The deep-flowing Chu River originates in the glaciers of Terskey Ala-Too and the Kyrgyz Ridge, flows at an altitude of 1,700 meters above sea level and is formed in the Kochkor Valley by the confluence of the Dzhoonaryk and Kochkor rivers. Originating in Kyrgyzstan, passing through mountainous areas with a length of 1,186 km, then in the middle serves as the state border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and the lower reaches are lost in the sands of the Moyinkum desert in Kazakhstan.
The etymology of the river's name translates from Tibetan and Chinese as water, river. The city of Chu, renamed Shu in 1993, is located in Kazakhstan.

In Kyrgyzstan, the Bolshoy Chuisky irrigation Canal (Big Chui Canal) was built in 1958, taking water from the Chu River. It is the most important water canal in the region. The Ortokoy reservoir is located on the river, and the Alamedinsky cascade of hydroelectric power plants and the Bystrovskaya hydroelectric power plant were built on the channels extending from the river.

Along the river there are small settlements and towns of Kochkor, Kemin, Tokmok, in the Kazakhstan territory – Kordai, Shu, Tolebi.
The river is of great economic importance for both republics, it is used for irrigation of agricultural lands and household needs of the population. It is often possible to see fishermen on the shore of the Chu on both sides, who catch carp, chebachok, pike, snakehead and other types of fish.
On the Chu River, in some areas, travel agencies organize rafting tours.