At the crossroads of Central Asia : the Kingdom of Kroraina
Gateway to the languages of the Silk Road : Kucha and the caves of Kizil
Midway between China and Iran : Turfan
Homeland of the Sogdians, the Silk Road traders : Samarkand and Sogdiana
The cosmopolitan terminus of the Silk Road : historic Chang'an, modern-day Xi'an
The time capsule of Silk Road history : The Dunhuang caves
Entryway into Xinjiang for Buddhism and Islam : Khotan
The history of the overland routes through Central Asia.