Tokmok
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Tokmok (Токмок/Tokmok in Kyrgyz; Токмак/Tokmak in Russian) is a city of about 75,000 (2005) in northern Kyrgyzstan, east of the country's capital of Bishkek. Its geographical location is ; its altitude is 816 m above sea level. From 2004 until 19 April 2006 it served as the administrative seat of Chui Province.
About 15 km south of Tokmok is the Burana Tower from the 11th century, located on the grounds of an ancient citadel of which today only a large earthen mound remains. This is believed to be the site of the ancient city of Balasagun, founded by the Sogdians and later for some time the capital of the Kara-Khanid empire. A large collection of ancient gravestones is nearby. Excavated Scythian artifacts have been moved to museums in St. Petersburg and Bishkek.
The 11th century Karakhanid writer Yusuf Has Hajib Balasaguni, author of the Kutadgu Bilig, was born in Balasagun; he is buried in Kashgar.
The Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai was thought to have been born in this area.
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