Tamerlane, the greatest conqueror of Central Asia, was born in the Sogdian city of Kech, near Chakhrisabz, which saw passing the Buddhist and Chinese traveller Xuan Zang at the beginning of VIIth century. Become a Moslem city after the Arab invasion, Chakhrisabz fell in dereliction under Samanids, whereas Bukhara and Samarkand thrived.