The city status was granted to Gülchö based on Law No. 212, adopted on October 14, 2025, which states "On granting the status of a city of district significance to the rural area of Gülchö in the Alay district of the Osh region of the Kyrgyz Republic."
The important event gathered many participants in the conference hall of the Alay district state administration. Among those present were representatives of local institutions and enterprises, heads of ayil okmotu, chairpersons of rural councils, elders, and residents of Gülchö.
The Deputy Director of the State Agency for State Service and Local Self-Government under the Cabinet of Ministers, Ermek Irgebaev, the head of the department for administrative-territorial structure issues, Venara Isalieva, the head of the Southern Interregional Administration, Januzak Sarytaev, the presidential representative in the Osh region, Elchibek Jantaev, and the akim of the Alay district, Chyngyz Bapaev, delivered speeches emphasizing the importance of the new status for Gülchö.
The event concluded with the opening ceremony of the "City of Gülchö" stele, installed at the entrance to the settlement, after which new equipment was handed over to the region.
According to Turmush, Gülchö has now become the 34th city of Kyrgyzstan. The law on its status was approved by the Jogorku Kenesh and signed by President Sadyr Japarov.
The head of state also announced that 500 million soms would be allocated from the stabilization fund for the development of Gülchö's infrastructure to improve the quality of life for local residents.
As previously reported, Gülchö has 3,914 households and 22,566 residents, with a pasture area of 14,478 hectares.
The Gülchö rural area includes 12 villages: Gülchö, Tash-Koroo, Jyluu-Suu, Kara-Bulak, Chakmak, Kurmanzhan Datka, Oktyabr, Kara-Suu, Kum-Shoro, Oro-Döbö, Tamga-Terek, and Kainama.
The education system consists of 9 secondary schools and one primary school, as well as 11 kindergartens. There are 7 libraries, one rural club, and a bus station operating in Gülchö.
The healthcare system includes a territorial hospital, a family medicine center, 3 family doctor groups, and 7 FAPs. Additionally, the settlement has a central market, a stadium, a district House of Culture, a museum, pharmacies, cafes, 3 restaurants, and other institutions.
In the tourism sector, there are 3 hotels and one sanatorium-resort institution, and during the summer period, the village of Jyluu-Suu hosts vacationers at the Ak-Tör pasture.
Gülchö has 55 streets.
Currently, there are 34 cities in Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek and Osh are centers of republican significance, while other cities such as Batken, Kyzyl-Kiya, Suluktu, Jalal-Abad, Tash-Kumyr, Karakul, and others have regional significance. Smaller cities, such as Razzakov, Aydarken, Kadamjai, and others, are classified as cities of district significance.
According to the legislation "On Local State Administration and Local Self-Government," mayors of cities of district significance are appointed by akims, while mayors of cities of republican significance are appointed by the president.
