Grand Bazaar

International Grand Bazaar

The International Grand Bazaar is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The International Grand Bazaar is located in the Erdaoqiao commercial district at the southern end of Tianshan District, Urumqi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a tourist attraction that integrates five major business formats: sightseeing, ethnic trade, dining, ethnic art exhibitions, and retail. It was completed on June 26, 2003, and is the world’s largest bazaar (a Uyghur term meaning market or farmers' market). It combines Islamic culture, architecture, ethnic commerce, entertainment, and dining, serving as a hub and exhibition center for Xinjiang’s tourism products. It is known as the “Window of Xinjiang,” “Window of Central Asia,” and “Window of the World.”

The Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar features a strong Islamic architectural style. While incorporating the functionality and contemporary feel of modern architecture, it recreates the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road and vividly showcases the rich ethnic characteristics and regional culture of the Western Regions. The bazaar symbolizes the flourishing of commerce and tourism in Xinjiang. As a landmark structure in Urumqi, a city with a predominantly ethnic minority population, it also stands out as an iconic building. By blending traditional brickwork techniques with modern surface treatments, the design avoids theatrical or overly staged architectural expressions. It emphasizes spatial and light variations, maintaining the utility and modern sensibility of contemporary buildings while reviving the commercial vibrancy of the ancient Silk Road. Its strong ethnic and regional cultural elements have a warm and appealing influence across Central Asia and the Middle East.

In 2004, the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar was selected as one of Urumqi’s “Top Ten Buildings.” With its strong Islamic architectural style, it integrates functionality and modernity while recreating the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road, and vividly reflects the rich ethnic characteristics and regional culture of the Western Regions. On April 13, 2018, it was shortlisted among the “Magical 100 Scenic Spots of Northwest China.”

The word “bazaar” comes from Arabic, meaning “market” or “fair.” In Islamic countries and regions, the size of a bazaar is an important indicator of local economic development and market prosperity. Prior to this, the world’s largest bazaar was Istanbul Grand Bazaar in the Republic of Turkey. However, the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar covers a construction area of nearly 100,000 square meters, with 3,000 shops selling ethnic handicrafts, a 3,000-square-meter square, an ethnic banquet hall that can accommodate 1,000 diners, an 80-meter-high sightseeing tower, and a grand mosque. It also has up to 55 commercial elevators and escalators—9,000 square meters larger than Istanbul Grand Bazaar, with superior hardware facilities and cultural atmosphere—thus earning the title of “World’s No.1 Grand Bazaar.”

The International Grand Bazaar consists of six building complexes. Architecturally, it employs the most essential and vibrant elements, using earthy yellow as the main color tone and integrating architectural features from Greece, Ancient Rome, West Asia, and Central Asia. This makes it one of Urumqi’s landmark buildings. It combines Islamic culture, architecture, and ethnic commerce, and serves as a hub and exhibition center for Xinjiang’s tourism products. Its strong Islamic architectural style recreates the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road and vividly embodies the rich ethnic characteristics and regional culture of the Western Regions.

Address: No. 8, Jiefang South Road, Urumqi City

Tel: 0991-8558800