In the 8th -13th centuries, the territory, now occupied by the central bazaar, was a center of southern trade and craft rabad (suburb) of Samarkand. In its heyday, rabad included even the Registan square. At the end of the 13th-14th centuries, this territory became a heart of reviving Samarkand, after dying of urban life on Afrasiab. For centuries, workshops and shops, warehouses and caravanserais between Registan and Afrasiab were the center of Samarkand public life. It was a place where merchants from China, India and Iran met, bought and sold the goods. Usually, public holidays were arranged here. The central bazaar nearby Bibi-Khanym has practically lost old structures, but preserved spirit of ancient trading culture of the great city. The ancient craft is represented by numerous traditional workshops where wood carvers, coppersmiths, jewelers and potters still work. Nearby there are numerous pavilions for tea taking - choikhana, filled with the atmosphere of traditional Samarkand hospitality.