From before Christ to the heights of the Tang Dynasty, more than 1,100 years ago, the Silk Road for centuries linked the east and the west. The ancient road may have retired from its original purpose, but its story still lives on. China Central Television will for a second time work in collaboration with Japan's leading broadcasting company NHK to produce another documentary of the Silk Road.

Twenty-five years ago we saw the product of the first joint project between CCTV and NHK in a documentary called "The Silk Road". Now the two organizations have come together again to make an updated version, "The New Silk Road". Amongst other things, it will take a look at the latest archeology findings and historical discoveries. More cutting-edge technology will also be used for the production.

There will be four separate film crews that will travel to a total of ten places along the Silk Road in Xinjiang. The ten installments will take two years to complete.

(CCTV.com June 15, 2004)