Astana

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Main square, Astana

Astana (formerly Aqmola and Tselinograd) is the second largest city in Kazakhstan. It took over the role of capital city from Almaty (the largest city) in December 1998. Now, it is undergoing a transformation costing billions of dollars, where international top architects assist in trying to make Astana a worthy capital - not only of Kazakhstan but of all Central Asia.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Astana International Airport[1] is about 15 kilometers south of central Astana. It serves Moscow, Beijing, Delhi, Seoul, Bangkok, Istanbul, Dubai, London, Amsterdam, Hannover and Frankfurt, as well as several domestic destinations. Tickets can be reserved at the website of the airline Air Astana[2].

Bus 10 connects the airport and the city centre twice hourly, price is 15 KZT. A taxi from the airport to the city centre is about USD10.

[edit] Get around

There are plenty of taxis around, expect to pay between KZT100 and 200 for a trip within the city.

[edit] See

• Baiterek Tower is one example of the futuristic architecture in the newborn city. Nicknamed "Chupa Chups" by the locals due to its similarity to a giant lollipop, this 105-meter high building offers a great view of the city as well as an art gallery, an aquarium and a restaurant. In the center of the top sphere, the ever so humble President Nazarbayev has made a golden palm print where visitors may put their own hands.

• Khan Shatyry[3] is a giant transparent tent currently under construction. The 150m-high tent has a 200m elliptical base covering an area larger than 10 football stadiums, and will contain a park, a shopping and entertainment area with squares and cobbled streets, a boating river, minigolf and an indoor beach resort. While Astana is one of the world's coldest capitals with temperatures down to -40°C in the cold season, the transparent material will let sunshine in and help to keep temperatures comfortable all year.

• The President's Museum of Kazakhstan, Barayev 3, is built like a yurt with a dome resembling a mosque. It contains exhibitions about the history of the country. The main attraction is a replica of the Golden Man costume, a warrior's suit that was found in a tomb east of Almaty. It contains of more than 4000 gold pieces, and the original was considered to fragile to be put on display (it is now kept safe in the national bank).

• Atameken Map of Kazakhstan is an outdoor museum giving you an overview of the entire country in a miniature version. This 1.7-hectare exhibit features more than 200 mock-up pieces, creating Kazakhstani cities and historical memorials.

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[edit] Get out

WikiPedia:Astana

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