Erdaotsyao - Grand Bazaar in Urumqi

Bazaar Erdaotsyao - the atmosphere of medieval East

Xinjiang is famous for its bazaars and markets no less than for its historical showplaces. They sell unique pieces of craftsmanship, traditional Uygur clothing, embroidered by skilled mistresses and a lot of other things that cannot be found in every shop, but only in the traditional bazaars of Eastern Turkestan, some of which may be called historic.

One of the most famous markets in the region is Erdaotsyao or Grand Bazaar. It occupies the area of 35,000 m2, ranks the largest wholesale market in Xinjiang, and attracts trade representatives from neighboring countries. Every day the market is visited by about 20,000 people. There are several hundreds of stores and shops selling everything from the food to the most accomplished works of Uighur applied art.

As early as the XX century Erdaotsyao looked like a typical oriental bazaar. Today, it is a huge beautiful complex of several pavilions built in the oriental style. The Grand Bazaar located in the center of the city is one of the main attractions of Urumqi. All its trade pavilions are decorated with towers in the form of minarets, so at first glance it looks like a grandiose architectural monument.

At Urumqi Grand Bazaar you can buy souvenirs: traditional jewelery, jade figurines, and a wide range of Chinese silk fabrics.

If you like carpets, then you can find in Erdaotsyao carpet stalls, striking with a variety and brilliance of the goods. In addition, you can buy all sorts of fruits, such as Turpan grapes, raisins and Kashgar grenades, and taste Uygur national food in small and cozy cafes. Erdaotsyao is not just a market, but rather a place where a real atmosphere of medieval East prevails.