Past and Present of the World's Greatest "Road" Take the voyage of a lifetime as you trace the Silk Road, the name given ancient trade routes which provided some of the earliest contacts between Western and Eastern cultures. Not only will you be treated to a view of breathtaking scenery and artistic treasures, you'll also learn about the lifestyles of the people living along the route today. This historical production was made as a joint effort between NHK and CCTV, China Central Television Network.

Past and Present of the World's Greatest "Road" Take the voyage of a lifetime as you trace the Silk Road, the name given ancient trade routes which provided some of the earliest contacts between Western and Eastern cultures. Not only will you be treated to a view of breathtaking scenery and artistic treasures, you'll also learn about the lifestyles of the people living along the route today. This historical production was made as a joint effort between NHK and CCTV, China Central Television Network.

Launched in 1980, NHK's renowned Silk Road series was the first foreign TV program allowed to film Silk Road inside communist China. The series sparked enormous interest. A quarter of a century later, NHK re-visits Silk Road with high-definition cameras. The first half of the journey is to Loolan, Tibet, Taklamakan Desert and Xian. The trip then continues from former Soviet Central Asia to the Middle East and Turkey. With its swirling mix of ethnic identities, this region is now carving out a new period of history led by the resurgence of Islam. NHK provides a new look at this modern-day Silk Road giving you a clear view of the regions' momentous changes.