A group of us visited the Silk Road in October. China Express organized the 9-day tour and we were very pleased with their organization and service of this tour.We had heard this company is the most experienced tour agency for the Silk Road and we were not disappointed. Our tour took us to Urumqi in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Turpan, Liuyan, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan and Lanzhou in Gansu Province and X’ian in Shaanxi Province.

The Silk Road refers to the land trade route, which started in Xi’an in the east and passes through the western regions of India, Arabia and Persia, finally reaching Greece and Rome. China was the first country in the world to breed silkworms and silk products were among the first goods to be transported to the West in exchange for foreign goods and hence, the name. The Silk Road became the main passage passageway of economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West. This road was the means by which China introduced its 4 inventions (compass, paper, printing and gunpowder) to the West, as well as its silk and porcelain technology. Also through this route, astronomy, mathematics, religion, arts, glass and precious stones from the West were introduced to
China.