Holy and historic: Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain of Kyrgyzstan

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One can't simply leave Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain out of any conversation about Kyrgyzstan.

Located in the Fergana Valley, the site is considered as the most complete example of a sacred mountain in Central Asia.

It has been a destination for worshipers for over one and a half millennia, and veneration for the mountain blends pre-Islamic and Islamic beliefs.

Its five peaks and slopes house numerous ancient places of worship and caves with petroglyphs and two mosques built in the 16th Century.

Snow covers the facade of Rabat Abdullah Khan Mosque, Osh's oldest mosque at the base of Sulaiman-Too Scared Mountain. /VCG Photo

A shrine on top of Sulaiman-Too Scared Mountain. /VCG Photo

View of Sulaiman-Too Scared Mountain. /Photo via People's Daily

One hundred and one locations featuring petroglyphs of humans, animals and geometrical forms have been discovered at the site.

A total of 17 places of worship are still in use to this day. Pilgrims believe these places of worship can heal illnesses and bless people with a long life.

The Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009.

What are the cultural elements that best represent Asia? Follow up the "Know Asia Better" series. It will offer you a glimpse of 47 Asian countries, through architecture, art or cultural figures to show you a diversified Asia that you may never have noticed before. Themed in the exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and building a community with a share future for mankind, the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations will be held in Beijing in May.

(Cover photo from VCG and redesigned by Fan Chenxiao)