Şımkent - Şımkent

Şımkent (or Shymkent) is a city of Kazakh desert.

To know

It is the third largest city in Kazakhstan. The name derives from two Sogdian words, Şım which means 'grass' and Kent (or kand) which means 'city'; hence "city in the grass".

When to go

Climate	gen	Feb	mar	apr	mag	down	Jul	needle	set	Oct	nov	dec
Maximum (° C)	2,4	5	11,7	20,4	26,5	32	34,7	33	27,6	19,2	10,8	4,6
Minimum (° C)	-6,4	-5	1	8	12,4	16,5	18,4	16	10,7	4,7	-0,2	-4
Precipitation (mm)	59	59	75	70	47	13	7	2	8	40	59	63
climate-data.org

Shymkent has a continental Mediterranean climate but with relatively dry much warmer summers and cold winters. Winters here are considerably warmer than in more northerly cities such as Almaty and Nur-Sultan, with the average monthly temperature during the coldest month (January) of around -1 ° C. Winter snowfalls are common. Shymkent has an average of just under 600mm of rainfall per year.

Background

Şımkent was founded in the 12th century as a caravanserai near the city of Sayram, on the Silk Road which is 10 km to the east. The city grew for the trade between the Turkish nomads and the Sogdians who settled there. It was destroyed several times: from Genghis Khan, from the soldiers of the southern Khanates and from the attacks of the nomads. At the beginning of the 19th century it became part of the Kokand khanate. It was conquered by the Russians in 1864. It took the new name of Chernyaev in 1914 and then renamed Şımkent in 1924. After the Russian conquest, the city became a center of trade between nomadic and sedentary Turks, and became famous for its kumis a drink.

There was a gulag located near Şımkent, and many Russian-speaking people came here to be imprisoned.

In January 2015, city officials sent a request to UNESCO to be recognized as an ancient city.

Until 2018, Şımkent was the administrative center of the South Kazakhstan region. On 19 June 2018 this privilege was withdrawn and became directly subordinate to the Government of Kazakhstan, the administrative center of the region moved to Turkistan and the region took the name of the Turkistan Region.

How to orient yourself

One of the most beautiful pedestrian streets in the city is 42.31882569.5844971 prospekt Beibitshilik where there are seat fountains and even an overturned house.

Neighborhoods

One of the most interesting neighborhoods in the city is the 42.31128269.5906441 pre-Russian neighborhood beyond the small river with wooden houses.

How to get

By plane

• 42.36569.4761111 Şımkent Airport (Kazakh: Халықаралық Шымкент Әуежайы, Russian: Международный Аэропорт Шымкент, IATA: CIT) (10 km northwest of the city). Air Astana and SCAT connect with 2 or 3 daily flights Almaty and 1 or 2 flights to Nur-Sultan, there is also a flight to Aktau. You fly to us too China, Russia, Turkey and Arab countries.

Line 12 of the minibus goes into the city center to Pr. Tauke-Khana. A taxi ride to the center costs between 1,000 and 1,200 tenge, and between 400 and 500 tenge for bus stations.  

By car

The city is located on the M32 road, which leads north-west into the city of Turkistan (Түркістан) and M39, which leads to Tashkent via Taras (Тараз) allows connection with Bishkek.

On the train

• 42.29884369.6102512 Şımkent Station, Kabanbay Batyr (1.5 km southeast of Ordabasy alany), ☎ 7 705 853 5400. Links with Almaty (7 trains a day: 3,480 tenge and 13/17 hours), Nur-Sultan, Turkistan (1,590 / 3,020 tenge and 3 / 4.5 hours), Kyzylorda (2,560 tenge and 7/12 hours), several trains for Taraz (1,715 tenge and 4 hours), Aralsk (3,820 / 6,950 tenge and 16/22 hours). Tashkent, Samarkand, Nukus, Bishkek.

The train station can be reached by bus 5 and 21. Or by marshrutka lines 5, 9, 12 and 21 from Ordabassy, ​​then drive west to Kazybek Bi to Pr. Tauke Khan (bus 5 goes to Respubliki). 

By bus

• 42.34873769.567453 Avtovokzal Samal (Автовокзал Самал) (5 km from the city center. From Tauke Khan ave, take bus number 26 to Bekzhan bazaar (Бекжан) or bus number 93 to Samal bazaar. There are also Marshrutkas 87 and 47 at 35-40 tenge. From Ordabassy Pl. For 50 tenge Marshutka n. 2, 50, 65. Taxis are available for 300-400 tenge.), ☎ 7 7252 45 12 41, @[email protected]. There is a ticket office in the Ordabassy Hotel in the central square of the same name.

There are night buses from Almaty Sayran bus station that leave every half hour between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm. The journey takes approximately 12 hours, 2,400 tenge (August 2012). Regular connections for Turkistan by minivan for about 3 hours; 1.000 tenge (Sep 2019), every hour on time 9: 00-18: 00, for Taraz 1,200 tenge (Sep 2019) and 4 hours, 5 trips a day according to the times 8: 00-19: 00. To Chernyaevka (border with Uzbekistan) minibus at 800 tenge and 2 hours from 9:00 to 18:00. At 6:30 pm there is also a bus to Bişkek at 2,000 tenge and 8 hours of travel. 

• 42.32732269.6305354 Avtovokzal Ayna (Автостанция Айна Базар) (corner between Zhibek Zholy and Aymautov, 3 km from the center). Some air-conditioned buses leave from here for Almaty (20,000 to 30,000 tenge and 11 hours of travel). 

Long-distance buses for Almaty (12 hours, departures 16: 00-07: 00) depending on comfort 600-1.500 tenge depart from the central 42.30945769.6007575 Ordabassy Square close to the monument or even from the train station.

Buses for Karaganda (20 hours of travel departure at 11:00), Astana (1 daily at 2pm, 24 hours, 3,000 tenge) depart from the station.

Minibuses (500 tenge, an hour and a quarter) across the Uzbek border leave from the Kolos stop on Respubliki street in the southwest of the city.

To go to Tashkent go to the intersection between via Repubblica and via Gagarin. There are marshrutkas and taxis waiting for passengers. A shared taxi to the border is approximately 1,400 tenge. Just south of the Gagarin and Republika junction, on the western side opposite the bus stop, there is a shopping arcade and at the back it opens onto a 42.30569.57446 parking for marshrutka. Beware the drivers drive extremely fast. The marshrutka passes from Avtobeketi (АвтоБекетi) to Saryagash. A few hundred meters southwest on Ulitsa Mayly-Kozha is another Avtobeketi where you can find a taxi for the last 5km to the Saryagash border checkpoint for 100 or 200 tenge. Buses leave Shymkent at 08:00, 10:00, 13:00, 16:00 and 19:00 from "Stariy Avtovokzal" near Nezavistimosti Park. Tickets are around 2,000 tenge, but they can be negotiated. The ride is comfortable and the border crossing is easier than in shared taxis and, unlike taxis, they go as far as Tashkent.

To go to Taraz locals pay 1,200 tenge (April 2019). Fifteen Marshrutkas depart from Samal station, 5km northwest of the city center. They operate until at least 6pm (and a sunset ride is spectacular). Perhaps cheaper from Bekzhan station, slightly further away. They arrive at Zhensaya Station, 5km west of the city center. It takes about 2.5 hours (marshrutkas deviate on some secondary roads and often have to stop for cattle).

By shared taxi

On the west side of the bus station, "shared taxis" depart, including those for Taraz (2 and a half hours, about 1,300 tenge)

For the Uzbek border a Chernayevka 150 km, taxis (1,500 tenge). Some taxis continue to Tashkent (about 20 km from the border, price negotiable), where passengers are usually dropped off at a metro station.

How to get around

By public transport

Buses run to and from the center and all microdistricts. A ticket costs 70 tenge (2018), even for short distances. Routes are marked at some bus stations and most locals know the routes. On the municipality site^{[link not working]} all bus routes are listed.

The "Marshrutkas" are mini-buses that travel mostly the same routes as the buses. The most useful buses are:

• n ° 5: station, Ordabasy alany, Tashenov, Tauke-Khan, Respublika dangyly
• n ° 12: airport, Tauke-Khan, Kazybek Bi, Ordabasy alany, station
• n ° 19: Ordabasy alany, Avtovokzal Ayna
• n ° 69: Ordabasy alany, Kazybek Bi, Tauke-Khan, Baytursynuly, Avtovokzal Samal

By taxi

You can take taxis for 300-400 tenge anywhere in the city, but you need to be careful not to overdo the price. An excellent solution is to use Yandex taxi.

Below is a list of official taxis:

• Shym trans kz, ☎ 7 7252 55 00 05, 7 7252 53 03 33. 
• Mobil OK, ☎ 7 707 115 5555, 7 701 055 5555. 
• City taxi, ☎ 7 701 448 22 22, 7 7252 33 33 33. 
• Oscar taxi, ☎ 7 701 707 2020, 7 7252 40 2222. 
• Sigma taxi, ☎ 7 7252 44 8181, 7 7252 44 8448. 
• Golfstrim, ☎ 7 7252 444 777, 7 775 644 44 77. 
• Diva taxi, ☎ 7 7252 44 95 44, 7 7252 44 95 85. 
• 13 Region, ☎ 7 7252 353535, 7 701 555 5555. 

By bike

The city is equipped with a system of bike sharing, however, the system requires registration at an office with a document. This makes the system useful only for those who will remain in the city for a certain period of time.

On foot

If you plan to walk, remember that districts are divided into "micro-rings" which look like small neighborhoods on the map, but are often four times as large.

What see

• 42.3207569.58861 Large tulip fountain (At the corner of the main street Tauke Xana and Mamashuli.). This fountain represents the tulip, a flower that should symbolize the city. 

• 42.3095469.6002232 Stele of Ordabasy square, Ordabasy Square. This impotent stele on the square introduces the nearby park. Long-distance buses as well as shared taxis to Sairam depart from this square. 
• 42.31740269.6050073 Ken-Baba Park (On the main road Tauke Xana and Kazybek-Bi). Some miniatures of famous architecture, as well as a small pond and a walking area with rides and swings. 

• 42.30672269.5994924 Independence Park, Ordabasy Square. At the place of the foundation of Shymkent, there is a park that can be reached by climbing a bridge over some beautiful fountains where there is an imposing recently built monument that resembles the Bayterek of Nur-Sultan.  

• 42.35137569.5290835 Şımkent Mosque (ОҚО Орталық мешіт), ☎ 7 702 341 4109. Located in a decentralized area of ​​the city along the way to the airport, it can only be reached by taxi. 
• 42.313569.60166 Local History Museum of the South Kazakhstan Region (Историко-краеведческий музей Южно-Казахстанской области), ☎ 7 7252 47 60 01. Tue-Sun 9: 00-18: 00.  
• 42.31664769.5885857 Mural from the Second World War (One of the crossroads of Al-Farabi st.). This mural commemorates the sacrifice of Soviet soldiers against the Nazis. 
• 42.32886769.5925028 Museum of the Victims of Political Repression (Sayasi kugyn-surgin kurbandary muzeyi), Ryskulbekov St 42, ☎ 7 7252 21 00 25. 100 tenge. Mon-Fri 9: 00-18: 00. The museum recalls the political repression during the Soviet era. 

• 

  Local History Museum of the South Kazakhstan Region

• 

  Mural from the Second World War

• 

  Museum of the Victims of Political Repression

• 

  Jet of the Abay Park

• 

  Entrance to the Abay park

• 42.32635969.5858339 Abay Park. Mon-Sun 8: 00-23: 00. There are several monuments in this park commemorating the dead of World War II, with an avenue with a long list of names of the fallen and a jet as a monument. At the entrance there is also a statue of Abai. Also there is the "dolphin" aquapark if you want some fun in summer. 
• 42.31397969.56610 Metallurgov Park. 
• 42.37687769.62763211 Zoopark, ☎ 7 701 122 0910. Mon-Sun 9: 00-20: 00. 

Events and parties

• Nauryz. March 22. The Nauryz celebrations in Shymkent are among the largest in Kazakhstan. The events take place at the Hippodrome in the northern part of the city. 

What to do

• Hippodrome. It can be an interesting place when horse racing takes place. 
• 42.3174769.5991311 Spartak, Tauke Khan Ave (In front of Mega on Tauke-Khan Avenue), ☎ 7 7252 53 44 40. Mon-Sat 7 am-8pm. Gorgeous outdoor pool, football pitch and basketball court. 
• 42.33584169.5938122 Stage (1km north from the old town), ☎ 7 747 225 2342. FC Ordabasy, which plays in the Premier League, the highest level of Kazakh football. Their home is the Kazhymukan Munaitpasov (or Hodzhy Mykana) stadium, with a capacity of 20,000 spectators. 

• 42.33763969.5936023 Children's train station. With a distance of 6 kilometers there are smaller trains suitable for children.  

Shopping

There are good souvenir shops in Ken Baba Park on Tauke-Khan Avenue. They sell stuffed camels, magnets, key rings, leather goods, plates and figurines.

Along the 42.31722569.6027451 prospekt Tauke Khan there is a significant concentration of currency exchanges. They are arranged next to each other on both sides of the street.

• 42.31927669.5965722 Mega Planet, Tauke Khan Ave, ☎ 7 7252 53 01 00. Mon-Sun 10: 00-22: 00. Most popular youth hangout in town, a shopping mall with indoor skating rink, cinema, Western-style grocery store, and upstairs food court. 
• 42.32613969.6307363 Ayna Bazar, Zhusipbek Aymauytov St 143. Great for buying food some clothes, Chinese electronics, CD with Kazakh music, etc. In an area a little out of town, but public transport connects it regularly. 
• Koktem Bazar. Good for fresh produce and fruit. 
• 42.31457269.5879284 Shymkent plaza (Шымкент плаза), Al-Farabi Square 3/1, ☎ 7 7252 61 05 15. Mon-Sun 9: 00-22: 00. 

How to have fun

Night clubs

• 42.32151169.6027711 Queen karaoke bar, Muhammed Haidar Dulati St, ☎ 7 702 992 1166. 19:00-04:00. 
• 42.32703669.601142 Bowling center, Kurmangazy Street, ☎ 7 708 553 8196. 15:00-03:00. 
• 42.3334669.6105723 Coco Hookah bar, Qazybek Bi St 194/1, ☎ 7 701 900 7542. 18:00-03:00. expensive but pleasant setting and stage with DJs and live music on some evenings. 

Where to eat

• Doner. The best Turkish "doner kebab" is a stuffed pita bread filled with meat, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, mayonnaise and ketchup sauce. The best doner kebab in Shymkent is a stand with a few outdoor tables and chairs located south of the center, on Turkestanskaya Street and Konayev Avenue. 
• "Shymkent" beer is sold in many places and is quite excellent, possibly the best local beer in the country. It is also economical.

Moderate prices

• 42.32300269.5903021 Madlen, Ilyaev 17. Mon-Sun 10: 00-24: 00. Western-style sandwiches, pastries, salads and smoothies. Very popular with locals. 
• 42.31733769.605562 Madlen, Tauke-Khan avenue. Mon-Sun 10: 00-01: 00. Second place managed by the same owners as the previous one. 
• 42.31785469.5960013 Dinara, Konayev Ave (Right across the street from the Mega Center mall on Tauke Xana), ☎ 7 702 380 8607. Grab a good shashlik (grilled meat kebab) and a cup of Shymkent Koe beer, a typical Shymkent meal. 

Average prices

• 42.32346569.5865824 Kok-saray, Bauyrzhan Momyshuly Ave 20, ☎ 7 771 960 7372. Mon-Sun 12: 00-24: 00. Uzbek restaurant. It offers beer and free Wi-Fi. 15% service specified and automatically added to the bill, but the service is good enough, as are the prices for a posh restaurant (350 tenge for a pint, 750 tenge for plov). 
• 42.3155369.608085 Eldoro, Tauke-Khan 80. Excellent and reasonably priced pizza. Try the vegetarian with goat cheese. It has great juices and reasonably priced beers. 

High prices

• 42.32007169.6003326 Mozzarella cheese, G. Ilyaev St 33, ☎ 7 7252 30 05 57. Mon-Sun 12: 00-01: 00. Italian food and free wifi. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

Apartments for rent are available. The price should not exceed 2,000 tenge for a normal room or 4,000 for an "elite" (newly renovated) apartment rental. No meals included, so-so conditions in most cases, but inexpensive. There are apartments on the main road (Tauke Xana / Respublika) near the Ogonyok bus stop.

• 42.32056669.5859681 City Hostel, Respublika Avenue 4, ☎ 7 7252 39 37 37. double 4.000 tenge (Sep 2019). This new hostel is located in a shopping center, with rooms adapted for accommodation. 
• 42.31770769.5862982 Promenade Park Hotel, Beybitshilik Ave 4Б, ☎ 7 87252467153, 7 87767468287. 
• 42.31291269.6109593 Dostyk Hotel, Adyrbekov St. 
• 42.32221469.5859464 Express city hotel, G. Ilyaev St 7. 

Average prices

• 42.3103169.600055 Ordabasy hotels, Kazybek Bi 1 (Located on the corner of Ordabasy square, where Tole Bi and Kazybek Bi intersect), ☎ 7 7252 53 64 21. double 6,400 tenge / night. Check-out: 10:00. This mid-range hotel is located on Ordabasy Square, opposite the large MiG monument. Late check-out is not available. 

• 42.32162769.5828396 Aidana Plaza Hotel, Beybitshilik Ave 13. 
• 42.32155169.6027677 Megapolis Hotel Shymkent, Zhylkyshiev St 35A. 
• 42.31907869.5630618 Orbita Boutique Hotel, Abay Ave 27. 
• 42.32305169.5993079 Гостиница "Sapar Standart, Konayev Ave 17/3. 

High prices

• 42.32715169.58368810 Canavas Hotel Shymkent, 43 B. Momyshuly, ☎ 7 7252551212, 7 87788705019. 
• 42.3249369.5963111 Rixos Khadisha Shymkent, Zheltoqsan St д.17, ☎ 7 8 7252 610101. 
• 42.38659969.62919512 Kainar Hotel, Улица Байдибек-Би 126. 

Safety

The city is quite safe, at most it is advisable to be careful of taxi drivers who can inflate the prices of the rides.

How to keep in touch

Around

• 43.51527867.7686117 Sauran (Сауран ескі қаласы), ☎ 7 705 486 4415. These are perhaps the most beautiful ruins of an ancient city in Kazakhstan along the Silk Road and a short distance from the Syr-Darya River (the Oxus). The city walls are still high and in some places it is still possible to walk on them. The first mention of Sauran dates back to the 10th century, it also became the capital of the Mongolian White Horde and, later, a military fortress under Tamerlane. In the 16th century, two tall minarets and a system of aqueducts were described.

To visit as a day trip, in order not to confuse it with the nearby city it is always better to specify by saying Krepost Sauran (Sauran fortress).  

• 42.85168.2688 Arystan Bab Mausoleum (Арыстан баб кесенесі) (A few kilometers from the archaeological site of Otrar), ☎ 7 747 532 6765. This 14th century mausoleum was erected in honor of Arystan Bab who, according to legend, lived for 400 years. He was a mystic who met Khodja Akhmed Yassaui (to whom the famous mausoleum of Turkistan) at the city of Sayram. Here is set the legend that the mystic met a young Khodja Akhmed Yassaui and left him some Sufi teachings. A living legend has flourished around this meeting. Similarly there is the legend of the construction of this mausoleum, erected by Tamerlane because in a dream he was told that the constructive difficulties found in erecting the Khodja Akhmed Yassaui mausoleum would be resolved only after having erected a mausoleum in honor of Arystan Bab. The mausoleum is as much a pilgrimage site as the Turkistan mausoleum.  

• 42.85148368.302979 Otrar (70 km south of the city. There are Marshrutkas departing from the main Avtovokzal, near Merey (ask about the Talapty village, as it is closer to the main ruins). Be careful because you may have problems returning to the city in the late afternoon, risking having to hitchhike or look for a taxi.). This archaeological site is also a fortified city of which the oldest part dates back to the 1st century AD. and the most modern to the sixteenth century. The particularity of the site and the historical interest have made it included in the Unesco Tentative List.  
• Turkistan - the most famous Muslim site in Kazakhstan, with a beautiful mausoleum and a completely new historical museum. Definitely a must see if you stay in the south for a few days.
• Sayram - you can take a taxi from Ordabasy Square to Sairam for 200-300 tenge. Stop to see the Hollywood-style "SHYMKENT" sign along the way. Marshrutka number 140 also goes to Sairam from the Aina bus stop (not Avtovokzal) and costs 70 tenge.
• Tashkent - the capital of Uzbekistan is located about a hundred kilometers away.
• Taraz —

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