One of the world's most beautiful subway systems was illegal to photograph until last year - take a look inside

The subway system is the oldest in central Asia. It opened in 1977, when Uzbekistan was part of the Soviet Union.

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It has three lines, and its 29 stations are decorated in different stunning styles.

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Some of the stations have geometric patterns, while others are in a more Soviet style. Many use marble, glass, granite, and ceramics to create their striking interiors.

Many have beautiful light features, like this chandelier.

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And many are filled with art, like sculptures and colorful mosaics.

Some of that art celebrates Soviet pioneers like Yuri Gagarin, who was the first human to go to outer space.

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This artwork is in the Kosmonavtlar Station, which translates to Cosmonauts Station. It has a space theme and contains multiple portraits of astronauts, including Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to fly to space.

Lots of the stations have themes. The Pakhtakor Station's columns resemble foliage and it has mosaics of cotton balls in a reference to the country's cotton picking industry.

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The station entrances are equally beautiful.

And the steps to and from the platform are wide enough for large crowds, with artwork above commuters' heads.

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This sculpture is at Buyuk Ipak Yuli Station, which translates to the "Great Silk Road."

Some of the stations are more minimalist in their design, but they still contain intricate details, the the carvings in this huge light fixture.

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The subway is the cheapest in the former USSR. A trip on the subway costs 1,200 Uzbek soms (14 cents).