Established hundreds of years ago, Gandan remains the premier Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar.

A huge communist-era propaganda monument and mural that offers stunning views of the Mongolian capital.

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.

An entertainment center in a huge transparent tent.

Lonely minaret stump of a destroyed city.

A bustling bazaar with an elaborate facade in Central Asia’s underrated capital.

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

Once a luxurious flagship of the Soviet Union, this Brutalist structure remains a landmark of Tashkent’s communist past.

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

The abandoned palace stands as a wounded but proud beacon of Afghan hope.

What was once supposed to be the symbol of a shining Afghan future is now a bombed-out ruin.

Ancient barriers wrap around what was once an important stop along the Silk Road.

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

A dictator's gold statue once rotated to face the sun on a 75-meter high marble tower.

Sumptous memorial to a controversial independence.

A huge monument to a bizarre book written by Turkmenistan’s longstanding dictator.

If you want to get married in the White Marble City of Ashgabat, you should do it in this surreal disco ball building.

A fiery crater has been burning in the Karakum Desert since 1971.

A monument commemorating the 852 lives lost in the sinking of the MS Estonia.

Swedish skyscraper with a 90° twist.

This poignant sculpture of a gnarled weapon is a symbol of non-violence.

20-foot tall lamp mumbles Swedish to celebrate the holidays.

This chimerical bridge/tunnel appears to dead end right into the sea.