The Tian Shan Mountains are also known as the Tengri Tagh, or Tengir-Too. Their name means the 'Mountains of God/Heaven'. The highest peak is the 7,439 m (24,406 ft) high Jengish Chokusu and the lowest place is the Turpan Depression, which is 154 m (505 ft) below sea level.

The mountains are sacred in Tengrism. They stretch over China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and are listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.