Must-visit places in Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s ‘cultural crown jewel’ on the old Silk Road

Central Asia is becoming a travel hotspot thanks to its countries’ visa-free entry and improved transport connectivity, and a growing demand among travellers for crowd-free destinations. The region is surrounded by online buzz, but is it just another internet fad? We went to Uzbekistan – said to be Central Asia’s “cultural crown jewel” – to find out. From Hong Kong, we board a flight to Shanghai before connecting to Tashkent, the Uzbek capital. The journey takes 15 hours in total. Direct flights...