Turkistan is a city and the administrative center of Turkistan Region of Kazakhstan, near the Syr Darya river. It is situated 160 km (100 mi) north-west of Shymkent on the Trans-Aral Railway between Kyzylorda to the north and Tashkent to the south. Its population has increased in ten years from 102,505 to 142,899. Turkistan's most prominent historical and cultural asset is the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is served by Hazrat Sultan International Airport.

Turkistan Region, formerly South Kazakhstan Region from 1992 to 2018 and Chimkent Region from 1963 to 1991 is the southernmost region of Kazakhstan. Population: 2 088 510 ; 2,469,367 ; 1,978,339. Its capital is Turkistan, formerly Shymkent until 2018. Other cities in Turkistan include Sayram, Kentau, Arys, Shardara, Zhetisai, Saryagash, and Lenger. This region and Atyrau Region are Kazakhstan's two smallest regions; both are about 117,300 square kilometers in area. Turkistan Region borders the neighboring country of Uzbekistan, as well as three other Kazakhstan regions: Karaganda Region, Kyzylorda Region, and Jambyl Region. The Syr Darya passes through the region, on its way to the Aral Sea. An oil pipeline runs from Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan to Omsk, Russia through South Kazakhstan. Oil, lead and zinc are refined in Shymkent.