Samarkand means "fertile land", with a population of about 560000. It is the second largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarkand state. Samarkand has a history of more than 2500 years. It was once an important political, economic, scientific and cultural center in Central Asia, and also one of the hubs on the ancient Silk Road. Eastern and Western civilizations meet here. (Li Xinshe)