• Silk Road

  • silk road map

                                                      Silk Road Map

    Silk Road - Although the ancient Silk Road no longer functions, retracing parts of its route offers travelers a historical and cultural adventure.

    Silk Road History 

    In the past, the Silk Road connected the west to the east. Back when Europe was still considered “the west,” that is. For thousands of years, the Map of the Silk Road stretched between Rome and Xian (now more famous as the home of the Terra Cotta Warriors), and what is left is dotted with some of the most famous historic sites in all of China. The Silk Road crosses the majority of the northern Chinese provinces and was the initial introduction between the west and the east, a meeting whose ramifications significantly affected both cultures – the exchange of goods and philosophies had immeasurable consequences for both peoples at the time.

    The actual map of the Silk Road was almost 2,500 miles and was instrumental in the opening of both the east and the west, the former which had been prominently insular at the time when the Chinese Silk Road was first formed. Although Silk Road history has largely been commandeered by the tourist industry in order to make itself more attractive to the foreign dollar, the spirit and cultural importance of the ancient path continues to intrigue and inspire a great number of travelers. Hundreds of backpackers make the extended trek each year, following the map of the Silk Road across the continents of Asia and Europe in hopes of making the same discoveries the original traders made for themselves, so many years later.

    Silk Road today

    Nowadays, the idea of the Chinese Silk Road is more legend than anything – its actual path has long since been paved over by the approach of the modern world. Even the remote parts of the Silk Road have not been passed over by the current notion of progress, yet there remain plenty of ancient artifacts and traditional civilizations to discover along what remains of the meandering and sometimes arduous path.

    Even if you exclude the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Chinese Silk Road is where youll find all kinds of famous historic and cultural sites. Youll also find, among other sights, the Ruins of the Ancient City of Gaochang, found near the current city of Loulan. Rivaling anything youd find in ancient Greece, or even Rome, these remains are among the oldest in the entire country of China.

    Silk Road Tour For the most part, though, the main attraction of the Chinese Silk Road is the amazing natural beauty youll find following the footsteps of the ancient traders. The path is lined with many fascinating sections, from the Flaming Mountains and Grape Valley in Turpan City to the Birds Islands in Qinghai Lake in northern China, home to many, well, species of birds.

    Populating these sections of the China Silk Road, youll find many different ethnic groups, many of whom have tried to isolate themselves from the modern world in an attempt to preserve their traditional cultures. Peoples such as the Uygurs, the Hazaks and the Tajiks can be found here, and add a fascinating dimension to any trek down any section of the China Silk Road.

    Silk Road Travel Tips:
    1. Please bring along warm clothing even in hot summer for temperature differs greatly between daytime and nights in some places on the silk road route.
    2. Bring shoes suitable for walking.
    3. It is advisable to use sunscreen, sunglasses and lip creams to protect your eyes and skin. The altitude is high and the atmosphere allow the suns solar radiation to strike the earth with unusual intensity.
    4. Xinjiang grows a rich of variety of fruit. People traveling there in autumn are provided chance to try the sweet fruit that are available in that region. It is recommended not to drink hot tea soon after eating fruit because it may cause in diarrhea.
    5. Do not talk about sensitive issues such as religions and politics when in Xinjiang. Eating pork is forbidden under Islamic law. Xinjiang is home to most of China’s Muslim population and eating pork is forbidden according to the Muslim canons.
    6. The period from May to October is the best time to take this silk road route. Weather condition is pleasant with the average temperature of 15 degree centigrade. The scenery is the best when fruit become ripe, the flowers in full bloom and grass in grassland turns to green.

    Related Tours: Xian City Tour      Beijing Xian Tour   

                           Beijing Xian Shanghai Tour    China Silk Road Tour