The Chu (or Chui or Chuy) (Russian: Чу, Kyrgyz: Чүй, Kazakh: Шу) is one of the longest rivers in Kyrgyzstan and drains the northern Kyrgyz ranges of the western Tian Shan, flowing through the Chuy valley near the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek before leaving Kyrgyzstan and flowing into Kazakhstan. It total length is approx. 1,030 km. For some of its length it forms the border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Along its course, much of its water is diverted to irrigate the fertile black soils of the Chuy Valley for farming. Like many other rivers and streams that drain northern Kyrgyzstan, the Chu eventually dries up in the Kazakh steppe. River Gambia flowing through Niokolokoba National Park A river is a large natural waterway. ... The Tian Shan (Chinese: 天山; Pinyin: Tiān Shān; celestial mountains) mountain range is located in Central Asia, in the border region of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of western China. ... Bishkek cityscape Bishkek (Бишкек) is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. ... A steppe in Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, a steppe (Russian: - , Ukrainian: - , Kazakh: - ), pronounced in English as , is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally considered as being dominated by tall grasses...

The Chu River flows through the capital Bishkek and the mining town of Kara-Balta. Bishkek cityscape Bishkek (Бишкек) is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. ...

Chuy Oblast, the northernmost and most populous administrative region of Kyrgyzstan, is named after the river.