| Small Beginnings | | | | areas has led to the reopening of parts of this |
| Arguably the most significant trade route of | | | | route to some extent. |
| ancient Chinese civilisation, the Silk Road, or Silk | | | | The historical significance of the route is |
| Route as it is sometimes known, was named in | | | | well-appreciated by modern-day travellers. To |
| the mid-19th century by German scholar, Baron | | | | walk in the footsteps of the likes of Marco Polo, |
| Ferdinand von Richthofen. However, the route | | | | to see first-hand the landscapes traversed by |
| itself was in use since around the 2nd Century BC. | | | | explorers centuries ago; it is surely a fantastic |
| Its original purpose had been political rather than | | | | experience of cultural enrichment. |
| economic and a court official from the Han Empire | | | | The potential that this area holds as a tourist |
| was sent westwards on a diplomatic mission, | | | | destination is not lost on the authorities. Neither is |
| becoming the first traveller along what would | | | | its archaeological relevance. |
| become the most important east-west link ever. | | | | Preserving the Past |
| It was to be decades before his return, and when | | | | Chinese authorities are doing their best to protect |
| he did, the goods and information he'd gathered | | | | and restore many of the most important |
| on his journey would spark the desire for trade. | | | | archaeological sites. The Dunhuang Research |
| Corridor of cultural exchange | | | | Institute has been examining and restoring the |
| Over time, the route became a conduit for the | | | | Mogao grottos and an extensive preservation |
| exchange of information and goods - it was to | | | | project is currently underway. Excavations are |
| people of the time as the Internet is to us today; | | | | undertaken all over, with significant finds relatively |
| a means of linkage between diverse and | | | | frequent. |
| geographically isolated civilisations. | | | | One such find has been produced at the Astana |
| What's in a name anyway? | | | | tombs site, where the dead from the city of |
| "The Silk Road" is a bit of a misnomer. Firstly, it | | | | Gaochang were buried. The murals, clothing and |
| was not really a single road. Rather, it was a | | | | other artefacts discovered, have provided |
| wandering network of trails linking the Far East to | | | | significant insight into life along the old Silk Road. |
| Europe, Persia and Northern Africa. Secondly, silk | | | | There is much to see and learn from around the |
| was but one of a considerable number of valuable | | | | Taklimakan Desert; damaged grottos and ruined |
| commodities traded along the route. | | | | cities rich in their histories. |
| Exchanging ideas and ideologies | | | | Unique People |
| Scientific and technological innovations, such as | | | | Archaeology is not the only draw card though. |
| gunpowder, ceramics, the magnetic compass, the | | | | Many visitors are attracted by the minority |
| printing press and mathematics, transferred along | | | | peoples - there are about thirteen different |
| the Silk Road to the West. The religion of | | | | groupings in the region; the Han Chinese, the |
| Buddhism reached China from India, and was later | | | | Tibetans and Mongolians in the east, and the Tajik, |
| to play an important role in the evolution of | | | | Kazakhs and Uzbeks in the west. |
| Chinese culture. Of course, Buddhism was not to | | | | Then there's the lure of cities such as Kashgar, |
| be the only religion to travel this road. The cultural | | | | where the Sunday market maintains much of the |
| effects of the rise of Islam can still be seen in | | | | old Silk Road spirit. People various nationalities |
| many of the areas along the route. Art and | | | | selling everything from spice and ornaments to |
| language too came to be exchanged. | | | | camels and carpets. |
| Silk by Sea | | | | It is the kind of place that adventure travellers |
| In the late 15th century, the discovery of a sea | | | | dream about. Rich in history and cultural legacy, |
| route from Europe to Asia made the Silk Road | | | | surrounded by imposing geography, peopled by |
| less popular as a trade route. Sea travel | | | | diverse minorities and relatively untouched by |
| presented a new opportunity to trade at lower | | | | mainstream tourist machinations. |
| cost, with fewer dangers. These sea routes are | | | | The Silk Route Legacy Lives On |
| sometimes considered as part of the greater "Silk | | | | From its founding during the early days of the |
| Route". | | | | Han Dynasty, the Silk Road has had an important |
| The Silk Route Today | | | | role in international trade and politics, extending |
| After what could perhaps be called an extended | | | | over three continents and leaving its mark on |
| hibernation period, the Silk Route is once again | | | | civilisations around the globe. It has had periods of |
| growing in importance. The construction of | | | | boom and decline and it has been always come |
| modern roads and railways, the discovery of oil | | | | back to boom again. I would venture to suggest |
| reserves and the industrialisation of surrounding | | | | that the story of the Silk Road is far from over... |