The Silk Road is the world’s best known trade route, long able to conjure up images that are at once both wild and romantic, and full of myth, legendary figures such as Marco Polo and Alexander the Great, and grumpy camels. The history of it and the influence it had on vast swathes of the world are fascinating, and even better, it’s pretty easy to travel at least part of it for yourself!
The Silk Road is actually a network of trade routes that stretches thousands of miles from China in the East through India, Persia, and into Europe beyond. It was first used by the Han Dynasty for a very lucrative trade in silk. In fact, it was so important to Chinese trade that the Great Wall was extended to protect the route. In use from 130BC, silks were not the only goods that made their way along it on the camel caravans – spices, sugar and porcelain came for the east, whilst cotton, ivory, wool and gold went west to east.
The term ‘Silk Road’ wasn’t actually coined until the 19th century, perhaps when the full extent of its influence was recognised. Whilst trade was the main purpose of the road, the movement of people, ideas and culture was the thing that really helped to shape the region, particularly what is now Central Asia, into what it is today. Cities such as Kashgar and Samarkand, and many others along the route, became legendary hubs of culture and learning. Religion, art, philosophy, science and technology moved freely with the merchants, pilgrims and nomads who trod the road – paper and gunpowder came from China into Europe, whilst Islam arrived in the Chinese city of Xian with Arab traders in the 7th century. It would not be unreasonable to say that every element of civilization of the countries through which these trade routes passed was at least partially influenced by the flow of knowledge and ideas that the Silk Road provided.
Monuments to the opulence of the Silk Road still stand today. The Registan in Samarkand is the heart of the ancient city. This vast public square is framed by three magnificent madrasahs (schools) replete with blue tiles and patterned minarets. This and buildings throughout Samarkand are said to have influenced some of the world’s most beautiful buildings including the Taj Mahal. Itchan Kala, Khiva’s old walled town, is home to more than 50 historic monuments and is surrounded by a vast crenellated wall. Jiayuguan, the western end of the Great Wall of China is home to a fortress built in 1372 to protect the Hexi Corridor, the Silk Road’s route into China.
These are just a few of the fantastic sights that we can arrange for you to see on a tailormade tour to Asia. The dirt roads and barren wilderness that once characterised Silk Road travel have been replaced – whilst still considered somewhat ‘off-the-beaten-track’ you can still travel by plane, train (even luxury rolling stock runs regularly between Tashkent and Samarkand) or automobile with ease and in comfort to see these incredible sights.
Whether you want to just visit one or two Silk Road related places whilst touring China, or you want to follow in the footsteps the many intrepid adventurers and traders who walked the route for centuries, all you have to do is let us know! Click for more information on China’s Silk Road heritage, or Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan’s Silk Road heritage. Our sister company, Wendy Wu Tours offer a group tour that traverses the Silk Road.