Ashgabat’s White City and the Problems Behind the FacadeCEFR A2
28 Feb 2026
Adapted from Areeha Tunio, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Nikolai Kolosov, Unsplash
Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, is covered in white marble and many gold statues. In 2013 the city entered the Guinness records for having a very large number of marble buildings. The government says the look shows power and stability.
The rebuilding cost about USD 14 billion and was paid with income from natural gas, which the state calls "Blue Gold." The government built large projects, including an indoor Ferris wheel and a horse-shaped stadium. At the same time, many people in rural areas have less water and food.
The state controls information and movement tightly. Libraries and foreign publications have closed. Thousands of public workers, including teachers and doctors, are sent to pick cotton to meet quotas. People report long food lines and limited access to goods.
Difficult words
- marble — hard white stone used for buildings
- stability — state of being steady and not changing
- rebuild — to build something again after damagerebuilding
- natural gas — a gas fuel from underground for energy
- rural — in or from the countryside, not city
- quota — a fixed amount people must reachquotas
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think a government should spend money on large buildings? Why or why not?
- How would you feel if your job required you to do other work like picking cotton?
- What problems can happen when libraries and foreign publications close?
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