The Silk Road

The early trade in silk was carried on against incredible odds by great caravans of merchants and animals traveling over some of the most inhospitable territory on the face of the earth, including searing, waterless deserts and snowbound mountain passes. Beginning at the magnificent ancient Chinese city of Chang'an (Xi'an), the route took traders westward along the Hexi Corridor to the giant barrier of the Great Wall, then either north or south of the Taklamakan Desert to Kashgar before continuing on to India and Iran, or to the great cities of Constantinople, Damascus and Baghdad. 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. 93 color photographs and illustrations, 15 maps.

Sixth edition: revised and updated Established companion guidebook for travelers Well-summarized history on the forging and development of the Silk Road Impressions of the region's places, people and peculiarities Fully revised, easy-to-follow maps Latest practical information Comprehensive list of recommended websites for further research and reading

Author Biography: Judy Bonavia was born in Perth, Western Australia. She spent some 30 years in Asia, living in Vietnam, Hong Kong and China, where she traveled extensively. Fluent in written and spoken Mandarin, she also authored the Odyssey Illustrated Guide to the Yangzi River. In the 1990s Judy was based in Argentina studying Andean culture while continuing to work on a book on the minority peoples of China. She is now resident in Zimbabwe. William Lindesay has spent nine years traveling and working in China. In 1987, he walked the entire length of the Great Wall, a journey of 2,470 km recounted in his book Alone on the Great Wall. He then turned his attention to retracing the Long March, recording his adventures in Marching with Mao: A Biographical Journey. Other works include Odyssey's The Great Wall: A Close-Up Guide and co-authorship of Terracotta Warriors: A Close-Up Guide. He and his wife, Wu Qi, a history graduate from Xi'an North West University, have revised Odyssey's guidebooks to Xi'an and China, as well as co-authoring Beijing.