This "tower of death" has acted as an observatory, a religious hub, and an executioner's lair.

Light still pours into the ruins of this ancient Islamic observatory.

An 18-meter-long sarcophagus of a constantly growing dead prophet.

The Avenue of Mausolea is a series of grand palatial tombs.

Controversially restored in the 1970s, this giant 15th-century mosque is shrouded in legend.

Giant cauldrons overflow with Uzbekistan's favorite rice dish at this cavernous dining hall.

Looking for a unifying history, Uzbekistan finds its answer in a 14th Century Turco-Mongol conqueror... despite the fact he wasn't Uzbek.

An underground world of gorgeous, palatial metro stations designed as a nuclear shelter complex.

Prowl through this sprawling bazaar under a massive Soviet-era dome for delicious eats.

An entertainment center in a huge transparent tent.

Iconic pyramid from famed British architect Norman Foster designed to represent all of the world's religious faiths.

A modern tower, symbolizing the legend of a golden egg on top of the tree of life.

A Stalinist prison camp for the wives and children of men accused of betraying the Soviet state is now a memorial museum.

Dedicated to a Bolshevik revolutionary, this museum is a true time capsule of the Soviet era.

Time capsule of a museum, in which the Soviet Union remains alive and kicking.

Granny Smiths and Fujis can both be traced back to Kazakhstan, where apples still grow wild.

A brilliant turquoise lake in the mountains.

This Soviet statue is based on a piece of propaganda that's been elevated to national myth.

In Kazakhstan, a colorful cathedral with many lives once survived the most powerful earthquake in the region.

This sprawling market is a one-stop shop for traditional Kazakh foods, from mare’s milk to sheep’s head.

A collection of old steam and diesel locomotives sitting in a fenced-off garden.

The seat of the lost Ryukyu Kingdom has survived numerous fires and wars over the centuries.

Elaborate series of tunnels where traces of mass suicide are still visible.

The former site of Fukuoka’s legendary ramen joint works hard to guide customers to the “original” original.