HERITAGE RECORD · 603

Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures

撒马尔罕

The official record, selection criteria and sourced cultural context.

World Heritage record

The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot of the world's cultures. Founded in the 7th century B.C. as ancient Afrasiab, Samarkand had its most significant development in the Timurid period from the 14th to the 15th centuries. The major monuments include the Registan Mosque and madrasas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg's Observatory.

Open the official UNESCO record ↗

Wikidata reference

QIDQ17255582 ↗

Area1123 ha

Administrative areaQ5753

Imported locally from Wikidata; it does not replace the UNESCO record or editorial copy.

Selection criteria

This property was inscribed under the following World Heritage Convention criteria.

(i)A masterpiece of human creative genius.

(ii)An important interchange of human values in architecture, technology, arts, town planning or landscape design.

(iv)An outstanding example of a building, ensemble or landscape illustrating a significant stage in human history.

Cultural archive

Direct quotation

We take the Golden Road to Samarkand.

James Elroy Flecker · The Golden Journey to SamarkandOriginal: We take the Golden Road to Samarkand.Original work in the public domainSource ↗

Atlas note

Samarkand keeps the languages of trade, faith and empire beneath the same blue domes.

项目编辑总结，依据 UNESCO 档案与相关资料。Atlas editorial contentSource ↗

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