Turkistan is a historic city and the administrative center of the Turkistan Region in southern Kazakhstan, located near the Syr Darya River. Positioned 160 km (100 miles) northwest of Shymkent, it lies along the Trans-Aral Railway, which connects Kyzylorda to the north and Tashkent to the south.

Turkistan holds historical and cultural significance of Kazakhstan, particularly due to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This mausoleum is a key symbol of the city, drawing pilgrims and tourists alike. Khoja Ahmed Yasawi was a prominent Sufi mystic and philosopher, and his tomb is a revered site for followers of Islam in Central Asia. The city's rich cultural heritage is further reflected in its many historical monuments, mosques, and buildings that showcase the region's architectural and spiritual legacy.

In 2021, Turkistan was designated as the "Spiritual Capital of the Turkic World" by the Organization of Turkic States, a recognition of its central role in the history and culture of Turkic-speaking nations. This title has elevated the city's status as a cultural and religious center, attracting visitors and fostering deeper ties between the Turkic-speaking peoples of Central Asia.

Turkistan is also becoming increasingly recognized as a key tourist destination. In the same year, it was named one of the top ten tourist destinations in Kazakhstan, due to its historical sites, cultural landmarks, and growing infrastructure. The city is served by Hazrat Sultan International Airport, which connects it to other regions and countries, making it accessible to international tourists and business travelers.

The modern city name of Turkistan (Kazakh: Түркістан, romanized: Türkıstan, pronounced [tʉrkɘ̆sˈtɑn]) is derived from the Persian phrase Hazrat-i-Turkistan (Chagatai and Persian: حضرت ترکستان, meaning "Saint of Turkistan"), which is in reference to Ahmad Yasawi, a prominent 11th-century poet and Sufi who was associated with and rested in this city.

Prior to Ahmad Yasawi's era, and during a significant portion of the medieval to early-modern era, the city was referred to as Iasy (Chagatai and Persian: یسی) or Shavgar (Chagatai and Persian: شاوغر).

Yasi, one of Kazakhstan's historic cities, has an archaeological record dating back to the 4th century.

Yasi is one of the oldest small towns in southern Kazakhstan, located near Shymkent on the banks of the Syr Darya River. This area developed as an oasis on the edge of the Kyzylkum Desert and was irrigated through waterways and canals flowing down from the Karatau (Qara-dagh) Mountains. Its geographical position, on the frontier between nomadic groups and settled urban populations of Central Asia, made it a constant focus of attention and rivalry for both famous and obscure conquerors.