KHAN SHATYR

This modern yurt stands at the edge of Astana's new government district. Designed by architect Norman Foster and inaugurated in 2010, the Khan Shatyr immediately impresses with its size and structure. The evocative shape of a yurt rises 150 metres above the ground and covers an area of 140,000^m2. Covered in transparent thermoplastic, resistant to both extreme cold and heat, it's more than just a giant shopping mall: it's a veritable city within a city!

Life happens here" is Khan Shatyr's slogan. As well as offering trendy shopping opportunities, the mall is home to numerous restaurants and pubs, as well as attractions (try your hand at being propelled in a cabin along one of the three interior pillars, or take a roller-coaster ride around the mall from floor to floor), the most popular of which is undoubtedly... the beach! A little extravagance which, in its time, certainly boosted President Nazarbayev's popularity by a few points, and which allows you to go for a dip all year round. In the evening, the Sky beach club at Khan Shatyr frequently transforms into an electro dance floor (unless the place is pre-empted by a private party).

For shopping, you'll find all the fast-fashion brands present in Central Asia (Waïkiki, Pull & Bear), as well as a number of more upmarket brands (North Face, Adidas...).