The pedestrianised stretch of Beibitshilik Avenue, locally called the Arbat in echo of the famous walking street in Moscow. About a kilometre of paved boulevard runs through the centre of the modern city, lined with cafes, small shops, fountains, ice-cream vendors, and a scattering of bronze statues — Kazakh musicians, a falconer, the inevitable sign-up girl with a selfie stick.
It is the busiest evening promenade in the city, especially on summer weekends, and the easiest place to get a sense of what young Shymkent does for fun. A good place to walk off a heavy lunch.