The Ministry of Higher and secondary education of the Republic of Uzbekistan The Uzbekistan state World Languages University

Historical center of Shakhrisabz

The historical center of Shakhrisabz was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. The monuments in the city were built during the Timurid Empire. The city was the birthplace of Amir Timur, the great leader of the Timurid Empire. He built a city of majesty and elegant architecture and made it the second capital of his vast empire. The city is home to the famous Ak-Saray Palace, built as a massive and stylish complex of public and residential buildings. The decoration of the palace has been preserved, although it was partially destroyed over time.
Other monuments in the city include mausoleums, a market center, baths, tombs, and mosques. The site has been listed as endangered due to over-development of tourist facilities in the area.


Samarkand - crossroads of cultures

Samarkand has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2001. It flourished as an ancient city and is still important to modern Uzbekistan. The city was founded in the 7th century and flourished under the Timurid dynasty. Samarkand was at the forefront of Islamic architecture and its importance is attested in the old city. The narrow streets are lined with numerous mosques, madrasahs and residential buildings built in the medieval Islamic style. The western part of the city is more modern, with architecture reflecting 19th and 20th century European design and style influenced by Russian colonization. The city is often referred to as a crossroads of cultures. Samarkand was also an important trade stop on the Silk Road.
Samarkand is today the third largest city in Uzbekistan. The monuments in the city such as mosques, madrasahs and mausoleums have been preserved and are the main tourist attractions in the country.


Western Tien Shan

The newest addition to the list, the Western Tien Shan Mountains, were inscribed as a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. The Tien Shan ranges extend to different countries of Central Asia. The mountain range of Uzbekistan covers a total of 96,000 km2, which is almost 21% of the country's territory. There are numerous resorts around the mountains that offer tourist services such as skiing, rock climbing, sky surfing and sightseeing. The region also has several archaeological and historical sites. There are various nature reserves to protect mountain wildlife such as snow leopard, Tien Shan brown bear and wolf.
Uzbekistan, as a tourist destination, has not been as accessible as other leading global destinations. This situation has led to the fact that the country has a large untapped tourism potential. Efforts to develop tourism in the country have led to a dramatic increase in the number of tourists visiting the country. Prospects make Uzbekistan a new tourist destination in the Central Asian.