014 it was also called the All-Russia Exhibition Centre.

VDNKh is located in Ostankinsky District of Moscow, less than a kilometer from Ostankino Tower. Cosmonauts Alley and the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman statue are situated just outside the main entrance to VDNKh. It also borders Moscow Botanical Garden and a smaller Ostankino Park, and in recent years the three parks served as a united park complex.

During winter, VDNKh converts into a main Skating Rink with a total area of 60,000 square metres.

The Central Pavilion, also known as Pavilion №1, was designed by Yu.V. Shuko and E.A. Stolyarov in wedding-cake style. It is a 97-meter high tower (including the spire) crowned with a gold-plated sculpture. The Pavilion is an excellent representative of Russian classical architecture. Before the fall of the Soviet Union, a statue of Vladimir Lenin used to stand in the front of the pavilion. The monumental building has undergone renovation and was unveiled on June 1st, 2018, as the Main Alley leading to it reopened to the public.