The Alau Ice Palace is the Olympic-standard speed skating arena built for the 2011 Asian Winter Games. The 400-metre indoor track is one of the few in Central Asia and the building hosts both international competitions and public open-skate sessions on certain days of the week.
For travellers, the appeal is mainly architectural — a low elliptical building with a metallic skin — and the chance to skate on a serious track if your timing is right. Check the schedule online; open sessions are usually evenings and weekends, with rentable skates available at the entrance.