A forum was held in Bishkek where architects from China and Kyrgyzstan presented the updated concept of the city "Asman." This news is particularly interesting for Kazakhs, who traditionally choose Issyk-Kul for summer vacations, as construction will take place right on the northern shore of the lake. Kursiv LifeStyle reports on how the country's main resort region will change... reports the website infohub.kz.
Previously, the project was presented under the name "Asman-shaar." The creators planned that from a bird's-eye view, its shapes would resemble the national instrument komuz. On an area of 4,015 hectares, officials expected to house between 500,000 and 700,000 residents.
As reported by Reporter, in the new concept, Chinese architects emphasize "green" technologies. The city promises to include six parks, introduce water treatment facilities, and create special fresh air corridors so that the area is naturally ventilated. In addition, "Asman" is planned not just as a resort but as a technological hub for Central Asia. They promise to localize production and assembly of "smart home" equipment, set up IT parks, and research centers.
The project is estimated to cost $20 billion. Deputy head of Kyrgyzstan's National Investment Agency, Damirbek Bikulov, claims that the implementation will not burden taxpayers, as the city will be fully self-sufficient through private investment.
While officials talk about an economic boost for the entire country, ordinary citizens express serious concerns. Most commenters are worried about the involvement of the Chinese side. Another serious issue, according to commenters, is the potential pollution of Kyrgyzstan's pearl – Lake Issyk-Kul. Skepticism is also fueled by past experience: in 2024-2025, Kyrgyz authorities terminated agreements with previous investors due to missed deadlines.
"Very cool, but the Chinese will build it for themselves! The future of Kyrgyzstan belongs to China"
"We need to be careful that the Chinese don't take it over"
"Nothing will be left of the lake; they should leave it alone. Instead of finding ways to save Issyk-Kul, which is shrinking every year, they do this," users write.
To dispel doubts about the Chinese town, representatives of the National Investment Agency promised to strictly control labor quotas. According to them, 80% of jobs are planned for local residents, with the remaining 20% for foreign specialists.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle wrote that Kyrgyzstan may impose a 10-year ban on the demolition of historic buildings. The draft law was submitted for public discussion in the country's Ministry of Culture.