This perception was probably also due to Khan Tengri's visibility across the plains of southern Kazakhstan while Jengish Chokusu remains out of view of civilization.

Although it is almost 430 m (1,410 ft) lower than its neighbor, Khan Tengri was believed to be the highest peak in the range until Jengish Chokusu was surveyed in 1943 and determined to be higher.

[3] The first ascent of the peak was made in 1931 by Mikhail Pogrebetsky [kk]’s Ukrainian team through a route from the south (Kyrgyzstan side), then along the west ridge.

Khan Tengri is one of five peaks that a Soviet mountaineer needed to scale to earn the prestigious Snow Leopard award.

[4][5] Austrian mountaineer and expedition leader Toni Dürnberger died while descending after having climbed Khan Tengri on August 17, 1992.