Shymkent - Sayram

Along a vital north-south trading route through Central Asia, skirting around the Tianshan Mountains, the town of Sayram was founded over 3,000 years ago. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited city in Asia, Sayram saw it grow from a mere outpost to a regional trading hub. Across the way, where modern day Shymkent lies, a Caravanserai was constructed in the 12th century to shelter weary travelers making their way from Shymkent and onwards the great journey. Shymkent grew modestly from Sayram’s wealth into a trade center of its own, until its destruction from Genghis Khan and later nomad attacks. It left both outposts reeling.

How fortunes have changed today. Sayram is now a mere village on Shymkent's outskirts, while Shymkent has blossomed into Kazakhstan's third largest metropolis. At the heart of Shymkent stands a recently restored ancient fortress, its crumbling walls now rebuilt into a monument to the city's storied Silk Road history. Walking amongst the watchtowers and reconstructed rooms, one feels Shymkent is experiencing a modern revitalization, emerging as a new crossroads for the region. Though only a fragment of its former self, Sayram still remains one of Asia's oldest continuously inhabited settlements, its longevity a testament to the vitality of this oasis that once nourished countless trade caravans venturing east and west.