📖 About Astana

Astana (formerly Nursultan, and before that Tselinograd/Akmola) is Kazakhstan's purpose-built capital city, relocated from Almaty in 1997. With approximately 1.4 million residents, this young capital rises from the steppe with futuristic architecture including buildings by Norman Foster, Kisho Kurokawa, and other starchitects. The city represents Kazakhstan's ambition as a modern, wealthy, and internationally engaged nation powered by oil and gas resources.

The left bank of the Ishim River features spectacular landmarks: Baiterek Tower (the city symbol), Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center (a massive tent-shaped structure), and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (glass pyramid). Expo 2017 brought further development. Winters are brutally cold (-40°C possible), making the indoor attractions welcome. The city hosts international summits and conferences. Astana showcases what oil wealth can build—a 21st-century planned city emerging from nothing on the Kazakh steppe.

Astana offers visitors futuristic architecture, starchitect landmarks, modern development, and Kazakhstan's national ambitions made concrete.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Astana's economy is driven by government (as national capital), construction, services, and finance. Samruk-Kazyna, the sovereign wealth fund, is headquartered here. Banking and professional services concentrate. Oil and gas industry administration is significant. Construction boom has created jobs; international companies establish offices. AIFC (Astana International Financial Centre) attracts investment. The economy reflects Kazakhstan's resource wealth channeled into national development—ambitious, state-directed, and increasingly diversified.

Astana's culture is young and cosmopolitan. Kazakhs predominate but Russians and other ethnicities are significant. Kazakh and Russian are widely spoken; English grows with international orientation. Islam is practiced moderately alongside secular lifestyle. The population is relatively young and educated. Cultural facilities are modern—concert halls, museums, theatres. Food includes Kazakh traditional dishes and international cuisine. The culture is forward-looking—less traditional than other cities, more attuned to Kazakhstan's global aspirations. Extreme climate shapes lifestyle—indoor activities dominate winters.

📜 History

The site was inhabited by nomadic peoples for millennia. A Russian military fortress was established in the 19th century. Soviet Virgin Lands campaign (1950s) transformed it into agricultural center Tselinograd. The city served northern Kazakhstan as regional capital.

Independence in 1991 brought dramatic transformation. President Nazarbayev announced capital relocation in 1997—officially moving from Almaty in 1998. Massive construction ensued; international architects designed landmark buildings. The city was renamed Astana ("capital" in Kazakh). Renamed Nursultan (2019-2022) honoring Nazarbayev, then reverted to Astana. Today Astana continues growing—hosting international events, expanding infrastructure, and embodying Kazakhstan's national project of building a modern state from energy wealth.