Zhetysuisky (Semirechensky) section of the GSR

Zhetysuisky (Semirechensky) section of the GSR is marked, first ­of all, by the boundaries of the historical and ­geographic region known as Zhetysu (Semirechye). The ­diversity of the climatic zones of the region has become a determinant of both ­geographical landscapes and farming conditions. The variety of zones, including: sagebrush-steppe, grass-steppe, grass-steppe forest or meadow and high-altitude, determines the location of the local directions of the GSR located on these sections of monuments, their morphological features.
The general route along this artery was as follows: from Shasha (Tashkent), the road went to the Turbat pass, then to Ispijab (Sairam, Saryam, White City or Al-medinat al-Baida), then the road went in an easterly direction – to Taraz, then Jamukat, then the road followed to Kulan (Jiulen Chinese), then to the east to Mirki and Aspara cities, after which the road led to Issyk-Kul basin cities. From the Issyk-Kul basin through the Santash pass and Karkary River valley, the path ran along the Ili Valley and the right shore of Ili River, through Ussek and Khorgos vallyes, led to Almalyk. Ili Valley was also reached by another way – it stretched from Kulan, Aspara to the cities of the middle and lower reaches of Chu River from where the road went to the northern slopes of the Chuili Mountains and went down to the northern Balkhash region; or it went along the Chu, down and led to the cities on the northern slopes of Karatau.
On the territory of Ili Valley, the Silk Road route passed through small towns located on the site of modern Kastek, Kaskelen and Almaty and reached Talkhiz (Talgar) city. In Talkhiz, the Silk Road branched into the southern and northern. The southern route led through Issyk, Turgen, Chilik to the crossing over Ili – through Khorgos to Almalyk. The northern road from Talkhiz went along Talgar River to the crossing on the Ili River, which was located near the Kapchagai reservoir. After it, the path led to Chingeldy, then through Altyn-Emel pass, the road went down to Koksu Valley and reached Iki-Oghuz (Equius) city, located on the site of modern Kirovskoye village. From Iki-Oghuz the path went to Kayalyku (Koilaky) – the capital of the Karluk yabghu. Then the path followed into Tentek Valley and, having rounded Alakol Lake, went through the Dzungarian Gate and led to Shiho Valley.
Ili Valley was connected to Central Kazakhstan by a road that ran along the northern slopes of Chuili Mountains, then along Chu in its lower reaches, and then to Sarysu shores Another important route passed away from the north-Ili highway in the Chingilda area and through the Koktal and Boyauly passes to the Balkhash region, and then along the Ortasu Channel (Ili River), where the remains of Karamergen, Aktam and Agashayak cities are located to the Balkhash shore, and further along Uzun–Aral peninsula, which almost connects the southern and the northern shore of the Lake, leaving a strait a little more than 8 km wide. Here, on the cape, the remains of a settlement were found, most of which is flooded with water. It can be assumed that the caravans crossed the strait and waded into the mouth of Tokrau River and then along its shores - to the foothills of Ulutau.