Shymkent, formerly known as Chimkent until 1993, is the capital city of South Kazakhstan region, the most populated one in the country. It is the third most populous city in Kazakhstan behind Almaty and Astana. The city is situated 690 km west of Almaty and 120 km to the north of Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Shymkent was founded in the 12th century as a caravanserai to protect the Silk Road town of Sayram, 10 km to the east. It grew as a market center for trade between Turkic nomads and the settled Sogdians. In the early 19th century, it became part of the khanate of Kokand.

Today, the city has industries producing refined zinc, processed karakul pelts, textiles, foodstuffs, and pharmaceuticals. Also, Shymkent has a medium-sized refinery, which is owned and operated by PetroKazakhstan.