The Kirgiz people have long lived a nomadic life, living in pursuit of water and grass. In summer, they usually live near rivers in high mountain areas with a cool climate, which is called "summer nests"; in winter, they mostly live in valleys with warm climate, called "winter nests"; they have to move several times throughout the year. Therefore, for the convenience of disassembly and transportation, people often live in yurts, or tents. The fence (open column cover) of the yurt is made of willow trees in a grid shape, with a curtain made of splendens on the outside of the fence, and felt on the outside of the curtain. There is a skylight about one meter in diameter on the top of the yurt. There is a square movable felt cover on the skylight, which is uncovered during the day and covered at night or when it rains or snows. There are large stones or wooden stakes planted in the center and around the yurt, and strong coarse wool ropes are used to tie the yurt to them to prevent strong winds. The doors of yurts mostly face to the southeast to avoid the north wind. The doors are made of wood and have felt curtains hung on the outside. ?
The interior furnishings of the yurt are generally as follows: To the right of the entrance is the kitchen, with food and drinking utensils inside. The outside is covered with a patterned splendens curtain. According to custom, outsiders are not allowed in. ? The back right corner is the bunk for parents and their young children; the back left corner is the bunk for the adult son and daughter-in-law. On the upper side opposite the door, there is a wooden shelf below, with wooden boxes containing clothing and other items placed on it. On the wooden boxes are placed blankets, clothes, packages, bedding, pillows and other items. There is an open space in front of the wooden box, covered with felt blankets, for entertaining guests during the day and serving as their bunks at night. A triangular pot rack is placed in the center facing the skylight, which is where cooking is done. The saddle is placed in the left corner of the entrance, and sometimes lambs are tied here at night. There is a pole supported in the center of the yurt, with a curtain hanging on the fence. In addition, some bowls, mirrors, embroidered pockets for clothes or curtains are also tied on it. In the past, wealthy people's yurts and the furnishings in their yurts were very lavish. The floor was covered with floral felts or blankets, the walls were hung with embroidered curtains, and the boxes and quilts were piled high. On the contrary, the yurts of poor families are small in size (called "Alacik") and poorly furnished, and cannot withstand the attacks of strong winds and heavy rains. Nowadays, the yurts of ordinary herdsmen are new and large. They are beautifully decorated with newly purchased beddings, clothes and various furniture. ?
In addition to yurts, herdsmen also live in earth houses in winter, but there are only a few of them. In the past, only people living in agricultural areas lived a settled life. Rich households lived in Uyghur-style square earth houses, while poor farmers could only live in cellars and stone huts. Most of the earthen houses have earthen walls, flat roofs, and square shapes, with alcoves and skylights. Some also build an earthen courtyard wall around the earthen house. The earth house can withstand the invasion of wind, snow and severe cold, and is much more comfortable than the yurt. The furnishings in the earth house are basically the same as those in the yurt.