This is a yurt used by the Kyrgyz and other Turkic nomadic peoples. It is a mobile dwelling of the nomads, called a pao in China and a ger in Mongolia. Because of its heat-retaining properties, it is comfortable in both summer and winter, and is suitable for life on the dry steppe. In the past, Kyrgyz people lived a nomadic lifestyle, moving from season to season while raising livestock such as horses and cattle.

Today, no one is nomadic all year round, but many use these yurts to travel to mountain pastures in the summer. They are also used for weddings, funerals, and as accommodations for tourists.

Learn more about Kyrgyzstan → "What should women wear? What is the Kyrgyz identity?"

(Photo:V. Smirnov / Shutterstock.com)