For today's traveler, it is not only the weight of history that makes the Silk Road intriguing, but the incredible diversity of scenery and ethnic people along the way. This beautifully photographed and intelligent book is the authoritative guide to travel in the region. An incomparable guide to the Silk Road, from Xi'an to Kashgar, it takes the reader on a journey through this exotic region's history, culture, scenery, and peoples, as well as providing up-to-date information for the modern-day traveler to western China, lavishly illustrated with stunning color photography, easy-to-use maps and a guide to further reading.This 8th Edition features updated travel information, practical information including border crossings to Central Asian Republics, new websites and new photography of wild and beautiful corners of the region. A uniquely focused guidebook that is as useful for armchair travelers with a thirst for accurate, comprehensive and well-written historical and cultural information about this famous route as it is for travelers and adventurers to western China itself.