Balykchy is a town of about 50,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. A major industrial center and transport hub (lake shipping, rail terminal, and road junction) during the Soviet era, it has lost most of its economic base after the demise of the Soviet Union and the closure of virtually all of its industrial facilities.

The main road from Bishkek to China passes through Balykchy before it starts its long and ardous way across the alpine ranges of Naryn oblast in central Kyrgyzstan to the Chinese border at Torugart Pass. Plans are now under discussion for a rail link from China to Balykshy, where the line from Bishkek currently ends.