Khujand is Tajikistan's second-largest city and the capital of Sughd Province, its northernmost province. It is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, dating back approximately 2,500 years to the Persian Empire. Situated on the Syr Darya River, at the mouth of the Fergana Valley, Khujand was once an important city along the ancient Silk Road. The city's population was 191,000 in 2019.