Chișinău, historically also known as Kishinev, is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Moldova. It is Moldova’s main industrial and commercial center, and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc. According to January 2014 official estimates, Chișinău proper has a population of 675,000 and the municipality of Chișinău is home to 805,000 residents.
Chișinău is the most economically prosperous locality in Moldova and its largest transportation hub. As the most economically and socially important municipality in Moldova, the city has a broad range of educational facilities. Air Moldova has its head office on the property of Chișinău International Airport. Chișinău is the financial and business capital of Moldova. Its GDP comprises about 60% of national economy. Thus, the GDP per capita of Chișinău stood at 227% of the Moldova’s average. Chișinău has the largest and most developed mass media sector in Moldova, and is home to several related companies ranging from leading television networks and radio stations to major newspapers. All national and international banks (15) have their headquarters located in Chișinău.
Notable sites around Chișinău include the cinema Patria, the new malls MallDova, Megapolis Mall and best-known retailers, such as N1, Fidesco, Green Hills, Fourchette and Metro. While many locals continue to shop at the bazaars, many upper class residents and tourists shop at the retail stores and at Malldova. Elăt, an older mall in the Botanica district, and Sun City, in the center, are more popular with locals. Fast-food chain McDonald’s has several locations around the city, with the largest being in a two-story building in the center. There is another McDonald’s, a Sbarro, and a KFC in Malldova. Many Western clothes-making companies, such as Levi’s, Adidas, Reebok, Nike, Puma and Benetton have their stores around the city and in the malls.
Several amusement parks exist around the city. A Soviet era one is in the Botanica district, along the three lakes of a major park, which reaches the outskirts of the city center. Another, the modern Aventura Park, is located farther from the center. A circus, which used to be in a grand building in the Rîșcani sector, has been inactive for several years due to a poorly funded renovation project.
