People on the Silk Road

© Pan Wang - Image from the People on the Silk Road photography project © Pan Wang - workers at a pottery workshop in Yingjisha.Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 22, 2025, © Pan Wang - Image from the People on the Silk Road photography project View all images ↓
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The Silk Road is a millennia-old bond connecting Eastern and Western civilizations. In 2025, I traveled multiple times along China's ancient Silk Road, a long route from Xi'an to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, using my camera to document the people

The Silk Road is a millennia-old bond connecting Eastern and Western civilizations. In 2025, I traveled multiple times along China's ancient Silk Road, a long route from Xi'an to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, using my camera to document the people and stories along the way.

The Silk Road served not only as an important trade artery but also carried the profound mission of cultural integration and mutual learning between civilizations. It has forged a spiritual monument of exchanges between China and foreign countries, deeply influencing the development trajectory of cultures along its path. Every person I encountered on the Silk Road continues to write the daily chapters of this ancient route on their land. They are the most vivid witnesses of the contemporary Silk Road, guarding the historical heritage of this thousand-year-old trade route, and more importantly, they are the shapers of today's Silk Road. Through their everyday lives, they perpetuate the spirit of commercial interaction and cultural connectivity that defines the Silk Road. The portraits I took of them are not just individual moments but living legacies of millennia of history and culture. They allow the spirit of the Silk Road to continue growing in the present, breathing new life into this ancient trade route in the new era.

This project is a candidate for PhMuseum 2026 Photography Grant

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© Pan Wang - Image from the People on the Silk Road photography project
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A middle-aged "Keriya man" running a homestay in the heart of the desert gazes out of the window. Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, October 27, 2025. The "Keriya people" live in Dariyabuli Township deep within the Taklamakan Desert and are known as an obscure "primitive tribe" of the desert, with an estimated population of only around 2,000.

© Pan Wang - workers at a pottery workshop in Yingjisha.Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 22, 2025,
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workers at a pottery workshop in Yingjisha.Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 22, 2025,

© Pan Wang - Image from the People on the Silk Road photography project
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in Dariyabuli Township, deep within the Taklamakan Desert, Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China，October 27, 2025,A Keriya woman sits by the window.

© Pan Wang - Yotkan Ancient City, a dancing girl.Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 25, 2025,
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Yotkan Ancient City, a dancing girl.Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 25, 2025,

© Pan Wang - A female student named Norbiya.in Moyu County Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 25, 2025,
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A female student named Norbiya.in Moyu County Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 25, 2025,

© Pan Wang - Image from the People on the Silk Road photography project
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A middle-aged man holding a fighting rooster.at a cattle and sheep bazaar in Shache, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 23, 2025.

© Pan Wang - staff members.at the entrance of Yotkan Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China,October 25, 2025.
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staff members.at the entrance of Yotkan Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China,October 25, 2025.

© Pan Wang - Image from the People on the Silk Road photography project
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A young female actress portraying a Buddha statue from the Dunhuang Grottoes in the large-scale indoor experiential drama Meet Again, Dunhuang.May 13, 2025, in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, China.

© Pan Wang - A restaurant owner.in Changma Town, Yumen City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, China, March 18, 2025.
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A restaurant owner.in Changma Town, Yumen City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, China, March 18, 2025.

© Pan Wang - A monk.at the Leitai Han Tomb Scenic Area in Wuwei City, Gansu Province, China, March 18, 2025.
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A monk.at the Leitai Han Tomb Scenic Area in Wuwei City, Gansu Province, China, March 18, 2025.

© Pan Wang - A Keriya couple. Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, October 27, 2025.
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A Keriya couple. Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, October 27, 2025.

© Pan Wang - Two dancer.in Kashgar Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, October 22, 2025.
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Two dancer.in Kashgar Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, October 22, 2025.

© Pan Wang - A shepherd. in Yanqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, at Bagedachen Ancient City, May 20, 2025.
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A shepherd. in Yanqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, at Bagedachen Ancient City, May 20, 2025.

© Pan Wang - A guardian of the Zhagunluke Ancient Tombs.
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A guardian of the Zhagunluke Ancient Tombs.

© Pan Wang - March 14, 2025, at Yangguan, Gansu Province, China, a gatekeeper at the scenic area.
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March 14, 2025, at Yangguan, Gansu Province, China, a gatekeeper at the scenic area.

© Pan Wang - May 13, 2025, in Yumen City, Gansu Province, China, a young woman running a restaurant.
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May 13, 2025, in Yumen City, Gansu Province, China, a young woman running a restaurant.

© Pan Wang - A young man riding a horse.in Yotkan Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, October 25, 2025.
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A young man riding a horse.in Yotkan Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, October 25, 2025.

© Pan Wang - The female owner of a small supermarket.in Qiemo Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, May 23, 2025.
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The female owner of a small supermarket.in Qiemo Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, May 23, 2025.

© Pan Wang - elementary school students in Hongqi Village.in Jingjue Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, May 24, 2025.
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elementary school students in Hongqi Village.in Jingjue Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, May 24, 2025.

© Pan Wang - Image from the People on the Silk Road photography project
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A cultural relic administrator guarding the ruins of the ancient city.at Andir Ancient City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, October 29, 2025.

People on the Silk Road by Pan Wang

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