The Silk Road

Past and Present of the World's Greatest "Road" Take the voyage of a lifetime as you trace the Silk Road, the name given ancient trade routes which provided some of the earliest contacts between Western and Eastern cultures. Not only will you be treated to a view of breathtaking scenery and artistic treasures, you'll also learn about the lifestyles of the people living along the route today. This historical production was made as a joint effort between NHK and CCTV, China Central Television Network.

The Silk Road Season 1 release dates →

1. S1 E12

   E12

   12. Two Roads to the Pamirs

   Finale 45 years ago
2. S1 E11

   E11

   11. Where Horses Fly Like the Wind

   45 years ago
3. S1 E10

   E10

   10. Journey into Music-South Through the Tian Shan Mountains

   45 years ago
4. S1 E9

   E9

   9. Through the Tian Shan Mountains by Rail

   45 years ago
5. S1 E8

   E8

   8. A Heat Wave Called Turfan

   46 years ago
6. S1 E7

   E7

   7. Khotan-Oasis of Silk and Jade

   46 years ago
7. S1 E6

   E6

   6. Across the Taklamakan Desert

   46 years ago
8. S1 E5

   E5

   5. In Search of the Kingdom of Lou-Lan

   46 years ago
9. S1 E4

   E4

   4. The Dark Castle

   46 years ago
10. S1 E3

    E3

    3. The Art Gallery in the Desert

    46 years ago
11. S1 E2

    E2

    2. A Thousand Kilometers Beyond the Yellow River

    46 years ago

    In "A Thousand Kilometers Beyond the Yellow River," you'll cross the Yellow River in a goat skin raft. Gaze in awe at the same giant Buddha that Marco Polo saw 700 years ago. Look with amazement at the giant water wheels that irrigate miles of Chinese croplands, and visit the secret caves of Bing Lui Si, never before photographed by a television crew. Then, transverse the Forbidden Corridor between the mountains and the Gobi Desert, where the Huns battled the Chinese for control over the most prized horses in the world.

12. S1 E1

    E1

    1. Glories of Ancient Chang-An

    46 years ago

    In "The Glories of Ancient Chang-An," you'll visit the starting point of the Silk Road. Chang-An, the world's largest city in the seventh century, you'll see the incredibe clay army. Buried for almost 2,000 years, the discovery of these 6,000 statues is an archaeological triumph, and The Silk Road crew were the first foreigners allowed to photograph it. Thrill at the sculptures buried in the world's largest tomb. And then, enter China's most hallowed Buddhist temple, and examine the hidden underground murals of a legendary princess, and walk the only man-made object visible from outer space, The Great Wall of China.

Past and Present of the World's Greatest "Road" Take the voyage of a lifetime as you trace the Silk Road, the name given ancient trade routes which provided some of the earliest contacts between Western and Eastern cultures. Not only will you be treated to a view of breathtaking scenery and artistic treasures, you'll also learn about the lifestyles of the people living along the route today. This historical production was made as a joint effort between NHK and CCTV, China Central Television Network.

The Silk Road Season 2 release dates →

1. S2 E18

   E18

   18. All Roads Lead to Rome

   Finale 42 years ago
2. S2 E17

   E17

   17. The Silk City at the Edge of Asia

   42 years ago
3. S2 E16

   E16

   16. The Horsemen of Turkey

   42 years ago
4. S2 E15

   E15

   15. The Caravans Move West

   42 years ago
5. S2 E14

   E14

   14. The Other Silk Road

   42 years ago
6. S2 E13

   E13

   13. Across the Karakum Desert

   42 years ago
7. S2 E12

   E12

   12. The Glory of Samarkand

   42 years ago
8. S2 E11

   E11

   11. The Soghdian Merchants

   42 years ago
9. S2 E10

   E10

   10. The Sky Horses of Davan

   42 years ago
10. S2 E9

    E9

    9. Across the Steppes

    42 years ago
11. S2 E8

    E8

    8. The Road Vanished into a Lake

    43 years ago
12. S2 E7

    E7

    7. Beyond Baghdad

    43 years ago
13. S2 E6

    E6

    6. The Desert: In Search of Wisdom

    43 years ago
14. S2 E5

    E5

    5. The Scorching Sun and the Southern Road of Iran

    43 years ago
15. S2 E4

    E4

    4. The Travels of Xuang Zang in India

    43 years ago
16. S2 E3

    E3

    3. Legendary Ladakh

    43 years ago
17. S2 E2

    E2

    2. The King's Road

    43 years ago
18. S2 E1

    E1

    1. Across the Pamirs

    43 years ago

Launched in 1980, NHK's renowned Silk Road series was the first foreign TV program allowed to film Silk Road inside communist China. The series sparked enormous interest. A quarter of a century later, NHK re-visits Silk Road with high-definition cameras. The first half of the journey is to Loolan, Tibet, Taklamakan Desert and Xian. The trip then continues from former Soviet Central Asia to the Middle East and Turkey. With its swirling mix of ethnic identities, this region is now carving out a new period of history led by the resurgence of Islam. NHK provides a new look at this modern-day Silk Road giving you a clear view of the regions' momentous changes.

The Silk Road Season 4 release dates →

1. E5

   5. Echoes of Distant Prayers : Syria and Lebanon

   18 years ago

   Syria and Lebanon are the "last 100km" of the Silk Road. This area is also where various religions coexist. Here are found a hidden village where Christianity has been protected for 2,000 years, a temple of the Roman Empire, a Shiite holy city, and Christian Maronites who have continued to treasure the legendary Lebanon cedar. However, this area is also plagued by endless wars. The voices of prayers for peace are heard as we wonder if those of a family who's lost a son amid the confrontations can appease the continuous conflicts.

2. E4

   4. From Wasteland to Motherland : Central Asia

   18 years ago

   From Kazakhstan, this episode cuts through the steppe regions of Central Asia to Russia and the Ukraine. We meet ethnic Kazakhs in China seeking to return to their homeland and displaced Chechens deciding whether to return to their war-torn homeland or stay where it is peaceful. And Cossacks, many of whom are now reviving their proud heritage of military service in Imperial Russia, asserting themselves as bastions of support for the Putin government. As we continue our journey through Central Asia, we listen to the songs and stories of these people who are longing to return to the homelands of their distant memories.

3. E3

   3. Steep Road to the Oasis : Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

   18 years ago

   Our next destination is the countries in Central Asia. We will visit a new city that has emerged near the border between Kyrgyzstan and China. The city shows rapid growth due to the huge influx of Chinese goods. Heading west, we will see the cotton fields spread out across a huge oasis in Uzbekistan. We also explore the beautiful, white-bricked city of Bukhara, which still maintains an atmosphere of the middle ages. In one of the city's narrow streets, Uzbekis, Russians, Jews, and others live together side-by-side in harmony. Visit these people who live to the fullest amidst the uncertainties after the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

4. E2

   2. The Progeny of the Queen of Sheba : Yemen and Saudi Arabia

   18 years ago

   With the end of the civil war, the people of Yemen are now building a new country. The remains of the palace of the Queen of Sheba, or Bilqs, are being excavated as a way of regaining Yemeni ethnic pride. North of Yemen lies the current oil kingdom, Saudi Arabia. Until 50 years ago, half of the Saudi people led nomadic lives. With the sharp rises in oil prices, people in Saudi Arabia gained enormous wealth, and as a result, the historical character of their cities began to change its shape. The tale of rise and fall transcending time and space echoes through the 1,500-kilometer journey across the Arabian Peninsula.

5. E1

   1. The Flame and the Cross : The South Caucasus

   18 years ago

   Surrounded by 5,000-meter high mountains, the South Caucasus was a strategic point tying together all directions of the Silk Road. Home to 50 ethnic groups, the region is a cultural treasure trove of unique ethnic music, religious architecture, wines, and so on. It has also been invaded by the Roman, Mongol, and Ottoman empires. Wars still rage even now, and over one million people have become refugees. The region is truly representative of both the blessings and the historical calamities brought on by the Silk Road. This leg of the journey will take you to three countries -- Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia -- countries that have long fostered unique cultures tempered by the flames of war.