International Bazaar
International Bazaar
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
157 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
66
Average
43
Poor
8
Terrible
0
AZCasualTraveler
Mesa, AZ2,438 contributions
Oct 2019
The Urumqi International Bazaar is nice place to visit while in Urumqi. This Bazaar has a wide open and clean walkway, and it is a colorful with a good variety of different shops and eateries. Although the Urumqi International Bazaar is no where as large as the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, it is still a very nice Bazaar for a city the size of Urumqi (Istanbul has 4 to 5 times the population vs. Urumqi). Another place to visit while in the Bazaar is the Erdaoqiao Market, which is connected to the Bazaar area.
The International Bazaar is a worthwhile place to visit - if not for the merchandise, go for the food as there is a very good variety things to eat here.
The International Bazaar is a worthwhile place to visit - if not for the merchandise, go for the food as there is a very good variety things to eat here.
Written 27 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,623 contributions
Jul 2020
Lots of unusual, great quality goods, including foods, being offered for sale. Excellent for unique items souvenir shopping.
Written 4 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PeggieFearless
Kyoto, Japan678 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
This place used to be the first choice for shoppers until it became more and more touristy. If planning on serious shopping, Beiyuanchun (北园春) and Hualing (华凌) are where you should go, also locals' choice. You can buy twice the stuff at the same price in the International Bazaar.
Be aware when you are haggling: if you don't sincerely want to make a deal, don't bargain or else things will get pretty ugly.
And, watch out for pocket pickers, they are everywhere!
Be aware when you are haggling: if you don't sincerely want to make a deal, don't bargain or else things will get pretty ugly.
And, watch out for pocket pickers, they are everywhere!
Written 5 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul C
Alameda, CA6 contributions
Sept 2019
An artificially created bazaar that lacks the character of the bazaar in Istanbul. Lots of stalls selling the same stuff. It’s worth going up the tower to get a picture of the size of the bazaar. Lots of food stalls to eat from. In the evening there’s free entertainment in the square.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yEeVoNy25
Singapore, Singapore289 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
Was with a tour group and Urumqi International Bazaar was our first stop.
One of the best unique bazaar in silk road where one can find lotsa good souvenirs and interesting products native to the Uyghurs.
Its quite a big Bazaar but one can easily finish exploring the area in about 1.5hours, inclusive of buying and shopping.
We skipped the air-conditioned mall area as we think the interesting stuffs are at along the shop houses,
Unique souvenirs to look out for:
- Dried food: Their dried food such as red dates, plums, walnuts are extremely huge.! Really sweet and they make good souvenirs since they offer individual packaging for the red dates. You can also buy some dried nuts as snacks throughout your trip.
(The shop keeper do offer free tasting, but do it in moderation if you intend to check out other dried food shops. There are quite a number of similar shops selling about the same stuff)
- Bags, Woven products, storage boxes: Beautiful and mostly they carry tribal designs native to Uyghurs. There is only 1 bag shop there so do check it out, lovely designs.
- Musical Instruments: A number of shops carrying this tambourine-sized drum with beautiful ethnic designs.
Next to the bazaar, there’s a building where there is buffet dinner and you can enjoy Ethnic dance performances from numerous tribes along the Silk Road. Quite an enjoyable evening.!
Tip:
1. Buy whatever that catches your eye in this bazaar, as the items here are unique and native to Uyghurs. Once you move out of Urumqi to other parts of Silk Road, apart from the dried food, you will not be able to find item or products of these tribal designs.
2. Haggling is acceptable. Do ask about the price carefully before purchasing.
All shop owners are Mandarin-speaking and may be quite a daunting task for non-mandarin speaking tourists to haggle. For tourists with a tour group, approach your tour leader and check if the price quoted to you is the best price around this bazaar, your tour leader may be able to help you haggle for a better price.
One of the best unique bazaar in silk road where one can find lotsa good souvenirs and interesting products native to the Uyghurs.
Its quite a big Bazaar but one can easily finish exploring the area in about 1.5hours, inclusive of buying and shopping.
We skipped the air-conditioned mall area as we think the interesting stuffs are at along the shop houses,
Unique souvenirs to look out for:
- Dried food: Their dried food such as red dates, plums, walnuts are extremely huge.! Really sweet and they make good souvenirs since they offer individual packaging for the red dates. You can also buy some dried nuts as snacks throughout your trip.
(The shop keeper do offer free tasting, but do it in moderation if you intend to check out other dried food shops. There are quite a number of similar shops selling about the same stuff)
- Bags, Woven products, storage boxes: Beautiful and mostly they carry tribal designs native to Uyghurs. There is only 1 bag shop there so do check it out, lovely designs.
- Musical Instruments: A number of shops carrying this tambourine-sized drum with beautiful ethnic designs.
Next to the bazaar, there’s a building where there is buffet dinner and you can enjoy Ethnic dance performances from numerous tribes along the Silk Road. Quite an enjoyable evening.!
Tip:
1. Buy whatever that catches your eye in this bazaar, as the items here are unique and native to Uyghurs. Once you move out of Urumqi to other parts of Silk Road, apart from the dried food, you will not be able to find item or products of these tribal designs.
2. Haggling is acceptable. Do ask about the price carefully before purchasing.
All shop owners are Mandarin-speaking and may be quite a daunting task for non-mandarin speaking tourists to haggle. For tourists with a tour group, approach your tour leader and check if the price quoted to you is the best price around this bazaar, your tour leader may be able to help you haggle for a better price.
Written 14 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ange0202
Sydney, Australia51 contributions
May 2012 • Friends
I love the bazaar area, there's so much life and energy there. The bazaar area is just a few BRT (3) stops south of the People's Square, but it honestly feels like you're entering an entirely new country.
There are so many colourful scarves, trinkets, knives, jewellery, spices, clothes, shoes, 'antiques', preserved foods, tea sets and metalwork that it's easy to disappear for a good few hours and think you've only been there for a matter of minutes. Be prepared to bargain hard but be polite, the stall-holders are generally nice people who will take an interest in who you are and where you're from. Generally, people will not hassle you too much to buy, tell them you're just looking and they'll respect that fact.
As other reviewers have noted, don't just stick to the main building, there's SO much more to see in the lanes and walkways around the main bazaar and Erdaqiao, and is a great place to people watch.
There are so many colourful scarves, trinkets, knives, jewellery, spices, clothes, shoes, 'antiques', preserved foods, tea sets and metalwork that it's easy to disappear for a good few hours and think you've only been there for a matter of minutes. Be prepared to bargain hard but be polite, the stall-holders are generally nice people who will take an interest in who you are and where you're from. Generally, people will not hassle you too much to buy, tell them you're just looking and they'll respect that fact.
As other reviewers have noted, don't just stick to the main building, there's SO much more to see in the lanes and walkways around the main bazaar and Erdaqiao, and is a great place to people watch.
Written 6 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
seed37
Paris, France199 contributions
The Islamic Bazaar is an extraordinary place, but the air-conditioned multi-story buildings have goods for tourists and prices to match. To see the Bazaar you need to explore the endless alleys filled with tin, copper, and iron workers making their artisanal crafts in front of you, Quirky shaped soaps filled with lanolin, lamb roasting on sticks, repair parts for cars and electrical goods all line the alleys. Uyghur preferences for colorful clothing and scarves bring the stalls alive, as well as the streets.
The city is a magnet for traders from nearby Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, making it a Central Asian melting pot and a distinct contrast to eastern China's homogeneity.
The major down side is the snail's pace traffic throughout Urumqi, including the area up to and around the Bazaar. And skip the rugs in the bazaar, they tend to be over priced.
The city is a magnet for traders from nearby Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, making it a Central Asian melting pot and a distinct contrast to eastern China's homogeneity.
The major down side is the snail's pace traffic throughout Urumqi, including the area up to and around the Bazaar. And skip the rugs in the bazaar, they tend to be over priced.
Written 8 August 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Highadventurer
Singapore, Singapore5,037 contributions
Jul 2013 • Solo
Nothing memorable but local culture. No ornately made knives for me but you can buy local hats (colourful square shape) or costumes or carpets (??). dried fruits are a good buy but I cannot tell you whether they were prepared in the most hygienic way or exposed to dust and dirt.
I would come here simply to soak in the local culture if Urumqi was my 1st port of call before I hit the more historic towns particularly Kasgar etc
Perhaps someone can find something interesting here for TA travellers to look out for.
I would come here simply to soak in the local culture if Urumqi was my 1st port of call before I hit the more historic towns particularly Kasgar etc
Perhaps someone can find something interesting here for TA travellers to look out for.
Written 3 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry H
Portland, OR502 contributions
Apr 2014 • Solo
I had high hopes for the Urumqi bazaar, but was greatly disappointed. The bazaars in Hotan and Kashgar are much more interesting.
The Urumqi International Bazaar is located in 4 newish buildings with escalators, fluorescent lights, etc. It is more like a mall than a bazaar.
Be aware that if you buy a knife (there are many locally made knife stores), you will not be able to get it home. You cannot ship by mail, FedEx, UPS, etc. And if you put it in your luggage, the security at the airport or train station will find it and take it away. I know - it happened to me twice.
If you are going to Kashgar, that is the bazaar to see!
The Urumqi International Bazaar is located in 4 newish buildings with escalators, fluorescent lights, etc. It is more like a mall than a bazaar.
Be aware that if you buy a knife (there are many locally made knife stores), you will not be able to get it home. You cannot ship by mail, FedEx, UPS, etc. And if you put it in your luggage, the security at the airport or train station will find it and take it away. I know - it happened to me twice.
If you are going to Kashgar, that is the bazaar to see!
Written 11 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janne U
Lahti, Finland29 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
Nice place. Lots of carpet sellers and knife sellers all around. You can find some jade jewelery and clothes also. Inside the bazaar there is nice shop where is some great rock and wood works. Sorry my bad english.
Written 9 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do they have designer fake handbags at the grand bazaar of Urumqi?
Written 7 September 2016
Do they have designer fake handbags at the grand bazaar of Urumqi?
Written 7 September 2016
I am sure I recalled seeing them, but i doubt they were good quality. Not in the Bazaar area anyway.
There is a more affluent part to Urumqi... Maybe better quality there.
Written 10 March 2017
bahyt2016
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Добрый день всем! Я бы хотела узнать в Урумчи продаетя посуда Мельхиор, мельхиор фарфоровая и т.п.
Written 4 August 2016
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