In the CityIn the CityPhoto: Quarot, общественное достояние (CC0) · source
From the outside, Khan Shatyr resembles a gigantic semi-transparent tent stretched on cables, and this impression is even more striking when you step inside. Daylight streams through the three-layer membrane, and beneath the dome you will find not only shops and a cinema but also an entire indoor resort—a beach club with a tropical climate and real sand where you can sunbathe while it's twenty degrees below zero outside. For many visitors to the city, this temperature contrast itself is the main attraction.
The building opened on July 6, 2010, on Astana Day, according to a design by Foster + Partners. The spire reaches a height of 150 meters, the total area covers approximately 127,000 square meters, and the membrane made of three-layer ETFE plastic is engineered to retain heat in winter and prevent overheating in summer. Khan Shatyr is the world's largest tensile structure and one of the most recognizable landmarks of modern Astana, on par with Bayterek.
In the CityA monument and observation tower that is the main symbol of Astana and Kazakhstan.
In the CityThe largest mosque in Central Asia, accommodating up to 10,000 people during major holidays.
In the CityThe second largest mosque in Kazakhstan, a gift from Qatar to Astana — officially named after Abu Nasr al-Farabi since 2021.
In the CityAn 80-hectare park surrounding Norman Foster's pyramid-shaped building, featuring an opera hall, exhibition spaces, and a panoramic elevator.
In the CityThe largest museum in Kazakhstan and Central Asia showcasing the country's history from ancient times to the present day.
In the CityA well-developed embankment with cycling paths and walking routes that connects the historic right bank and the new left bank of Astana.