Mashhad is the populated city in Iran and is the capital of Khorasan razavi district. It is located in north east of the country close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan

Mashhad is the place of birth of some of the most mojor Iranian literate figures and artists such as Mehdi Akhavan Sales, the famous contemporary poet and Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, the traditional Iranian singer and composer. Mashhad is also known as the city of Ferdowsi, the Iranian poet of Shahnameh, which is considered to be the national epic of Iran. Ferdowsi and Akhavan Sales are both in Tus, an ancient city that is considered to be the main origin of the current city of Mashhad.

Tus Museum
Apart from Imam Reza shrine there are number of large parks, the tombs of historical celebrities in nearby Tus and Nishapur, the tomb of Nadir Shah and Kooh Sangi park and Mellat Park that have modern attractions for children such as the tallest Ferris wheel in Iran and Koohestan Park Shadi Complex that includes a zoo.
Some points of interest are outside the city: the tomb of Khajeh Morad, along the road to Tehran; the tomb of Khajeh Rabi' located north of the city where there are some writings  by the famous  Safavid calligrapher Reza Abbasi; and the tomb of Khajeh Abasalt.
Among the other places of the city are the tomb of the poet Ferdowsi in Tus, and the summer resorts at Torghabeh, Torogh, Akhlamad, Zoshk, and Shandiz.
The Shah Public Bath, built during the Safavid dynasty in 1648, is an extraordinary example of the architecture of that period.