While we know it today for it’s magnificent blue and white porcelain, the Ming Dynasty is credited with closing off China from the rest of the world, putting an end to over a thousand years of cultural and economic exchange along the Silk Road. It was the Ming Emperor Zhu Di who moved the capital to…
Tag: history
China’s Earliest Buddhist Temple
In the ruins of the ancient city of Kashgar, we visited the Mor Pagoda. It was the first Buddhist Temple established in China and dates from the 2nd century AD. Ancient Kashgar was an important city along the Silk Road but was abandoned in the 10th century after internal strife and a war of succession…
Crossing Kyrgyzstan, Closer to China
We arrived in Kyrgyzstan yesterday and it was a remarkable change from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Gone is the sweltering heat of the black and red sand deserts. Gone too are the soaring domes and spires of lapis and turquoise. Mountains surround the city of Bishkek and the streets are full of cars and commerce. Statues of…
Samarkand Paper Mill
We visited the historic Samarkand Paper mill as part of our Silk Road expedition. It lies on the outskirts of modern Samarkand, beyond the opulent Registan Square of Timur. It can be found among the long stretches of old mounded earth, all that remains of the storied mud brick Samarkand leveled by Ghengis Khan. The…
Puppet Theater in Central Asia
While traveling through Central Asia on our Silk Road expedition, I noticed there were many shops and buildings dedicated to Puppet Theater. Archaeologist, Bekhruz Kurbanov explains.
More Photos from Istanbul
Happy vendors Istanbul Spice Market by Curious Lizard Spice Market, Istanbul by Curious Lizard Spice Merchants by Curious Lizard Istanbul Spice Market Galata Tower by Curious Lizard Galata Hill and Golden Horn. Istanbul
On to Uzbekistan
After three remarkable days in Turkmenistan we have arrived in Uzbekistan. Our Internet conection is inconsistent here while in most areas of Turkmenistan there was little or none at all. We had flown to Ashgabat Turkmenistan from Istanbul and spent the day there visiting the ancient Parthian Capital Nisa, National Museum and Sunday market. The…