Time Zone |
Asia/Samarkand |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+5 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Africa/Niamey |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Samarkand is the second largest city in Uzbekistan and the most legendary Central Asian hub on the ancient Silk Road, known as the "Pearl of Central Asia". The 2,500-year-old city, once the capital of the Timurid Empire, is a fusion of Persian, Arab and Turkic civilizations. The Registan Square in the city is the pinnacle of Islamic architectural art, and the three magnificent scripture colleges are famous for their splendid mosaic tiles and magnificent domes; the Bibi Hanum Mosque, the Mausoleum of Gul Emir (Timur's Mausoleum) and other monuments are witnesses to the former glory. As a crossroads of multiculturalism, Samarkand still retains a strong oriental flavor, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, attracting tourists from all over the globe to trace the ancient memories of the Silk Road.
Diffa, the capital of the Diffa region in southeastern Niger, is located on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and shares a border with Nigeria, making it one of the most important border cities in Niger. The city is located in the lower Niger River basin around the climate of the tropical desert climate, hot and dry throughout the year, the average annual precipitation is less than 300 millimeters. The economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry, and the surrounding areas are rich in millet, sorghum and livestock. Diffa, as a regional trade center, undertakes the function of cross-border trade with neighboring countries, such as Nigeria, and is especially famous for the trade of livestock, agricultural products and handicrafts. The city is culturally diverse, with Hausa, Tuareg and Kanuri ethnic groups living in the area, and is unique in its crafts such as traditional leather weaving and silversmithing. Despite infrastructural challenges, Diffa remains an important economic and cultural node in the south-east of the Niger, thanks to its strategic location and rich cultural heritage.