In 2026, Kazakhstan will celebrate the 190th Anniversary of the birth of Shokan Ualikhanov – an outstanding 19th century Kazakh scholar, historian, ethnographer, geographer, folklorist, traveler, and educator. Shokan Ualikhanov is one of the first Kazakh researchers whose scientific work served as a bridge between traditional steppe culture and Western scholarly thought. He undertook a series of expeditions to the little-studied regions of Central Asia, including Kashgar, where he studied the daily life, language, folklore, and religious beliefs of the steppe peoples. Shokan Ualikhanov's scientific legacy includes diaries, ethnographic notes, and geographical essays, among which Ыстықкөл сапарының күнделігі (“Diary of a Journey to Issyk-Kul”) stands out, alongside his other works. His works laid the foundations of Kazakh historical and ethnographic science and continue to serve as valuable sources for the study of Central Asian culture and history. Shokan Ualikhanov was also actively engaged in translation work, contributing to the exchange of knowledge and mutual understanding among the diverse cultures and peoples of the region.