 Kyrgyzstan is not for a long time known under it's present name, the petroglyphs on the territory of Kyrgyzstan can tell us about style of life, culture and religional beliefs of the people who settled here, probably 25,000-35,000 years ago. But the Scythen (8-th century BC) were the first of the nomadic empires who settled on the territory and lived like herder and farmer.
In the end of the 5-th century till beginning of the 6-th century the territory of Kyrgyzstan belonged to Evtalyth State that included some territories of Central Asia. The break up of this state was at the time when the formation of Turkic Khaganat in Altai occurred.
In the 8-th -9-th centuries the feudal relations developed alongside with growth of agricultural settlements and towns. In the 10-th -12-th centuries the territory of Kyrgyzstan was joined to Karakhinid State, during this period many towns appeared in Chu and Talas valleys and in Issyk Kul area. In this time Burana Tower, Shakh Fazil Mausoleum and Uzgen architectural complex were constructed, and Islam disseminated as official state religion.
In 1219 the forces of Chingiz-Khan invaded the Tien Shan and the Mongol domination was established. Their feudal lords were at war with each other, that resulted in ruining of towns.
The Kyrgyz themselves settled at present-day Kyrgyz lands during 14th-16th centuries, and the ancestors of today's Kyrgyz people probably came from Siberia's upper Yenisei basin.
Later the Kyrgyz people were at a half-century war beating off attacks of Mongols, Uzbeks, and Kalmak forces, in this time a military and political union of Kyrgyz and Kazakh took shape with the aim to resist Mongol and Uzbek invasions.
From the middle of the 17-th century the Kyrgyz stubbornly struggled against Kalma feudal lords. The Kyrgyz war in 1747-1749 resulted in crushing the power of Kalma in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan became completely independent.
In the end of the 18-th century Kyrgyzstan established relationship with Russia on an embassy base.
Kyrgyzstan was crossed by many travelers and armies: by armies of Alexander the Great, by Mongols under Genghis Khan and by the armies of Timur (Tamer lane). Not long time ago Kyrgyzstan was involved into the events of Tsarist Russia, the Civil War and the Basmati revolution.
During 'perestroika' under Gorbachov in Kyrgyzstan some groups began to fight against unemployment and homelessness, and even siezed vacant land and built there houses. It was diffucult for the Kyrgyz people to come to independence. In 1990 there was the standard Soviet election and the Kyrgyz Communist party took most of the seats. The Supreme Soviet elected Askar Akaev, head of the Academy of Sciences, the president, the first non-communist Central Asia leader, and Kyrgyzstan announced its sovereignty on the 12th of December, 1990. President Askar Akaev started to establish his liberal political and economical attempts, his reforms considered to be the most redical in the Central Asia republics.
On the 31st of August 1991 Kyrgyz Supreme Soviet declared Kyrgyzstan's independence. And then six weeks later Akaev was re-elected the president of the republic. The new republic was born; the new Kyrgyzstan constitution and government structure became law on May 1993.
After 2005 parliamentary elections Kyrgyzstan was in state of political
turmoil with different parties claiming that they were the legitimate
government. The opposition parties since that formed a coalition to
fight parties linked to the government in the 2005 elections. By March
24, 15,000 pro-opposition demonstrators called for the resignation of
the president Akaev and his regime in Bishkek. Protestors seized the
presidential administration building, after which President Akayev left
the country for Kazakhstan, and then Russia.
Opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev easily won the July 10, 2005
presidential elections with over 88% of the vote. He was named acting
President and Prime Minister. Bakiyev formed an alliance with primary
rival Feliks Kulov.
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Bishkek
The capital city lies in the Chui valley, on a plain 800 meters above sea level, at the foot of the Kyrgyz range. The mountains are only 30 km from the city, famous National Park Ala-Archa and Alamedin have peaks till 5000 meters. Bishkek is a large city, most of the important sights are in the city center, not far from hotels/guesthouses, many parks are available to relax. The population is around 900,000 and includes many nationalities: Kyrgyz, Russians, Dungan Chinese, Tartars, Ukrainians, Uighurs, Uzbeks, and Germans.
Bishkek is not an old city, like other cities in Central Asia, was established in 1878. Statue of Lenin is still there, although the statues of Manas, Kurmandjan Datka and many Kyrgyz musicians, poets, writers are more important.
The city grew up around the Kokhand fort of Pishpek, built to guard the caravan tours from Tashkent to Kashgar, the trade along the Silk Road. In 1826 the Russians captured it, and set up a garrison of their own, and in 1926 re-named it Frunze. In 1991 the city was named Bishkek, the Kyrgyz form of its old Kazak name. A 'bishkek or pishpek' is a churn for kymyz.
Bishkek is the seat of the government and a manufacturing center, it's factories produce about half of Kyrgyzstan's output. The climate of Bishkek is continental, with hot summers and cold winters, generally dry atmosphere, rainfall mostly in April.
The city is said to be the greenest in Central Asia with more trees and flowers than any other.
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Osh
Osh is Kyrgyzstan's second-biggest city and the oldest one. In 2000 it celebrated it's 3,000th year anniversary, it's population is around 300,000. Osh is an important regional center, only a few kilometers from the Uzbek border, the famous Osh bazaar has apparently occupied the same spot on the Akbura river for 2,000 years. Osh is situated around 1,000 meters above sea level and is a green city, with many flowers and trees.
Osh was an important crossroad on the Silk Routes, the age of the city can be also judged from the rock drawings and inscriptions found on the slopes of the Suleiman Mountain. Many ancient settlements around this mountain were discovered that prove that Osh has existed for 3000 years.
Osh was a safe place for the camel caravans who survived the journey over the high passes of the Pamir Alay to the south and of the Central Tien Shan to the east. Legends tell that all sorts of people came to Osh, from King Solomon (Sueleyman) to Alexander the Great.
The centerpiece of Osh is Suleiman' s Throne, a rocky mountain which shape resembles a pregnant woman.
Osh is a transit point for those traveling to or from Uzbekistan, Nature Reserve Sary Chelek, the valleys north of Osh (Uzgen and Arslanbob) and for trekking and mountaineering in the Pamir Alay.
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Karakol
Karakol is situated between the Lake Issyk Kul and the mighty and tall mountainranges of the Tien Shan. It is a peaceful, green, low-build town shaded by rows of huge white poplars and Tien Shan spruce.
This is the administrative center of Issyk-Kul province, and the best to start to explore the lake area, the Terskey Alatau and the central Tien Shan. It also has a very good Sunday market.
Karakol was founded on 1 July 1869, because of its mild climate the Russians decided to locate the garrison at this spot. It was first named Przhevalsky after the Russian explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky, whose last expedition ended here. His grave, memorial and museum are situated close to Karakol on the lakeshore. Karakol is situated 1,770 meters above sea level and today has a population of 75,000 people.
The name means like 'black hand/wrist', possibly a reference to the hands of immigrant Russian peasants, black from the valley's rich soil (coal).
It is the mountains that make Karakol special, just outside the town the mountains offer all type of tourism (biking, climbing, horse-riding, skiing and hiking).
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Naryn
It is long town, between red sandstone cliffs on one side and rolling green hills on the other, spreading about 15 kilometers along the Naryn river at about 2,000 meters above sea level. Population is about 45,000.
Naryn is known as the coldest town in Kyrgyzstan. Temperatures in winter can be minus 40 and the average annual temperature is minus 6. In summer it's hot and dusty. It used to be the garrison town for the Russian army, since 1868, but after independence, in 1991, 99% of the Russians left.
In Naryn the Lenin statue is still in the square, in the Lenin street.
Naryn is about the right place for an overnight stop on the Bishkek-Torugart road and it is 175 km from Kyrgyz-Chinese border crossing.
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Talas
In the history-books the "Battle of Talas" in 751 was described the turning point of the Chinese expansion in the area, defeated by the Arabs, this heralded the start of the Islamization of the region.
Talas is also the hometown of the legendary folk hero, the Khan (king) Manas. In the Kyrgyz National Epic, Manas, an oral epic, written down and still performed today, the performers "manaschi", tell about the battles of the Khan Manas and his armies and of the construction of the land of the Kyrgyz.
Talas was an insignificant village when the Russians occupied it in 1864, now the town is the regional center of the province and looks more attractive today. South-east of Talas, stands Manas Gumbez, the mausoleum where Manas is said to have been buried.
From Talas possible to walk up the attractive valleys in the Talas Alatau, in particular the Besh Tash valley which has a picturesque lake on the top.
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Kochkor
Kochkor' s location just off the busy Bishkek to Naryn road, small town and a nice and practical place to stop, if you travel onwards, or to the Suusamyr valley, the jailoo' s, Bishkek or Naryn.
Kochkor was once named after the Tsarist prime minister Stolypin, the promoter of the Russian colonization in Central Asia and he fought against the October Revolution. After the revolution the Bolsheviks renamed the town Kochkor.
In Kochkor it is worth to visit the small museum because of its enormous yurt, where 50 people are able to have a place, and because of the interesting display of handicrafts, tributes to local heroes. There is also a home of Jumagal Akhmadov, he has the special room for the local women's co-operative, Altyn Kol (Golden Hands). It is possible to buy a good handicraft there as there is a good and wide choice of shyrdaks and cushion covers. It is said that they produce the best shyrdaks because the high mountain pastures of Kochkor and Jumgal are good for the sheep's semi-fine wool.
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Jalal-Abad
Jalal-Abad is the small town with broad streets and chaikhans (teahouses). It is the starting point for trips into the walnut forests nearby and the Uzbek mountain village of Arslanbob. Jalal-Abad lies at the foot of the Ayubtau mountains, where the rivers Kok Art and Kara Darya meet together, and it is also the capital of the region with the same name.
This is the town with a long history of travelers and traders who passed it through on the Silk Routes.
In 1878 the Russians built there a garrison and a military hospital. Jalal-Abad was later developed as an agro-industrial center and produced cotton, wheat, tobacco, walnuts, fruit, vegetables, maize and silk worms, exporting products from the Fergana Valley to Russia.
It is a resort town, with the peaceful and curable Jalal-Abad Sanatorium, baths with mud and mineral water baths, massage, sauna and all the mineral water you can drink.
Like in many towns in the South of Kyrgyzstan two thirds of the population are Uzbek, other Kyrgyz, Tartar, Russian, German and Dungan Chinese.
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Uzgen
 Uzgen is the small town situated on the right bank of the river Kara-Darya. It is also an ancient settlement, which was found in the 8th and 9th centuries in the Turkic Khaganat on the Silk Road. Some data tell that once there was a mighty fortress in the 10th -12th centuries, but in the 13th century it was destroyed by Genghis Khan. Now you can find there only three mausoleums and the Minaret (10th-12th centuries). At the moment 85% of the population is Uzbek.
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There are some historical sights in the country, which are very interesting and useful to see. We will give a short description of some most important and most visited by tourists.
Burana Tower
 Is situated in the town of Burans, 90 km of the capital Bishkek, many historians and archeologists say, that this town was once the capital of Karakhanid's khanate-town of Balasagun, and was founded in the middle of the 10th-century. The word 'Burana' drives from the Turkic word for minaret, munara.
Burana Tower is the central monument of the architectural complex, situated to the south-east of the hill. It is an 11th century minaret and was built like most if other minarets to serve as a mosque to call people for praying. No remnants were found, but is possible that the mosque was on west side from the tower. The original minaret was 45 meters high, on the top was a dome-light with four doorways. Nowadays it is 24.5 meters high, because it was destroyed by earthquakes in the 15th centuries, and was restored in 1974.
On the territory of the architectural complex stand about 80 burial stones ('Balbal') from the Khanate state, 6th to 10th centuries, which were found in the whole region.
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Ak-Beshim
Ak-Beshim is the ruins of the ancient town not far from the Burana Tower in the town Tokmak. Ak-Beshim seems to be once a large town, because there you can find a lot of mounds and ridges. It was earlier very important town, cultural and trade center. There are also the remains of a Nestorian church and a Buddhist temple in the 7th - 8th centuries. The town was once under the Arab influence. It is said that Turks and Sogdians lived there.
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Navekat and Krasnaya Rechka
Not far from Burana Tower is situated the village Krasnaya Rechka. Two kilometers beyond the village you can find the open fields with the series of mounds hinting at dwellings and walls, all that is left the of the Sogdian town of Navekat, the largest settlement in the valley from the sixth to the 12th centuries.
Archeologists have also found the remains of a Buddhist temple, a Kharakhanid palace and Buddhist and Nestorian Christian cemeteries.
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Tash Rabat Caravanserai
 About 75 kilometers south-west of At-Bashy town and river (province Naryn) in the At-Bashy range lies the remote, high Tash Rabat Valley, altitude 3200-3400m. Situated in the valley, the Tash Rabat Caravanserai of 15th century. Not much is known exactly about the origins of the Caravanserai, which is located not far from the Chinese border. It served as a stopping post for the Silk Road trading caravans, which used to overnight here between these inhospitable mountains, others tell it must have been a Buddhist Monastery and for nomadic tribes from the region it is a holy place, they go there to pray.
The caravanserai was restorated in the 1980s.
The caravanserai has a square foundation, that is much bigger than it looks like from the outside because it digs deep into the hillside behind. Inside there is a central chamber, going to 30 rooms including the entrance and the khan's quarters. In the valley you can find a perfect place to camp before or after crossing the Torugart pass (the Chinese border).
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Koshoy Korgon
Koshoy Korgon are the ruins of the small citadel not far from Kara-Suu village (province Naryn), about eight kilometers from At-Bashy. It dates to the period from the 10th to the 12th century, and it is said that legendary hero Manas buried his friend Koshoy here.
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Saimaly-Tash
Saimaly-Tash are interesting 5,000-year-old petroglyphs and from the archeological point of view necessary to see. The site, which means 'Embroidered Stones' in Kyrgyz, consists of 10,000 rock carvings and drawings, witch are found in the mountain called Suleiman in the Fergana range, near the town of Dmitrievka, which is located 50 km from Jalal-Abad.
The petroglyphs are over two slopes, most of them represent animals, such as ibex, wolves, horses, camels, snow leopards and even monkeys. Some of them represent hunting scenes, ritual dances, men working in the field with oxen and camels and there are also shamanic symbols.
The oldest images date from the Bronze Age, some are from Iron Age, other carvings and drawings are made by the Saks in the early Middle Ages and Turkic tribes.
The Kyrgyz believe that if they visit Saimaly-Tash they will be lucky…
The Institute of Archeology in Bishkek, supported by UNESCO and the UNDP, now explore burial mounds at Saimaly-Tash. The site is difficult to reach, there is no road to the valley, and only in the Summer months, it's to possible to go there from Dmitrievka on horseback.
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Balbals
 Balbals are stone figures and can be found in the steppe regions and pastures, they represent the defeated enemies of the Turkic khans and were established in honor of deceased khans.
One of them is in the grass near the petroglyphs at Cholpon Ata; other figures were brought from different places to make an open air museum of balbals next to the Burana tower in the town of Tokmak near Bishkek.
All over Central Asia, from Mongolia to Turkey, balbals can be found, and is said to be the oldest evidence of the nomadic religious beliefs.
Many of these balbal figures have the cup at chest level. The cup is said to symbolize the enemy's submission and offer the service to their master in the next world.
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The territory of Kyrgyzstan covers about 199,000 square kilometers. Just over 90 per cent lies above 1,500 meters and 41 per cent above 3,000 meters. The main mineral resources are gold, coal, lead, antimony, mercury and uranium. Kyrgyzstan borders with China to the east, Tadjikistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west and Kazakhstan to the north.
Tian Shan Mountains cover around 100,000 square kilometers and extend some 2,500 kilometers from north-west China through Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Its maximum width reaches 480 kilometers. The South Inylchek Glacier of Central Tian Shan stretches 62 kilometers.
In the southern border with Tadjikistan there is the northern edge of the Pamir. The most part of it lies in Tadjikistan and culminates at the Pamir Knot.
There are about 1,923 lakes in Kyrgyzstan, the largest is the famous Lake Issyk Kul ('warm lake'), lies in a basin at 1,600 meters, is 702 meters deep and is 6,280 square kilometers large, and never freezes.
Kyrgyzstan's mountain water and glaciers form some of Central Asia's major water sources. The largest river is Naryn river, it's important and becomes the Syr Darya, which flows into Uzbekistan. The Naryn river supports seven power stations. The Sary Jas, Inylchek and Ak Shyrak rivers flow east to China's Tarim basin. The Chui river is channeled into a major irrigation canal. Water covers 4.3 per cent of the land of Kyrgyzstan and forest 5.1 per cent.
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Climate
Kyrgyzstan has a continental climate with sharp local variations, in general it is a sunny country with 2,900 hours of sunlight per year in some areas.
In January the average temperature is -5 degrees, it is warmer in Osh and Lake Issyk Kul. Mountain valley temperatures fall to minus 30 degrees or lower (at night).
The winter temperatures in the capital Bishkek are from plus 4 degrees to minus 20 at night.
In February or March the snow disappears and most of the rain falls in April, May and June.
From July to September it is the best time for trekking, the average temperature for July and August between 800 meters and 1700 meters is 26-30 degrees, but it could be also over 40 degree. In the mountains it usually starts snowing in September and by November in the lowlands. Weather changes constantly in the mountains, there can be summer and winter in one day.
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 The area of Kyrgyzstan is covered for more than 90% with mountains, 40% above the 3000 m. One of the biggest and most beautiful ranges in Kyrgyzstan are the Tien-Shan range or 'the Heavenly Mountains', stretching from the south-east of the country to the west, till the borders with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the Pamir mountain range in the south of Kyrgyzstan. The Tien Shan range covers 100,000 square kilometers. Among the highest mountains of the Tien Shan region are peaks Pobeda (7439 m) and Khan-Tengri (7010 m), but many peaks are between 4000m and 6000m high.
In the south of the country the Pamir mountain range 'the roof of the world', with the famous Lenin Peak (7134 m), one of the most popular peaks above the 7000m in the world. The Zaalaiski range is situated on the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, other peaks in Tajikistan are Peak Kommunizma (7495m) and Peak Korzhenevskaya (7105m), which can be easily reached from Osh, the second city of Kyrgyzstan.
In the Tien-Shan area are also situated the famous Merzbacher Lake, at an altitude of 3300 m, and the 60 km long Inylchek Glacier and Inylchek River.
In the centre of the Tien Shan area the second largest mountain lake on earth Lake Issyk-Kul can be found, situated at an altitude of 1609 m. Because of its depth and thermal activity the lake never freezes, many rivers flow into the lake but none flows out. Around the Lake high mountains to the north, Kungey Alatoo, and south, Terskey Alatoo; it's views are magnificent but many mountains were never climbed.
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Lake Issyk Kul
 Issyk Kul means "warm lake" in Kyrgyz. The vast body of water owes its name to a combination of extreme depth, thermal activity and mild salinity. At the altitude of 1,608 meters above the sea level Issyk Kul is the second largest mountain lake in the world. The deepest point is 702 meters. The lake runs eastwards from Balykchy to Karakol for 184 kilometers and stretches 61 kilometers at its widest, 116 rivers flow into the lake, but none flows out.
Minerals give the salty lake its curative properties and colour but make it unsuitable for drinking or irrigation. Around the lake the mountainranges have an altitude of over 4,000 meters: to the north the Kungey (facing the sun) Ala Too and the Terskey (one who turns away from the sun) Ala Too to the south. The western part of the basin consists of rocky desert shores with sparse, saline vegetation, while in the east well-watered steppes and meadows turn the stores green.
Visitors have a choice of the full luxury of the health resorts or sanatoria, complete with mud bath, gyms and saunas/speleotherapy, massage services, tennis, badminton and billiards, or more basic accommodation in a village homestay, a guesthouse or in a yurt.
The lake's shores serve as a wintering place for waterfowl: the pochard duck, mallard, bald coot and swan. Hare, fox and muskrat live in the thickets around the lake. Supporting some 40 kinds of mammals and 200 types of birds, the lake and a 1.6-kilometer-wide zone around its shore were made the Issyk-Kul preserve in 1948 and hunting was banned within its limits.
The natural conditions of the Issyk-Kul shore are favorable for wildlife. The high mountains around Issyk Kul are home to the rare snow leopard. Red deer, golden eagles, and other wild animals also live here.
Issyk Kul legend
Many years ago at the place where there is now the lake Issyk Kul lived two Kyrgyz tribes.
They were the Kungey tribe and the Terskey one, as a rule each tribe had its 'bogatir' (a strong man). Kungey had Ulan and Terskey had Santash. Both of those young men fell in love with the daughter of the poor shepherd, her name was Issyk Kul. But the girl couldn't decide whom of them she had to marry. They both were handsome, intelligent and strong enough. Then men came to a conclusion to fight and a winner had to make a proposal to the girl.
The tribe Kungey decided to stand one by one from the north and Terskey from the south. So people made a big circle for a fight and started to watch it. The battle continued many days. In the end it happened, that after a long fighting the strong men killed each other and fell lifeless.
Their souls turned into the winds. People from the tribes who watched it bursted into tears from horror, turned into stones and became the mighty mountain ranges. And their tears turned into the rivers and the rivers filled the spot of fighting very quickly with water.
The poor girl Issyk Kul couldn't stand a horror of what had happened and turned into a white swan.
Many years passed. New people settled down around the lake. They hunted in the mountains of Kungey and Terskey, farmed on the coast and fished in the waters of the warm high-mountainous lake Issyk Kul.
Only a few people know why the lake doesn't freeze in the winter. That's because the stoned tribes still mourn the place of fighting with their hot tears. Mighty Ulan and Santash continue to compete to each other. As Ulan starts to blow to the side of the East, in a while of time Santash answers him and blows even stronger to the west. And the white swan never flies from this place during the whole year and flying around the area calls her lovers very pitifully.
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Lake Son Kul
 Situated 35 kilometers from Kochkor and a couple of kilometers south of the tiny village of Sary Bulak, a remote mountain lake set in a vast, treeless plain, 3013 meters above sea level. With no settlements and most of the year deserted. Son Kul is used by the shepherds from the Kochkor, Naryn and At-Bashi regions as a jailoo - a pasture during the summer months. It is considered the pearl of Kyrgyz Jailoos, and tourists can be accommodated in the yurt and spend a day meeting the locals or go horse-riding and walking.
Water and sky seem to meet on the Son Kul area, a parable from the history of Kyrgyzstan comes to mind: when the menacing Ormon Khan saw the lake for the first time in his life, he was fascinated by its beauty. Being very angry, he imposed a toll of forty rare thoroughbred horses on the tribe living by the lake because they had hidden such a miracle from him.
The lake is 29 km long and about 18 km wide with a maximum depth of 13.2 m. The water temperature in the summer is 11-12 Celsius and, unlike Issyk Kul, it freezes over between November and May.
The surroundings of Son Kul are completely untouched, plenty of medicinal herbs and various flowers. Once the last snow melts, many edelweiss will bloom. As many as 66 species of waterfowl live on the shore of the lake. From mid-May until the end of September, you can observe gulls, ducks and cranes, black, white and dark-blue storks, mergansers, bald coots, plovers, falcons, golden eagles and shags. Son Kul is the only place where the rare Indian mountain goose nests. This bird is protected by the State and listed in the Red Book.
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Lake Sary Chelek
Sary Chelek means 'Yellow Bucker' or sometimes it translated as 'Golden Hollow'. At an altitude of 2500 meters and the lake is officially 300 meters deep.
Sary Chelek is one of about six lakes in the region, it's the biggest. The lake is of ecological importance and that's why it was made a Biosphere Reserve in the 1960s. Since 1978, it has been under the auspices of UNESCO. The area has a surprising beauty, the steep surroundings of the lake heavily forested with nut and fruit trees.
Sary Chelek is very special place because it possess more than a third of Kyrgyzstan's flora and fauna types and there are many of the world's rare animal and plant species, such as brown bears, martins, snow leopards, wild cats, deer, and the greater horseshoe bat. Hunting is illegal here. The damage to the reserve, through poaching, deforestation and over-harvesting of nuts, berries, fruit and honey, has been acute during the economically difficult years since independence.
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Lake Chatyr Kul
At its south-western end, next to the Torugart pass (the Chinese border) situated the deep blue Lake Chatyr Kul. The name means 'lake on the roof' in Kyrgyz. The lake is at an altitude of 3530 meters above sea level and it is the highest of the country's main lakes. Its 175 square kilometers provide breeding and resting areas for many migrating bird species, including the Bar-headed goose.
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Chuy, starts in the Kyrgyz Ala Too, and is formed by the confluence of the rivers Koch Kor and Joon Aryk, after the Boom canyon the Chon Kemin river flows also into the Chuy river and many small rivers. Total length is 221 km, also forms the border with Kazakhstan and flows into Kazakhstan.
Chon Kemin, starts in the Kungey Ala Too, total length approx. 80 km, flows in the Chuy river.
Kekemerin, is formed by the confluence of the rivers Suusamyr and West Karakol, some smaller rivers in the area flow into the Kekemerin river, which flows itself into the Naryn river. Length approx. 80 km.
Naryn, starts in the Terskey Ala Too, and is formed by the confluence of the Big and Kichi (small) Naryn rivers. With 535 km it's the largest river of Kyrgyzia and the water of many of the rivers from the territory in central Kyrgyzia flow into the Naryn river. In the west of the country it flows into Uzbekistan, where its name changes into the wellknown Syr-Darya River.
Chatkal, starts in the Talas Ala Too range, total length 160 km and flows west into Kazakhstan.
Sary Jaz, starts in the Terskey Ala Too range, and has many tributaries in the area. Flows into China.
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From the total area of Kyrgyzstan (200,000 km2), approximately 4,6 % is protected area, in total there are 6 'State Reserves' and 67 'Nature Parks' (in categories: forest park, botanical park, geological park, multi-use park and hunting park).
Herewith the most important protected areas in the Kyrgyz Republic. More information about the parks, directly with the State Forest Service, 228, Toktogula Street or through Horizon Travel.
In Talas province, Besh-Tash State Park. Total area of 32,411 hectares and protecting of unique ecosystems from low forest to high altitude alpine meadows. The Park is nationally and globally significant for populations of Semenov' s Fir and Tien Shan Fir, as well as other flora and fauna listed in the Red Data Book of the Kyrgyz Republic. These include Snow Leopard, Eurasian Lynx, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, Saker Falcon and Lammergeier. The Besh-Tash river has introduced rainbow trout.
In Jalal-Abad province, Besh-Aral State Reserve. Total area of 63,200 hectares and altitude ranges between 1,000 and 4,000 m above sea level. Situated in the West of the country, along the Uzbek border. The area supports a wide range of montane ecosystems characteristic of the western Tien Shan. The area is important for one West Tien Shan endemic mammal, the Menzbir's Marmot, as well as other Red Data Book species, including Snow Leopard, Turkestan Lynx and Brown Bear. More than 1,500 species of higher plants, 46 species of mammal and 150 species of birds have been recorded. Rare plants include the Semenov's Fir, Aflatun pearl bush, Kyrgyz apple, Kaufman's tulip, Greig's tulip and Korolkov's sage;
 and Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve. Total area of 23,868 hectares. The reserve is botanically most important, it supports more than 1,000 species of plants and nearly 33% of the protected area remains forested (walnut) and of particular significance are the number of wild ancestors of commercially important plants found here - wild apples, endemic walnuts and other nut-bearing trees, wild tulips, grapes etc. The Reserve is significant for 40 mammals, including the Brown Bear, Snow Leopard, Eurasian Lynx and Manul. 157 bird species have also been recorded, including threatened birds of prey such as the Saker Falcon;
and Saimaluu-Tash State Park. Total area of 32,000 hectares. The reserve is located in the eastern part of the province, along the Kugart river. The area is important for the complex of the Kugart mountains and numerous petroglyph (rock art) sites. The Bronze Age petroglyphs portray scenes of hunting, ploughing, dancing and others and have an enormous cultural and historic value nationally. In the reserve have been recorded 35 bird species, 16 mammal species and 1500 plant species, including the Brown Bear, Eurasain Lynx, Golden Eagle, Lammergeier, and Manul.
In Chui province, Ala-Archa National Nature Park. Total area of 2,280 hectares. Situated 35 km to the south of Bishkek, includes juniper and pine forest, alpine meadows and high alpine ecosystems of the Ala-Too mountains. Recorded are 600 species of higher plants, 26 mammal species and more than 100 bird species. Including the rare Snow Leopard, Eurasian Lynx, Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Short-toed Snake Eagle and Saker Falcon;
and Chon-Kemin State Park. Total area 126,514 hectares. In the Park the attractive Chon-Kemin river, more than 780 plant species are reported and the rare mammals, like Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Red Deer, Eurasian Lynx, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, Saker Falcon, Lammergeier and Ibisbill.
In Naryn province, Karatal-Jarypyk State Reserve. Total area of 24,000 hectares and is divided into three distinct areas: the forests of Karatal-Jarypyk and the high altitude lakes of Song-Kul and Chatyr-Kul. These areas support at least 38 species of mammal, more than 190 species of bird, 7 species of fish, 7 species of amphibians, and over 300 species of higher plants. The high altitude Song-Kul (3000m) and Chatyr-Kul (3500m) lakes are important breeding sites for waterbirds (Bar-headed Goose) and migrating birds. In the area Marco Pola Sheep, Snow Leopard, Eurasian Lynx, Bar-headed Geese, Demoiselle Crane, Black Stork, Golden Eagle, Saker Falcon and Himalayan Griffon;
and Salkyn-Tor State Park. Total area of 10,448 hectares. One of the main aims of the Park is the restoration of populations of the TienShan maral;
and Naryn State Reserve. Total area of 36,969 hectares, it supports 21 species of mammals, more than 100 species of birds and around 500 species of higher plants. The Reserve supports the only remaining viable population of the Tienshan Maral in the Republic and the protection, captive breeding and release of this species is the main focus for management activities at the Reserve. Other mammals in the Reserve are Snow Leopard, Eurasian Lynx, Brown Bear, Markhor and several birds of prey.
In Issyk Kul region, Sarychat Ertash State Reserve. Total area of 72,000 hectares and the main aim of the reserve is to protect and maintain the pristine meadow ecosystems of the mountain plateau, typical of the Inner Tien Shan. Good populations available of Siberian Ibex, Markhor, Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Stone Martin, Grey Wolves, Red Foxes, and marmots and hares. The Ibisbill breeds here;
and Issyk Kul State Reserve. Part of the Issyk Kul Biosphere Reserve and was gazetted to protect important wetlands and wintering waterbirds in the Issyk Kul lake. The Reserve includes more than 20,000 hectares of open water, as well as ten areas of land stretching along 400 km of the lakeshore. Main aim is to provide protection for the 40,000 till 60,000 waterflowl which flocks to the shore each winter. Not only migrating birds, the reserve supports also 24 mammal species, 232 bird species and more than 300 species of higher plants;
and Karakol National Park. Total area of 8,450 hectares and the aim is to protect the unique natural scenery of the Karakol gorge, the high-altitude lake, Ala-Kol and the high peaks of Karakol mountain. It supports more than 700 plant species, 23 mammal species and 150 bird species;
and Issyk Kul Biosphere Reserve. Total area the province of Issyk Kul, it's recognized under UNESCO as a part of the World Biosphere Reserve Network.
In Osh region, Kara-Shoro State Park. Total area of 8,450 hectares. Part of it is forest, 823 hectares, the remainder is pasture and grassland. More than 700 species of plant have been recorded and animal species, like Eurasian Lynx, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Griffon and Saker Falcon;
and Kyrgyz-Ata State Park. Total area of 11,172 hectares and the aim is to protect the southern juniper (archa) forests. Also 700 other plant species are recorded, and the park supports several bird and mammal species listed in the Red Data Book of Kyrgyz Republic, these include Eurasian Lynx, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, and Saker Falcon.
(the above mentioned information in a leaflet supplied by the 'State Forest Service of the Kyrgyz Republic', financed through a grant for the Tacis West Tien Shan Interstate Biodiversity Project, 2001-2003).
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 The population of Kyrgyzstan is about 5 million. Most of them live in the Fergana valley. Kyrgyzstan is a multi-national country; there are a total of 80 ethnic groups in Kyrgyzstan and more than 90 nationalities. Kyrgyz make up 99% of the population in Naryn province and 90% in Talas province. Most of the Uzbek population lives in Osh province and one third in Jalal-Abad province. Before Independence 85% of the population lived in rural regions, now it has fallen to 61%.
In Kyrgyzstan, 67% of the population is Kyrgyz, the Russians make up the largest Slavic minority of the population of Kyrgyzstan, about 11 percent. They live mostly in Bishkek, along the north side of Issyk Kul Lake and in Talas. Some Russians arrived in Kyrgyzstan at the end of the 19th century. They came because the Russian government promised that they will get land grants if they work here and won't pay taxes. Nowadays many Russians departed for their homeland.
Most of the Uzbek people live in and around the Fergana valley, 15% of the total population of the country. Their belief in Islam is really strong. Many of them are traders, farmers and work on the cotton farms of Kyrgyzstan.
 Minorities are the Ukrainians, the second Slavic largest group in the country, around 1,5 per cent of the population, many of them has left Kyrgyzstan since independence; the Uighurs make up 1% of Kyrgyzstan's population. Mostly they live around Bishkek, Uzgen and Jalal-Abad. Uighurs also belong to the Turkic group of people; they are very similar to the Uzbeks and based in China. Most of Uighurs who live in Bishkek are descendants of refugees.
Others groups are the Tatar, they also belong to the Turkic people, about 50 thousand in Kyrgyzstan. Most of them live in Bishkek and Osh. Some Tatars arrived to Kyrgyzstan from Russia during colonization as they could work here as traders and clerks, many also returned to Russia since independence.
Small minorities are Germans, Kazakhs, Dungans, Koreans, Tajiks, Afghans, Iranian, Turks, etc.
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the Kyrgyz origin
Today there are about 30 Kyrgyz tribes, small and big ones, strong and weak ones. They are two main regional blocks: the northerners or Tagai and the southerners or Ich Kylyk. More info northern tribes… In the southern Fergana and Alai regions the main tribes are Adygene (around Osh), Kara Teit, Boston, Kesek and others, other tribes live in the Southern mountains (borders of China and Tajikistan) and are called Kara ('black') Kyrgyz. Kyrgyz in the south have more Islamic culture than the northern Kyrgyz people because of their contacts with Uzbeks, Uighurs and Tajiks.
The Sajak and the Cherik are also big tribes. They live in the central plateau. The Sajak in Son Kul, Suusamyr and Issyk Kul and the Cherik in At-Bashy and Torugart.
The Kyrgyz people are Turkic people and were originally nomads. They migrated to the territory of Kyrgyzstan from the upper Yenisei and China in about the 16th century. The main occupation of the Kyrgyz people was agriculture and horse or sheep breeding, and they still like horses. The small Kyrgyz horses (some say 'ponies') were famous because they were strong and sturdy. For centuries the animal husbandry and horse breeding were very important. The Kyrgyz make good buttermilk, ayran (a yoghurt drink), cheese and fermented mare's milk 'kymyz'.
The name "Kyrgyz" is one of the oldest ethnic names in Asia. The translation of 'Kyrgyz' is Forty Tribes or 'Kirk Kyz', forty girls. The number forty we meet throughout Kyrgyz folklore: Manas, the legendary hero, had forty companions; newborn babies are kept at home for forty days, and after this period are shown to others; forty days after the death of a person the family gathers to remember the deceased relatives.
The national flag of Kyrgyzstan has red field with a yellow sun in the centerhaving 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the hole on the top of roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurta named in Kyrgyz also 'tunduk', is said to be the symbol of the national flag.
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 The Kyrgyz people are a mix of the clans who migrated from the banks of the Siberian Yenisei River, with Mongols and smaller tribes whom they absorbed over the centuries.
The Kyrgyz people are real nomadic people with a strong nomadic tradition and prefer to live in the mountains, in contrary to the Kazakh people, they prefer to live in the steppes (also in a yurta).
For centuries the nomadic people lived in portable dwellings, yurtas. The yurtas are very suitable for transportation and it is not difficult to assemble them. They are also good for living because they are warm in the cold weather and cool in the summer. The Kyrgyz put felt rugs ("koshma") on the ground of yurtas and decorate walls with felt shyrdaks (carpets). The rich people make their yurtas beautiful with brightly colored shyrdaks and use richly embroidered woven strips. The left hand side of the yurta is for men and contains horse or hunting gear, and the right hand side with the stove and cooking utensils is for women and the most honoured place in the yurta is opposite of the entrance, 'for the guests'.
Traditional clothing of Kyrgyz men consists of a padded or sheepskin coat, boots, and a white felt hat with black or red flaps ("kolpak"). Married women also put on often a white turban made of a long scarf. Marriage for the Kyrgyz people was always very important. Earlier and also very often now in the villages an arrangement is usually made between parents. Poor men had to wait for years to save enough before being able to marry. The young woman's dowry to her new family included the yurta, household equipment, etc. All of it could then have her children (polygamy was common). A woman could divorce her husband and, if he died, she had the right to remain single. When her husband was not at home and after his death, she was the chief at home.
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It is important to mention that in Kyrgyzstan they export wool, meat and cotton. Farming and livestock raising are about one-third of the country's production, the most part of workers are employed in this sphere. Sheep, yak and horse breeding for wool, meat, milk and fat are the basic occupation of the Kyrgyz. The sheep is also used for the wool to make felt. The Kyrgyz like to make clothes, yurtas and rugs using felt. Since privatization the livestock herds diminished from 8.7 million in 1992 until 3.8 million in 1998, mostly sheep and goats.
Farming is not everywhere possible, only on 60 % of the land. Most of the land is suitable for hayfields and pastures, total 7% of the land is arable, and the major crops are grains, fruit, vegetables, cotton and tobacco.
In the north of the country there are mostly small farm enterprises (mainly livestock raising) and in the south, where a big percentage of the Uzbek people live, they are involved into growing of cotton, tobacco, grains, rice etc.
After independence many of the state farms became agricultural enterprises and some cooperatives or individuals also became owners of the land. But because of less of experience many sold off their property again. Also the machinery that was in work in the Soviet period was partly sold by farm managers or hired out to some small farmers. Although there are many economical obstacles and problems in the country agricultural production is growing at the present time.
The real treasure of Kyrgyzstan is the world's largest natural walnut forest in the south of the country around Arslanbob. About 600 thousand hectares of walnut groves.
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 Meals of the Kyrgyz often begin and end with prayer. Meals are served on the cloth set on the floor or a very low table. It is necessary to offer or receive food with the left hand. You always should eat a little bit of bread if you are in the house of the Kyrgyz people even if you eat it not much. Tea is also always on the table in the Kyrgyz house. If you eat in the yurta you can see that the guests sit only around the mat opposite the door where it is very warm. All other people sit in order of age or seniority and the host sits with his back to the entrance with his wife on his right side to serve the food.
Sheep is the basic food for the Kyrgyz, most popular dish from sheep is 'beshbarmak' which they eat with their hands. The head of the sheep will be given to the most honoured guest or old people. The eye of sheep is always given to guests or to new friends.
Dairy products, like buttermilk, ayran (a yoghurt drink), cheese and fermented mare's milk 'kymyz' is the second main group of products on the eating table of the Kyrgyz. 'Kymyz', fermented mare's milk, is said to be a treat. They say that kymyz has curative properties and even use it to treat anaemia, tuberculosis, etc.
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The Kyrgyz never converted totally to Islam. They prayed when the mullah visited them, but they did not go to the mosques for praying and they did not fast during Ramadan and did not make pilgrimage to Mecca. At the moment every year some 2500-3000 people from Kyrgyzstan go to Mecca, mainly from the southern Uzbek minority, in the north of Kyrgyzstan more small mosques appear.
For some Muslims shamanistic rituals are also important. Howeve, most Kyrgyz people say that they are real Muslims and respect the moral of the religion, though many don't practice it.
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Shamanism appeared in Kyrgyzstan when the first invades came from the Siberian region. The word shaman is from the word saman with the meaning “he who knows”. In nomadic times the shaman was the central figure to the life of the tribe, because he organized rituals for important life events and solved spiritual and medical problems. The main thing is the belief in many spirits and that our souls belong to a spirit world. The shaman is both medicine man and a prophet, and escorts the soul of the dead into the next world. The spiritual journeys the shaman makes appear in Kyrgyz epics and songs.
Some remnants of shamanist practice are still alive in Kyrgyz life today. Many will say that a shaman is a consulting doctor.
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Central of Kyrgyz culture are the songs, poems and stories performed by local bards (akyns).
Akyns were important persons at weddings, anniversaries and other festivals. They were often accompanied by komyz, two-stringed instrument like a lute or guitar. A special group of akyns were Manaschi, the narrators of the Manas epic. Some akyns became famous, such as Toktogul, Tokolog Moldo and Bokonbaeva.
Most important modern Kyrgyz author is Chinghiz Aitmatov. He writes in Kyrgyz and also in Russian, and many of his titles were translated in English, German, French, Dutch and other languages.
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 From the 5th century B.C. to the 16th century A.D. the Great Silk Road was the main link between two parts of the world East and West. It is a fact that Kyrgyzia is historically situated on the Silk Road, between the markets of China and Europe, India and the Middle East. Pilgrims, thinkers, explores and of course traders traveled in caravans with silk, spices, gold, paper, ceramics, bronze, etc. along the many different routes, crossing the lands with mysterious mountains, grassland and magnificent scenery. There were routes in the area of Kyrgyzia through the mountains to the East, to China, others crossed from the East to the West over the mountainpasses, like Bedel, Terek Dawal, Irkeshtam and Torugart, through Issyk Kul Lake and along the Chui valley, and through Osh and Djalal-Abad.
Not only trade flourished but there was also an exchange of culture, art, philosophy, beliefs and ideas. In the 15th century China retreated behind its Great Wall, and sea routes were discovered. The importance of the Great Silk Road declined. Nowadays, a ‘renaissance’ of the historical Great Silk Road is underway and many tourists follow in the footsteps of the traders and travelers of the historical Silk Road and visit many countries in Central Asia.
Kyrgyzia has many remains of the Great Silk Road, but may be the most significant one is caravanserai at Tash Rabat of the 15th century, that served for many years as a place to rest for trading caravans.
Five countries Kyrgyzia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are situated on territory of Central Asia on the Great Silk Road.
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Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world. It stretches from the Caspian Sea to China and from Siberia to the Tien Shan range and borders on Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzia, Turkmenistan and China. Its territory is 2,717,300 sq. km. Like Kyrgyzia it is a multinational country, about 17 million people; Kazakhs, Russians, Ukrainians, Germans, Uzbeks and others. The main professing religions are Islam and Christianity, but here is also Catholicism and Buddhism. Official language is Kazakh, the second language of the country is Russian.
Almaty is the former capital of republic and Astana is the present one.
Kazakhstan was for many years the suitable place for nomadic horseback peoples. Until the 20th century it remained largely a nomadic country, and partly that’s why there are not so many ancient cities or ruins. Some historic remains are from non-Kazakh cultures, the remains of ancient caravan routes, which prove a connection between two: eastern and western civilizations.
Kazakhstan is a land with the magnificent steppes, deserted areas and ranges of snow mountains.
The Tien Shan, the Zhungar Alatau and the Altay along southern and eastern regions of Kazakhstan are the real attraction of the country. The mountains of the country are beautiful places to hike in summer and ski in winter, they represent a terrific landscape because of icy peaks, forested valleys, rivers and clear lakes, with many species of birds and rare flora and fauna. In Kazakhstan you can find all climatic zones.
Kazakhstan is rich with mineral and natural resources: large deposits of oil, gas, coal, aluminium, iron and metals. Since 1991 Kazakhstan is a presidential republic and a sovereign state.
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Uzbekistan is a historically rich country of Central Asia. It is situated between the rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya, borders on Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The territory of Uzbekistan is 447,4 thousand sq. km., with the population of 27 million people. In Uzbekistan live Uzbeks, Russians, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Tatars, Karakalpaks, Kyrgyz, Koreans and others. The capital of Uzbekistan is Tashkent, the state language is Uzbek and the main religion is Islam, over half of population of Uzbekistan is under 15 years.
As a place of many ancient civilizations there are some of the world’s oldest towns, Silk Road’s main centers and Central Asian’s architectural attractions. Some powerful states as Baktira, Sogdiana, Parifa were born and died here. Many caravans from China to Europe passed the country along the Silk Road. In the Middle Ages Uzbekistan was a center of Tamirlan’s empire, the monuments of that period in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. The country’s famous scientists and poets are known all over the world, Avicenna, Ulugbek, Al-Khorezmi.
Large areas of the country are deserts, the greatest is Kizilkum. Cotton and fig grow on the steppes and deserts of the country. Many springs which flow from the mountains make the largest rivers of the area, the rivers Amu Darya and Syr-Darya. The country is rich with flora and fauna and there are many kinds of plants, birds and fish.
Nowadays there are plants and factories, which produce even automobiles, buses, and tractors. Others manufacture machines for the cotton and textile industry. Uzbekistan is the 6th largest exporter in the world of cotton. Uzbekistan became independent after USSR collapse in 1991.
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 Turkmenistan is a warm country with 300 days of sunshine during a year and summer temperatures till 50 Celsius. Winter is very short. Turkmenistan is 488 thousand square km. and borders with Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Caspian Sea, the population is 4,5 million people, 90% of them are Turkmen, others Uzbeks, Kazakhs and small minorities. Turkmens prefer to live in rural areas.
State language is Turkmen, religion is Muslim.
Its capital is Ashgabad, which has it’s popular monuments. Turkmenistan mostly lies in ruins because of the frequent earthquakes and invasions. Many cities were built here by Alexander the Great, the Persians and the Arabs. So cities as Nissa, Margush, Annau can tell us a lot about prosperity of the area, most important are the famous ruins of the ancient city Mevr, where Scheherazade retold her tales, it was built by Arabs. Turkmenistan was a center of the ancient civilizations, along the Great Silk Road, which went through the country.
Landscape of the country mostly represents dunes, mountain ranges and railway towns. Kara Kum Desert is one of greatest deserts of the world and covers 80 % of the territory of the country. Kopetdag Mountain is 2942 m high.
Turkmen people are hospitable, and interesting to meet, especially the Turkmen women, with their bright embroidered velvet gowns and flowery headscarves, old men wear massive wool hats and cloaks. The Turkmens are famous with their traditional patterned carpets and their horses. The Carpet Museum houses the biggest carpet of the world, which even is mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The country is rich with natural gas, petroleum, and also produces good cotton. It’s the 4th largest producer of natural gas in the world.
After collapse of USSR Turkmenistan became also an independent country, in 1991.
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 Xinjiang was called "Xi Yu" or Western Regions in ancient times. The region is bounded by the Altay Mountains in the north, the Pamirs in the west, the Karakoram, Altun and Kunlun Mountains in the south. The Tien Shan Mountains divide Xinjiang into northern and southern parts. Southern Xinjiang includes the Tarim Basin and the Taklamakan Desert, while northern Xinjiang has the Junggar Basin. The Turpan Basin lies at the eastern end of the Tianshan Mountains. This place boasted of numerous historical relics, including: The Jiaohe Ruins, Gaochang Ruins, Yangqi Mansion of "A Thousand Houses", Baicheng (Bay) Kizil Thousand Buddha Grottoes, Bozklik Grottoes in Turfan, Kumtula Grottoes in Kuqa and Astana Tombs in Turfan.
The most interesting sites in West-China, which attract a large flow of tourists from all over the world are the following cities/towns and of course the Taklamakan desert:
Urumqi is an ancient city on the Northern Route of the Silk Road and now the capital of the Xingjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In the surroundings there you can find many historical sites of the Silk Road, the most famous are Alagou Site, Ulabo Ancient City and Gongning City Site with many cultural remains as pottery jars, pieces of ancient silk, bronzes,etc. The regional museum in the city is very rich with exhibits, and some of them like silk fabrics, silk paintings and wooden slips are rare treasures. Many human traces were made in Urumqi area in the very ancient times and around the beginning of the first century there were found some small city kingdoms, also important part of Silk Road.
Urumqi means ‘beautiful pastureland’ in Mongolian. About 80% of the residents are Han Chinese.
 Kashgar is a typical oasis-turned area and home of the largest Uygur’s community. The Uygurs here differ from all other in their nationality with dialect, attire and physique, their live also Tajiks, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks and Han Chinese. In Kashgar you find the remains of the medieval times, as some carpenters, cobblers, blacksmiths have their things in the old streets and Id Kah Mosque looks like it was since 1442.
Kashgar is a famous historical and cultural city in China, situated on the ancient Silk Road.
There is the famous Atigar Mosque, the tomb of the Fragrant Lady, the tomb of the great man of letters, Mahmut Kashkari, etc. The special attraction for tourists is the famous ‘Sunday Bazaar’, although at present at a new location, it still hasn’t lost it’s charm.
Turfan has a special place in the history of Uygur, since nearby Gaochang was the capital of the Uygurs.
Turfan was an important post on the Silk Road and a center of Buddhism, Islam came in the 8th century. It was once a garrison town during the Chinese occupation. Turfan is also the hottest place in China.
If you wish to taste the best grapes you should do it in Turfan, the grapes are popular for their big size and sweet taste. About 240 thousand people live in Turfan; over half are Uygurs and the other are Han Chinese. Such sites of Turfan as the Flaming Mountain, the Thousand-Buddha Grotes, the Ruins of the Gaochang City, the beautiful Emin Minaret....all worth to visit.
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Taklamakan desert
The Silk Road east of Kashgar splits into two routes through the famous huge Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The northern road follows the modern road and railway to Kucha and Turfan; and the southern follows the remote course between the desert sands and the huge Pamir and Kunlun ranges. On this ancient route you can find a lot of ancient cities. Some cities as Niya, Miran and Yotkan are covered by sand, and some as Yarkand and Hotan are still important Uygur centers.
If you travel from Kashgar you can visit the southern towns.
Two thousand years ago Westerners traveled to China through the desert carrying precious stones, ambergris, ivory; Han diplomatic envoys traveled with documents to contract alliance and in caravans with silk, satin, porcelain westward through sand to the 36 states of the Western Regions. Two famous explorer-travelers China’s Monk Xuan Zang and Italy’s Marco Polo made many descriptions of this ancient and deserted road.
Xinjiang is famous throughout the world for its three Silk Road routes and to be the multinational region since ancient times. The population of the region is over 17 million people with 47 nationalities, half of them are Uygurs, others are Han, Kazakh, Hui , Mongolian, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek, Manchu, Daur, Tatar, Russian, etc. The minority nationalities in Xinjiang are hospitable; they represent their interesting nomadic life in the vast deserts and mountainous areas. The houses in the villages they live are always open for the foreigners.
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