Once a trendy fixture in shopping malls across China, Russian goods stores—known for selling snacks, crafts, and souvenirs marketed as authentic imports—are closing in droves.
In less than a year, the fad has gone from rapid expansion to mass liquidation, leaving empty storefronts in major commercial hubs nationwide.
The boom coincided with the early months of the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, when China’s state-controlled media saturated coverage with pro-Russia narratives. Riding this wave of propaganda and “China–Russia partnership” rhetoric, the stores tapped into consumer curiosity for exotic products. But the appeal is apparently short-lived.
From Tourist Magnet to Empty Shelves
In Nanjing, a flagship store in the scenic Wuyi Lane, once packed with tourists, has quietly swapped its bright red “Authentic Russian Goods” sign for one reading “Snack Market,” according to local Chinese state-controlled Yangtse Evening News….
Russia-Themed Stores Closing Down Across China as Retail Craze Fades
