The Silk Road stretches there, where Eastern and Western cultures collide, where the world's most mysterious and isolated country stands...
However, the cumbersome and harsh visa conditions have always shrouded Central Asia in a veil of mystery and live in the imagination of travel enthusiasts!However, just two days ago, for the first time, Central Asian stan and China were exempted from visas
It is the largest landlocked country in the world and the richest country in Central Asia, with plains, deserts, rivers and lakes, snow-capped mountains, canyons...The diverse landscapes make it a place with a variety of landscapes that can be transformed throughout the year!
Although it is not the slightest bit popular in China, European and American countries have long chosen it as an ideal vacation and adventure destination!
Lonely Planet named it one of the "Top 10 Must-Visit Places in Asia", the Huffington Post praised it as "the best country in the world to visit", and Russian state media named it "the most popular adventure travel destination".
Horses gallop on the grasslands, eagles fly in the mountains, and the customs and traditions of more than 130 ethnic groups make this place worthy of savoring!
Walk into the country and you'll see: a magical realist city that blends the old and the modern;A green bazaar full of ethnic customs and human touch;It is comparable to the "lunar" Grand Canyon in Colorado, USA;and a snowy fairy tale village comparable to Switzerland...
It's also the northernmost habitat of the flamingo Earth, and during the annual spawning season, the flamingos that dominate the saltwater lake give this landlocked country a warm South American atmosphere!
Stand between the buildings and take a picture** inexplicably has a sense of Hong Kong, the natural alpine snow resort allows you to save the plane ticket to Northern Europe!
This country isKazakhstan, bordering Xinjiang, Urumqi can go by buying a train ticket, but the difficulty of obtaining a visa is world-famous!
According to the Kazakh News Agency, Kazakhstan officials announced on April 12 a draft agreement on mutual visa exemption with China, which aims to provide visa-free entry to China for Kazakh citizensVisa-free entry to Kazakhstan for Chinese citizens, the convenience of staying for no more than 30 days.
With visa-free travellers staying for 30 days and a total stay of no more than 90 days over a 180-day period, this country full of treasures is just a stone's throw away.
Almaty
Push the window is the snow-capped mountain
As the "greenest city in the world", Almaty has more than 60 unwalled parks and street gardens, and the per capita forest occupation is as high as more than 90 square meters
Picture from @almatytourstudio）
Picture from @almatytourstudio）
Picture from @almatyYou might think that Almaty is cold and hard when you look at the first picture, but when you walk down the street you will easily appreciate its gentleness!
There are not too many high-rise buildings here, the streets are full of small buildings of two or three floors, and the colors are bright and warm, pink, orange, mint green...The window frames, decorated with ancient ornaments, make you stop to take pictures.
Photo from @anvar rakishev).
Photo from @somethingelsealmaty) The old and the modern meet here, you can check in the old shops of Almaty all over the street, or you can follow the local young people to "light up" the city with flowers and beer!
Take the cable car to the southeast of the city to the Koktobe Mountain, you can get a panoramic view of Almaty, and at dusk, the sunset will dye the whole city red, and the snow-capped mountains behind you will look even more beautiful!Cathedral cathedral
For many travel enthusiasts, in addition to the local cuisine, cultural experiences are also an important part!
*The cathedral used to be a museum of Kazakhstan, and the exterior looks magnificent and colorful, and the interior is covered with various religious paintings, which makes people feel solemn and immerse themselves in a strong cultural atmosphere!
As one of the cultural buildings of Kazakhstan, **The cathedral adopts an all-wooden structure, which has experienced 11 levels**, except for the deformation of the cross on the bell tower, not a single piece of glass is broken, which makes people sigh at the exquisiteness of its architectural structure!Green Bazaar
The fastest way to get to know the local customs is to visit the market, the Green Bazaar is the most famous bazaar in Almaty and has been around for more than 100 years!
The bazaar has two floors, and there is a special area for fruits, vegetables, and meat, so although the variety of goods sold is very complete, it is not cluttered at all!
When you walk into the Green Bazaar, you will be immersed in a world of colors, fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats brought from the countryside, and the colors are very beautifulEven if you don't buy anything, just walking around here is a great visual treat!
In addition to food, you can also buy daily necessities, ethnic products, and even gadgets from the Soviet eraThe most magical realist architecture in Central Asia
Astana, also known as "Nur-Sultan", is the capital of Kazakhstan and is known as the "heart of Eurasia";It is the dream capital of architects, where architects from all over the world can unleash their inspiration and achieve great fame!
Because of the dependence on oil and minerals, the natural environment is relatively harsh, and the difficulty of creating these strange buildings is no less than that of building a city in the desert, and some people call it "Dubai in the grassland"!Twenty years after its founding, the city has become the pride of all of Central AsiaHazrat Sultan Mosque
The Hazrat Sultan Mosque was named by Nazarbayev himself, which means "Holy Sultan", and has the reputation of the most beautiful mosque in Central Asia!
The perfect blend of classical Islamic architecture and Kazakh ethnic style makes the mosque unique.
Locals believe that the mosque is so good that people come to visit, meditate, and pray almost every day!Bayterek View Tower
The Bayterek Lookout Tower is a landmark of Astana, and its overall image is inspired by local mythology, resembling a bird's egg placed on a tree branch
The "egg" has an observation deck for visitors to climb up to see all of Astana, as well as a large aquarium and art gallery!Nur Astana Mosque
Most of the inhabitants of Kazakhstan believe in Islam, and mosques can be said to be the most widely seen religious buildings in the region, among which the Nur Astana Mosque is known as the third largest mosque in Central Asia!
When you come here, you can't help but be attracted by the strong religious atmosphere, and the golden dome and white walls on the outside look solemn and full of holinessEntering the temple, the fresh blue-green decoration is eye-catching!Khan's Tent
While there are many theories about the beauty and ugliness of the world's largest tent, there's no denying that it's definitely one of the landmarks to visit Astana!
It is a shopping mall with a wide range of goods, including supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, clothing stores and children's amusement parks
In the atrium, there is a jumping machine that leads to the spire, and even the most indifferent people will burst into screams and laughter when they sit on it.
But the main attraction is the rooftop indoor garden, which is made of imported sand from the Maldives, and the perfect angle will give you a tropical island look in the world's second coldest capital!Sacred Mountains, Sacred Lake, National Park
Give you more natural scenery than you can imagine
Big Almaty Lake
The Grand Almaty Lake is about 30 minutes away from the city of Almaty, and travelers can choose to drive or climb into the mountains.
Along the way, you can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounded by mountains under the blue sky and white clouds, but also many special restaurants to replenish the energy of tourists!
The Great Almaty Lake is known as the "Pearl of Almaty", with different scenery throughout the year, the sun shines in spring and summer, and the lake surface is sparkling, which makes people intoxicated;
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains in autumn and winter, the clear water and white snow are intertwined, which is beautiful!Whenever you come here, you can enjoy the charm of the Great Almaty LakeLake Caindi
Kaindi is famous for its crystal clear waters, crisp spruce trees and magnificent forests that can be seen underneath.
Because the lake is so cold, even in summer, the temperature does not exceed 6 degrees Celsius, so the plumbed spruce tree needles have been preserved for hundreds of yearsIn winter, the lake freezes over, making it a great place for trout fishing and ice divingAltyn Emel National Park
Altyn Emer National Park covers an area of 4,600 square kilometers and is located more than 200 kilometers from Almaty.
The sparse number of tourists makes it a great place to live, and rare goose-throated antelopes, argali, and wild asses can often be seen in the park in summer and early autumn
The park's naturally formed sand dunes are a photographer's favourite, and they have proven to be very easy to photographWhat's even more interesting is that when the wind blows across the beach, they will make a whistling sound, "shouting" the vastness and grandeur of the Gobi sand dunes!
In the park, you can also find the train tracks that are still in use, and taking the train to see the park is one of the wishes of slow-paced travel enthusiasts!Charyn Grand Canyon
The Charyn Gorge is arguably one of the most diverse regions in Kazakhstan, from semi-desert landscapes to dense forests
It is said that it used to be a lake, but after it dried up, it became what it is today
It may not be as majestic as the canyon we've seen, but over a period of 12 million years, the red sandstone here has formed different colors under the influence of various factors, and the different shades of red are magnificent and charming when viewed in the sun!Brabai National Natural Park
The Brabai National Natural Park contains 1 large lake and numerous other small lakes, surrounded by mountains and lush trees that rival Switzerland, which is why it is also known as the "Switzerland of Kazakhstan"!
There is also a story about a woman who jumped into the lake from the peak of the lake because she wanted to marry her beloved and was unwilling to be forced into the lake.
The place where the woman jumped is called the "Mystery Stone", which attracts many tourists, and the most interesting thing is that the island here changes its "image" according to different anglesKurgarkin Nature Reserve
The Kurgarkin Nature Reserve, located 130 km from Astana, consists of more than 200 lakes and large grasslands and semi-deserts.
It is an important stopover for migratory birds on their migratory journeys, and its wide variety has become a favorite among biologists. But what's even more surprising is that it is also the world's northernmost summer breeding ground for flamingos, and from June to September, flocks of flamingos fly in the saltwater lake in the reserve
In short, in Kazakhstan you can not only enjoy the magical scenery of nature, but also enjoy the prosperity of modern cities, without having to think hard about the strategy, every place here is a memorable scenery!
Practical information[Visa].Kazakhstan implements a 30-day visa-free entry policy for Chinese citizens, and the total number of visa-free entry days through this policy shall not exceed 90 days per 180 days;
[Language].The main languages spoken in Kazakhstan are Russian and Kazakh, and most of the signs on the street are in Russian, and the English penetration rate is relatively low
[Flights].There is a direct flight to Almaty in Urumqi, which takes 1 hour and 50 minutes, and the ticket price is 3000+;You can also take a direct flight in Beijing, which takes 5 hours and 20 minutes, and the ticket price is more than 2,000;
[Transportation].In the sparsely populated Kazakhstan, it is recommended to choose an airplane for the mode of travel between the two cities;Regular taxis need to be booked in advance, and almost all private cars are in COS taxis, remember to negotiate with the driver before getting on the bus**;
CurrencyThe currency of Kazakhstan is the tenge, 1,000 tenge is equal to about 15 yuan, and the department supports credit cards, but it is still recommended to bring US dollars to the local exchange in case of emergency.