Astana

Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. It is the second-largest city after Almaty. The city is located on the Ishim river in the north of Kazakhstan.

Astana was founded in 1830 and has had many names, including Aqmoly, Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Aqmola. It became Astana in 1998, a name meaning "capital" in Kazakh. In 2019, it was briefly called Nur-Sultan but returned to Astana in 2022.

Since becoming the capital in 1997, Astana has grown quickly. It is a modern and planned city designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa. The city is famous for its unique buildings and landmarks such as the Akorda Residence, the Baiterek, the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center, and the Hazrat Sultan Mosque.

Astana is an important center for culture, education, and business. It hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games and Expo 2017. Visitors can see places like the Astana Opera and the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as parks like Presidential Park.

The city has the Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport and two railway stations, Astana-1 and Astana-Nurly Zhol. Astana is also developing the Astana Light Metro to help people travel. Schools and universities such as Nazarbayev University, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, and Astana IT University make Astana a place for learning and new ideas.

Names

Astana has had many names over time. It was first founded in 1830 as Akmoly, a name that might mean "white grave" in Kazakh. It was renamed several times: to Akmolinsk in 1832, then to Tselinograd in 1961, and later to Akmola in 1991. When it became the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997, it was renamed Astana, meaning "capital city" in Kazakh. In 2019, it was briefly called Nur-Sultan before returning to Astana in 2022.

Astana holds a record for having the most name changes of any capital city in modern times.

History

Many centuries ago, a place called Bozok stood where Astana is today. It was a fort along the Silk Road. The name "Boz" means things like 'untouched earth' in Turkic languages. Over time, the area grew and became important.

A settlement called Akmoly was started on the Ishim river in 1830. It became a town named Akmolinsk in 1832. The town grew slowly at first and then faster later. During World War II, Akmolinsk helped move tools and equipment to keep the country going. After the war, the city became a symbol of recovery. In 1961, the city was renamed Tselinograd. After Kazakhstan became independent in 1991, the city's name changed back to Akmola, and then finally to Astana in 1998 when it became the capital. In 2019, it was briefly renamed Nur-Sultan but returned to Astana in 2022.

Geography

Astana is almost 1,000 km from the country's largest city and former capital, Almaty. The nearest big cities are Karaganda and Omsk in Russia.

Astana is in central Kazakhstan on the Ishim River. It is in a flat, dry area. The city covers 722.0 square kilometres and sits 347 metres above sea level. Astana has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures can reach 35 °C, while winter temperatures often drop below −30 °C. The river usually freezes from November to early April. The city is known for its strong winds.

Demographics

As of January 2025, Astana had a population of 1,528,703 people—more than triple the number from 2002. Most people in Astana are ethnic Kazakhs. Other groups include Russians, Ukrainians, Tatars, Uzbeks, and many others.

The city has many religions. Islam and Christianity—including Russian Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism—are common. Astana is also home to Judaism, Lutheranism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Famous buildings include the largest mosque in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, the Astana Grand Mosque, and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. The city also has Central Asia's largest synagogue and is the headquarters for the Eastern Orthodox Church. The area around Astana is home to about 1.2 million people.

Economy

Further information: Economy of Kazakhstan

Astana's economy is based on trade, industrial production, transport, communication, and construction. The city makes building materials, food, and machinery.

Astana is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative and has a special economic zone to bring in investors. Since becoming the capital, the city has grown fast, with many new businesses and jobs. Tourism is also helping the city's economy grow.

Diplomacy platform

Astana is an important city for discussions about big global problems. It has hosted talks between the government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Syrian opposition. The city was supposed to host a big meeting for the World Trade Organization in 2020, but this was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2003, Astana has hosted meetings for leaders of different religions to talk about peace and working together.

Cityscape

See also: List of tallest buildings in Astana

Astana has four districts. Each district has its own area and people, with villages nearby.

In 1998, architects from many countries entered a contest to design the new capital. Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa won. His plan mixed the old city with new buildings on the south and east sides of the Ishim River.

Important buildings in Astana include the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center. These buildings show the history of the Eurasian steppes.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Astana

Astana is a city with many sports teams. The most famous football (soccer) team is FC Astana. They play in a big stadium called Astana Arena.

The city also has professional ice hockey teams, such as Barys Astana. There is a cycling team called Astana Pro Team. There is even a basketball team, BC Astana. Astana has many places to play and watch sports.

Education

Astana has many universities and colleges. In 2013/2014, more than 50,000 students studied at 14 higher education places in the city. The biggest is the L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, with thousands of students and teachers. Other important schools are Nazarbayev University, known for its research, and the Kazakh University of Economics, Finance and International Trade.

The city also has many schools for younger students. About 103,000 children go to 83 schools. These include public and private schools, such as the Miras International School and the Haileybury Astana. There are also special schools for gifted students and international schools that teach in different languages.

Transportation

City transport

Astana has many ways to get around, including buses and taxis. Every day, many people ride the buses and taxis. There are bus routes and more than 1,000 buses on the roads. Share taxis have set routes and share rides with other passengers.

There used to be trolleybuses, but they stopped running a few years ago. In 2011, a new transport system was started, including bus rapid transit lines. Plans for a light rail system were delayed but started again in 2017. The first line of the Astana Light Metro is set to open in early 2026. There is also a bicycle-sharing program called AstanaBike with many stations and bikes for people to use.

Air

Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport is the main airport in Astana. It is the second-busiest airport in Kazakhstan. The airport has flights to many places inside and outside the country. Air Astana has its second-largest hub here. A new terminal is being built to handle more passengers.

Railway and roads

Astana is a key spot for trains and roads. Astana railway station is the main station. There is also a newer station called Nurly Zhol. The city has major highways that connect it to other places.

River transport

Since 2008, people have been able to travel on the Esil River in Astana. The city started a special program to help with river transport.

Expo 2017

Main article: Expo 2017

In 2010, Astana offered to host the Specialised Expo 2017. The event showed how energy affects our lives and was called "Future Energy".

Expo 2017 started on June 10, 2017. Leaders from many countries came. It was the first world’s fair in Central Asia. The main building, Nur Alem, was the biggest round building in the world. Many people visited during the show.

Notable landmarks

Astana has many important and beautiful places. Akorda is where the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan lives and works. The Astana Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Central Asia and was finished in 2022. Baiterek is a tall tower built in 1996 to celebrate when the capital moved from Almaty to Astana.

Other famous spots include the Gate of Eternal Land, built to honor Kazakhstan’s independence, and the Independence Palace for important events. Kazakh Eli is a big monument with a bird on top, and Khan Shatyr is a huge shopping and entertainment tent, considered the largest in the world. Nurjol Boulevard is a nice walking area with fountains, and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation is a special hall for meetings, designed by architect Norman Foster.

Theaters, concert halls, and museums

Astana has many places where families can enjoy music, art, and learn about history. There are libraries, museums, parks, and special buildings for concerts and shows.

Some important places include the Central Concert Hall Kazakhstan for concerts and events, the Astana Opera for music and theater, and the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the largest museum in Central Asia. Other interesting spots are the Modern Art Museum, the Presidential Center of Culture, and the Museum of The Future (Nur-Alem Pavilion), where visitors can learn about energy and see ideas for cities in the future.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Kazakhstan

Astana has many friends around the world! It is twinned with cities in many countries. Here are some of its sister cities:

• Amman, Jordan (2005)
• Ankara, Turkey (2001)
• Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (2017)
• Bangkok, Thailand (2004)
• Beijing, China (2006)
• Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (2011)
• Damascus, Syria
• Gdańsk, Poland (1996)
• Hanoi, Vietnam (2009)
• Islamabad, Pakistan
• Kazan, Russia (2004)
• Kyiv, Ukraine (1998)
• Manila, Philippines
• Moscow, Russia
• Nice, France (2013)
• Nusantara, Indonesia (2023)
• Oulu, Finland (2013)
• Putrajaya, Malaysia
• Riga, Latvia (1998)
• Saint Petersburg, Russia (1996)
• Seoul, South Korea (2004)
• Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Tbilisi, Georgia (1996)
• Ufa, Russia (2010)
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (2019)
• Uşak, Turkey
• Vilnius, Lithuania
• Warsaw, Poland (2002)
• Zagreb, Croatia (2014)

Astana also works with these friendly cities:

• Baku, Azerbaijan
• Belgrade, Serbia
• Berlin, Germany
• Bucharest, Romania
• Budapest, Hungary
• Cairo, Egypt
• Chelyabinsk, Russia
• Chișinău, Moldova
• Kurgan, Russia
• Kursk, Russia
• Minsk, Belarus
• Omsk, Russia
• Penza, Russia
• Saratov, Russia
• Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
• Tomsk, Russia
• Ürümqi, China

Smart city initiative

The Smart Astana project helps the city use technology to improve places like hospitals, schools, ticket booking, and street lighting. All of these services work together through an app named Smart Astana.

Astana also has an annual event called the Astana Innovations Challenge. This event shows smart city ideas. The world’s first smart sustainable city hub will open in Astana. It will help new startup ideas become part of Kazakhstan’s infrastructure.