It is formed from the confluence of the Karakol and the Uch-Koshoy and flows roughly west and northwest.

It runs through the city of Taraz in Zhambyl Province of Kazakhstan and vanishes in the Muyunkum Desert before reaching Lake Aydyn.

[1] The Ili, Chu and Talas are three steppe rivers that flow west and then north-west.

The Chu rises west of Lake Issyk Kul, flows out into the steppe and dries up before reaching the Syr Darya.

The Chinese monk Xuanzang arrived from the Chui river to Talas during one of his journeys.