A historic trade hub teeming with gorgeous architecture, colorful goods, and vibrant designs.

Few people have ever heard of, let alone visited, one of Turkmenistan’s most impressive natural attractions.

A memorial to the thousands of Turkmen soldiers and civilians who died in a bloody 1881 battle.

The controversial final resting place of the equally controversial first president of Turkmenistan.

This dark, damp, perilous tunnel is the only passage from north to south Tajikistan.

A building facade covered with the statues of 11 giants of Tajik literature.

The world's second-tallest flagpole stands proud despite dropping rank.

Highly unusual subterranean stupa and adjacent cave monastery.

This magnificent blue mosque in Afghanistan is surrounded by thousands of white doves.

One of the most ethnically diverse spots on the planet.

The largest Lenin statue in Central Asia was moved to an empty field rather than being destroyed.

Final palace complex of the last of 29 Kokand rulers.

An outstanding piece of retro Sci-Fi architecture built into a sacred mountain.

The ancient remains of this natural fortress can still be found along the Silk Road looking surprisingly preserved.

Pyongyang’s Arch of Triumph is the second tallest triumphal arch in the world.

One of the world's largest ice festivals dazzles visitors for over a month with radiant sculptures and carvings.

An exquisite example of Uyghur Islamic architecture.

Be careful not to get trampled at this lively two thousand-year-old market.

Opulence and fantasy collide in this royal chair which is supposedly made with unicorn horns.

The world’s tallest outdoor lift stretches along the stone pillars that inspired the floating mountains in the movie “Avatar.”

One of the largest public squares in the world, named after the former DPRK supreme leader.

A former palace transformed into a mausoleum for North Korea's supreme leaders.

A symbol of the Workers' Party of North Korea.

Captured in 1968, the Cold War spy ship is the only U.S. Navy vessel being held by a foreign government.