During September 1997, I joined Maxwell Holland and 17 intrepid travelers and crossed China on the Silk Road from Beijing, Xian, Lanzhou, Xiahe, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar.  From Kashgar we headed south across the Karakoram Mountains into Pakistan.

Chairman Mao's face still greets visitors on the north side of Tian'an men Square at the entrance to the Forbidden City.