In the CityIn the CityPhoto: Алексей Тараканов, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Zhibek Zholy is a street where Almaty residents simply walk for pleasure, with no particular destination or shopping goal in mind. Street musicians, takeaway coffee, benches, and fountains create an atmosphere closer to a European city than a typical post-Soviet avenue. The pedestrian zone features the TsUM department store, dozens of cafes and boutiques, and becomes especially crowded on warm evenings as the entire city center gravitates here. The most convenient way to get there is by metro: the Zhibek Zholy station opens directly onto the street, and nearby within walking distance are the 28 Panfilovtsy Park, the Ascension Cathedral, and the Green Bazaar.
The street is one of the city's oldest, with its history beginning in 1883, and it was the first street in Alma-Ata to be paved with stone. Since the mid-19th century, it has been one of the key places in the life of the city of Verny. In Soviet times, Arbat became the center of youth gatherings—the heart of city events and a beloved place for Sunday walks. The name changed along with the country: first it was Torgovaya, from 1936 it was named after Maxim Gorky, and in the 1990s it became Zhibek Zholy, which means "Silk Road" in Kazakh. The street became a pedestrian zone in 1986, notably the city's first. In 2017, it underwent a thorough renovation: new paving stones, fountains, and children's playgrounds. During construction, workers discovered remains of the old stone road from as early as the 1930s—a direct reminder that the street has been serving the city for nearly a century and a half.
In the warm season, the street is particularly lively, with street musicians and artists performing, and periodic fairs featuring handmade goods. In summer, the fountains operate, and in winter, part of the street is flooded to create a free public skating rink where you can simply bring your own skates and enjoy it without a ticket. Cafes and boutiques occupy almost the entire pedestrian section, but the real appeal here is not to visit any specific place but to stroll slowly and look around: Arbat is more about the atmosphere than any particular destination. Three other major city attractions are immediately nearby. A walk along Zhibek Zholy is easily combined with visits to the 28 Panfilovtsy Park and the Green Bazaar—all three spots are within a ten-minute walk of each other.