Across Asia, from China to Europe exist a number of ancient cities that were key markers on the Silk Road. From Xi’an in the East of China, where the route began, to Istanbul on the edge of Europe, these cities were for centuries the key trading hubs for the exchange of goods, religions and ideas from East to West.

Many of these cities now lay deserted, relics in the dust of history but most survive; their ancient walls, monuments and temples still intact. And today traders   still exchange goods just as they did   hundreds of years ago.

In this episode of Bazaar, we visit Xi’an, Hotan and Kashgar in China. Osh, Samarkand, Bukhara and Merv in Central Asia, Aleppo and Damascus in the Middle East, Istanbul and Venice.

Credits

presenters
HOLLY MORRIS
MEGAN MCCORMICK
BOBBY CHINN

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with thanks to
WORLD TOURISM ORGANISATION (UNWTO)
ANCIENT MERV PROJECT, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
KYRGYZ CONCEPT
AGA KHAN FOUNDATION

NATIONAL UZBEK TOURISM BOARD
OLYMPIC TOUR SERVICE
UZBEKISTAN AIRWAYS
GAFURBEKOV OTABEK
NILUFAR NURIDDINOVA

AYAN TRAVEL, TURKMENISTAN
GULSHAT BERDYÝEVA

MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM, REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

GEORGIAN NATIONAL TOURISM
DISCOVER CARPATHIA

TURKISH CULTURE & TOURISM OFFICE
REDMINT COMMUNICATIONS
ARGEUS TOURISM & TRAVEL
TURKISH AIRLINES
BLUE TUANA HOTEL

CHINA NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE, LONDON
CHINA NATIONAL TOURISM ADMINISTRATION, BEIJING
SHAANXI TOURISM ADMINISTRATION
GANSU TOURISM ADMINISTRATION
XINJIANG TOURISM ADMINISTRATION

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titles
MARTINA MUNGAI

graphic artist
SANYUKTA SHRESTHA

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camera
NIGEL KINNINGS
CHRIS BAIRSTOW
ORLANDO STUART
GEORGIE BURRELL

sound
CHRIS PICKHAVER
MARTIN EVANSON

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facilities
SOHO SQUARE STUDIOS

dubbing mixer
MIHAI MEIROSU

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online editor
MICHAEL SUNDERLAND

editor
RICHARD HOWARD

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title music by
MICHAEL CONN

music by
COLIN WINSTON FLETCHER
MICHAEL CONN
MALCOLM LAWS & NAINITA DESAI
JON WYGENS
SIMON HILL

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post production coordinator
MICHAEL SUNDERLAND

post production assistant
THOMAS ARNAL

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production accountant
PETYA MARKOVA

production manager
MEL MOORE

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producers
CLAUDINE PARRISH
LUIS LEITAO

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directors
LUCY COOKE
CHRIS LEDGER

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executive producer
IAN CROSS

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Produced by Pilot Film and TV Productions for:
Discovery International

© Pilot Productions MMXII