The Chinese Hall, the largest of Catherine II's Private Rooms in the Zubov Wing of the Catherine Palace, is finally restored.
Designed by architect Charles Cameron, the magnificent eighteenth-century decorations of the Chinese Hall were destroyed in the Nazi invasion of the USSR during World War II.
Under restoration since 2019 together with the other rooms in our project The Private Space of Catherine II launched with PJSC Gazprom, the final stage of works in the Chinese Hall included 155 lacquer panels (nearly 170 square metres) hand-crafted by Beijing New Dancing Lion Art Co., Ltd. (Beijing Xinxingshi) using traditional techniques in 2023-25 and installed on the walls by the Tsarskoselskaya Amber Workshop in January–May 2026. The latter also re-created the chinoiserie-style chandeliers made of bronze and porcelain and painted with flowers, animals, fish and dragons, symbolizing a good start. Each chandelier stands over two meters tall and weighs over 200 kg.
The opening ceremony on 3 June 2026 was led by Russian culture minister Olga Lyubimova, PJSC Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller, St Petersburg vice governor Boris Piotrovsky, and Tsarskoe Selo director Olga Taratynova.
Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture:
Today marks a significant historical event. One of the Catherine Palace's interior masterpieces lost during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 is returning to Russian and global culture. The Chinese Hall is the largest in the Zubov Wing. Its restoration project is a shining example of international collaboration.
Alexey Miller, Gazprom CEO:
With the opening of the restored Chinese Hall, the years-long and large-scale restoration of the Catherine Palace's iconic interiors in the Zubov Wing is complete today. Thanks to the meticulous, "Leningrad-school" work of St Petersburg restorers and the support of Gazprom, this gem of architecture and decorative art has been returned to the people. Special thanks go to our Chinese friends, who reconstructed 155 impressive panels using traditional techniques and materials. And today, we all can once again admire the splendour of the Chinese Hall.
Boris Piotrovsky, Vice Governor of St Petersburg:
The opening of the Chinese Hall is a truly momentous event for Russian culture and the entire country. The restoration of the Catherine Palace has been ongoing for 80 years, room by room. It's a highly complex team effort that requires professionalism and significant funding. When the Russian government and Gazprom pooled their resources, it became possible to complete this restoration — a colossal contribution to the preservation of our cultural and historical heritage.
Olga Taratynova, Director of Tsarskoe Selo:
The beauty and grandeur of the Chinese Hall are breathtaking. It is an unrivaled masterpiece, a treasure of history and culture. Today, after eight decades, we proudly say that we have brought it back to life. Thanks to the support of PJSC Gazprom, the final breakthrough in the restoration was achieved by Russian and Chinese craftsmen, restorers, our museum staff, and experts from both countries. All of them invested a great deal of labour and dedication into this incredibly complex process.
