Silk Road: History, Books, Maps, Tours

Wijnand van Riel. De Zijderoude: Turkmenistan, Oezbekistan, Tadzjikistan, Kirgizie, Kazachstan. - Netherlands, Amsterdam : Dominicus thema, 2000. - 340 pages (In Dutch).

This colourful edition devoted to the Great Silk Road, namely - to its part which passes Central Asia, was published by the Dutch publishing house "Dominicus". In the book, the author Wijnand van Riel reflects his impressions of travelling over Central Asia Countries - Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadjikistan and Kazakhstan.

From early childhood he was interested in fairy tales as "Thousand and one night" and books about famous travelers, as Marco Polo and, certainly dreamed of seeing the countries which were described in the books. After studying a course on economic anthropology, he worked in the Middle East and in Central Asia during many years and thus realized his childhood-dreams. Wijnand van Riel used his observations, experience, scientific knowledge, legends, and stories both in his publications and books. He became the author of the publications about Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

In the book Wijnand van Riel warmly represents five independent states of Central Asia with their centuries-old history, customs, traditions and unique architectural monuments. He writes with a great admire about the ancient cities as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Merv. Inviting to travel along the Central Asian Countries, the author emphasizes that these territories were the major crossroads on a Great Silk Road during many centuries, constituting "a Golden Part" of it. Set of monuments of material and spiritual culture of the last centuries have been preserved here to our time and the land is inhabited by hospitable people.

Judy Bonavia. The Silk Road From Xi'an to Kashgar. Revised by William Lindesay and Wu Qi. - Hong Kong : Odyssey Publications Ltd., 1999. - 338 pages (In English).

As the author of the guidebook writes, the trading with silk and other exotic goods on the Great Silk Road had been interfaced in ancient times with an extreme difficulties and dangers. Traversing the Silk Road has never been easy. In most cases, camel caravans had overcome severe places like arid sands and snow-covered mountains. The road had begun from the ancient city Chang'an (Xi'an) and was prolonged to the West along the corridor Hexi, directing to The Great Wall, then, to the North or South - to Kashgar, along the desert Takla Makan. From this road, the routes to India, Iran and the great Middle-East Countries were prolonged.

These routes do not embody only the history of Silk Road for the traveler, but also a large number of bright architectural monuments, unique nooks of nature and people living in these countries, which were situated on the routes of the ancient trade road.

Dominic Streatfeild James. Silk Route by rail. - U.K., London : Trailblazer Publications, 1997. - 256 pages (In English).

This guidebook tells about travelling along The Great Silk Road by railway. The gradual disintegration of the USSR and opening up of the CIS have now created new travel opportunities for the development of tourism on the Silk Road. Further, completion of rail link from Almaty in Kazakhstan to Urumqi in China has, for the first time ever, made the journey from Central Asia into China accessible to the average traveler. This means that Marco Polo successors can not only trek their way across China but can also cross the border and continue west to visit some of the most famous cities of the ancient world of Central Asia and some regions of CIS.

Today, tourists of different countries have an opportunity to travel along the great deserts of Asia, to follow the route of Venetian traveler Marco Polo, to see the ancient cities of the East and Great Silk Road Countries. Today travelling between Moscow and Beijing will not take years or decades - railways and highways were constructed in the sites of caravan route.

Travelling along the routes of the Great Silk Road gives an opportunity to see the unique sights and The Oriental exotic of the countries, which lay in its main line. And among them, the Central Asian Countries, - in Uzbekistan you will surely visit a walled city of Khiva in Khorezm, the city which has a big number of prominent monuments of ancient architecture, and the history of which is connected with the history of Great Silk Road. Then, a traveler heads to ancient Bukhara with many of its beautiful palaces, minarets and mausoleums. 47 meter Kalyan minaret dominates silhouette of the city. In a couple hours of driving you will see the Blue Domes of Samarkand which was the capital of the huge empire of Amir Temur (Tamerlan) and was famous for its beauty in the world. There are also beautiful monuments in Shakhrisabs, which was the home town of Amir Temur.

The guidebook has a big range of information on extensive history sections on China, the CIS and The Silk Route. Comprehensive guides and plans to 16 cities along the route: Moscow, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, Almaty, Urumqi, Kashgar, Turfan, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Lanzhou, Tianshui, Xi'an, Luoyang and Benjing. Includes maps in Russian, Chinese and English languages and colourful photographs. There are some recommendations on how to arrange your trip independently or with a group, and how to get tickets.

Peter Neville-Hadley. China. The Silk Routes. - U.K., London: Gadogans Books, 1997. - 544 pages (In English).

As describes the author, this indispensable guide to Western China and beyond takes you by bus, train, jeep and even donkey cart down busy highways and unpaved back roads rarely visited by tourists.

Your route will lie through the desert fringes and over high passes. You will see the sights of China - ancient temples, palaces, parks and exotic bazaars which are in existence from the ancient times of Silk Route. Along the ancient trade roads you will head from Beijing and Xi'an in the east and Islamabad, Bishkek and Almaty in the west, and other Central Asian Countries. The guidebook helps you to make your own way along the tangle of old routes.

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