The medieval town of Hulbuk is located in southwestern Tajikistan, in the Kulob region. It is situated 7 kilometers southwest of the district of Wose, in the center of the village of Qurbonshahid. It is geographical coordinates are (lat: 37°46′ 44 long: 69° 33′ 20). Hulbuk is situated slightly downstream of the confluence of the Kyzylsu, and the Yakhsu (Aqsu) rivers to the south, about 25 kilometers downstream, where the Kyzylsu joinsthe Amu Darya (River Oxus).
 Hulbuk was the main city of the Khutallan (presentKhatlon) as was reported by the Arab geographers. This medieval city even had a Friday Mosque. Hulbuk and Khuttal remained a favorable connection between Mawara’ al- near and Khurasan. Hulbuk flourished as the centerof trade and travel in Khutalan under the rule of Banijurids, who were the vassals of Samanids.
Present Hulbuk covers an area of about 70 hectares, most of which is occupied by modern buildings. Only a few fragments of the ancient history of the settlement have survived. After a long reconstruction, this archaeological complex was opened to all visitors in 2006.

The citadel of ancient Khulbuk has a rectangular shape and is divided into two parts. The southern part has powerful defensive walls with a height of about 15 m. The northern part of the citadel occupies a much larger area, but its walls are much lower than the southern ones (10 m).
It was revealed that originally the palace was located on the same level. The main organizing core of the palace was a vast courtyard dividing the entire complex into two parts. The courtyard with a reservoir in the middle was surrounded by a gallery of columns, behind which there were living and utility rooms. The walls overlooking the courtyard were decorated with painted carved ganch. The monumental facade of the palace (northern part) with a ceremonial, solemn entrance in the form of an arch resting on two powerful pylons opened onto the courtyard. there were light baldachins on columns, on both sides of it emphasizing the power of the entrance portal. This entrance probably existed all along, but the palace itself was overhauled at least twice. The original layout of the palace was asymmetrical axial composition. There was a corridor behind the entrance leading through a small courtyardto a domed vestibule with four niches.Two symmetrical halls were locatedon either side of it, and the third rear entrance led to a vast courtyard surrounded by a gallery of columns. A slightly raised brick pavement ran along the edge of the walls. The entire courtyard was carefully paved with baked bricks. Narrow, but relatively large rooms (7 x 3.5 m) were built up along the perimeter opened onto the courtyard. Thus, the original layout of the Hulbuk palace resembled the composition of Central Asian madrasas.