Bishkek

Bishkek

The Chuy Valley is part of the ancient Tianshan Mountain road, serving as a shortcut connecting the Central Asian steppes with the northwestern deserts of China. It was also one of the most rugged mountain passes in ancient times. The route taken by the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang on his journey to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures passed through here and is known as the "Ancient Silk Road." At that time, this city was a key stronghold along this road and was once a fortress of the ancient Khanate of Kokand. Bishkek was known as Pishpek before 1926, and after 1926, it was renamed Frunze in honor of the renowned Soviet military leader Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze (1885–1925), who is a source of pride for the Kyrgyz people. To this day, a majestic bronze statue of Frunze, mounted on a tall warhorse and clad in full military uniform, still stands proudly in front of Bishkek Railway Station, commanding deep respect. On February 7, 1991, the Kyrgyz parliament passed a resolution renaming Frunze back to Bishkek…

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan