The World’s Largest Nested Doll from China

Matryoshka dolls, also known as Babushka dolls, nested dolls or stacking dolls, are sets of wooden dolls of decreasing sizes that fit into one another. The name Matryoshka might have been derived from the Russian female first name, Matryona. The name Matryona is related to the Latin word, mater, which means mother. Thus, Matryona is closely associated with motherhood and naturally, the doll became a symbol of fertility.

The largest Matryoshka doll in the world was created in the northern Chinese city of Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia. The local government stated that the nested doll, which is 98.4 feet (30 metres) tall, is the most important project of Manzhouli aimed to boost tourism with an anticipated overall area of 5.8 million square feet (or 540,000 square metres). The first stage of the original complex was constructed in 2006.

Mongolian, Russian, and Chinese girls are depicted on a gigantic nested doll-shaped construction on the eponymous square of the city. The area of the rooms inside the doll is 34,400 square feet (or 3,200 square metres). The building houses a presentation hall and a restaurant that exclusively offers European cuisine.

Eight smaller buildings have been constructed around the main Matryoshka, and 200 small Matryoshkas which depict famous political leaders and notable persons from all over the world are displayed.

The project is expected to attract tourists from all over the world. It is likely to become one of the landmarks of China and another reason to visit the county.