ALeisure centreIndependent states
Khan Shatyr
An entertainment centre in Astana shaped like a giant transparent tent, with a tropical beach inside, designed by Norman Foster.
Khan Shatyr ("the khan's tent") opened in 2010. About 150 metres tall, the building is inspired by the shape of a Kazakh yurt, and its transparent canopy keeps a summer climate inside even in the harsh steppe winter.
Inside are shops, a cinema, restaurants, rides and, on the top level, a sandy beach with artificial waves — the sand is said to have been brought from the Maldives.
It is one of the capital's most visited leisure centres and an architectural symbol of Astana.
Sources
Updated: October 2, 2026