The park was opened in 1996 and is an area located on the northern slopes of Zailiysky Alatau (“ meaning raised mountains”). The park occupies an area of about 200,000 hectares stretching from Gorge Turgen in the east to the River Chemolgan in the west.

The park is almost untouched by the advances of civilization and contains a wealth of differing habitats from woodlands to Alpine meadows, glaciers and melt water lakes. The range of trees is particularly of note, from apricot, kurchavka Mushketov and maple Semenov, currants Yancheuski, Caucasian carcass and, of course, to the famous apple Sievers. The area is probably the genetic root of all the know varieties of apple trees in the world.

The park is home to approximately 300 species of animals and birds, including the snow leopard, Central-Asian lynx, Tean-Shan brown bear, Central Asian stone marten, mountain goat (or tau-teke), bearded vulture, golden eagle and bluebird of happiness.

From Almaty, the park is easily accessed by the route to the Big Almaty Lake and a small fee is levied for access.