1 What makes Astana different from other cities? Discuss. Then listen and read.002 The city of Astana is truly a unique place. It was constructed in 1997 to replace the city of Almaty as the capital of Kazakhstan. Almaty was in the south-eastern corner of the country, but the president of Kazakhstan wanted a new capital. So Astana was built right in the middle of the country. As a result, this modern city is surrounded by nothing but rural areas. The unusual architecture of Astana makes it look like a space-age city. There are amazing skyscrapers and eye-catching buildings. A cultural centre looks like a big, blue eye. A university building has the shape of a dog bowl.​