Celebrating 5 Years of Info Shymkent

We are celebrating our 5 years anniversary and we invite you to have a look back on our road we went so far with Info Shymkent.

On a hot autumn day in 2019, we were sitting in a hotel room in Shymkent and talking about false stereotypes about Kazakhstan and Shymkent in particular. We decided that we had to try to break these stereotypes and show the largest country in Central Asia in a different light. We wanted people to start talking about Kazakhstan differently or to realize that this wonderful country exists, where it is and what it has to offer. We thought that the best way to achieve this goal would be an online magazine. We built a website and named it after the city we were in and with which we were so closely connected in various ways and Info Shymkent was born.

Over the past 5 years, Info Shymkent has been committed to connecting the cultural, historical and contemporary stories of Shymkent, Kazakhstan’s vibrant third largest city, to people online. Our mission is to continue to serve as a resource and provide in-depth coverage of local attractions, restaurants, museums, lifestyle and the rich diversity of people that make Shymkent and most importantly Kazakhstan unique. We aim to foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of the region’s heritage and dynamic present, and to connect the world with Kazakhstan. Time to do a review on our highlights of the last 5 years.

Over these years, we have explored Shymkent’s historical depth, from ancient mausoleums in Sayram and also at the citadel of the city to the modern-day celebrations during Nauryz or other public holidays. Articles like the one on the Gold of the Great Steppe exhibition in Cambridge have highlighted Kazakhstan’s archaeological significance on a global stage. Interviews with figures like Dr. Rebecca Roberts have offered readers a glimpse into the long historic past of Kazakhstan.

With Kazakhstan being home to the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome, our coverage of space-related topics has been particularly engaging. From discussing the Chang’e 5 moon mission to interviewing cosmonauts like Mikhail Kornienko, we’ve kept our readers enthralled with stories of human ambition in space.

And we’ve celebrated local and national art through interviews with various artists. From the hyper-realistic sculptures of Aidos Esmagambetov to the digital illustrations by Zhuldyz Zholbarys, our magazine has been a platform for showcasing Kazakhstan’s diverse art scene. Photographers like Qudaibergen Amirkulov and Mikhail Vershkov have shared their views throught their cameras of Kazakhstan’s beautiful landscapes and wildlife, enriching our understanding of the natural beauty of Kazakhstan.

We also wanted that our readers can taste the spirit of Kazakhstan. So our culinary articles enabled our readers to start cooking in their own kitchen the diverse dishes of Shymkent, from traditional Kazakh pilaf to vegan adaptations of local dishes like Manti. We’ve not only shared recipes but also the stories behind these dishes, connecting food with the culture of Central Asia.

Another matter of our hearts was tourism. We’ve delved into the adventures and insights of local guides like Erzhigit Zhumadilov or Islam Kalani, offering tourists and locals alike a curated journey through Shymkent’s lesser-known gems. And as Info Shymkent we interviewed Dagmar Schreiber, the most famous guide in Germany to provide also a view from a foreigner to Kazakhstan. We hope with these articles we gave our readers more insights about tourism and what they can expect and see when they will travel to Kazakhstan.

Info Shymkent‘s journey has not always been easy – especially because our full-time jobs meant we could only work on the online magazine in our free time. But we thought it was great that Info Shymkent grew bit by bit, we learned a lot and built up a wonderful network of nice people. From our early days of establishing an online presence to now, we’ve seen an increase in engagement in feedback on the social media platforms, via eMails or during our journeys in our outside of Kazakhstan. We recognize that more readers from around the globe tuning in to our stories. Our interviews have brought voices from various walks of life to the forefront, be it adventurers, book writers, scientists, artists, or “just” everyday heroes of Shymkent and Kazakhstan.

This 5 years anniversary is not just about what we have accomplished, but also about the stories we still have to tell. As we want to move forward, we want to remain true to the mission we declared in Shymkent 5 years ago: to educate, entertain and connect the world to Kazakhstan. We thank all of our readers, contributors and the Shymkent community for this incredible journey. Here’s to more stories, more discoveries and many more years of celebrating the wonderful world of Kazakhstan.

A BIG THANKS again ad stay tuned for more from Info Shymkent as we continue to explore, celebrate, and share the stories that matter.