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.

1/13

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

2/13

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.

3/13

Read more: The Moscow metro is known for its efficiency and ornate stations. I rode it and found that it's miles ahead of New York City's subway system.

Many have beautiful light features, like this chandelier.

4/13

next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip Ad

Skip Ad

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

5/13

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

6/13

Source: Lonely Planet.

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.

7/13

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.

8/13

Source: Lonely Planet

The station entrances are equally beautiful.

9/13

next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip Ad

Skip Ad

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

10/13

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

11/13

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

12/13

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

13/13

Source: The Guardian.