We have succesfully grown a Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O x single crystal with an area of up to 4 × 12mm 2 by a simple slow-cooling method. The growth experiments revealed that a large-area crystal was typically grown from a starting composition of Bi:Sr:Ca:Cu=2:2:1:2 and at a low cooling rate. Based on an investigation of the temperature dependence of formed phases in the Bi system, the growth mechanism is discussed. The evaluations of transition temperature, crystal composition and pinning potential of a grown crystal are also reported.