The Silk Roads Programme

On 25 July 2021, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed Quanzhou: Emporium of the World, China onto UNESCO’s World Heritage List during its 44th session held online and chaired from Fuzhou, China.

Textiles are a vital and diverse element of the legacy of the exchanges which occurred along the historic Silk Roads.

The Silk Roads were a driving force behind significant cultural exchange across many different parts of the world.

The Silk Road Week 2021 opening ceremony took place on 18 June 2021 at the China National Silk Museum.

Calling young photographers! Do you live along the Silk Roads? Have you travelled these ancient routes? Does their rich history fascinate you? Then join UNESCO in promoting dialogue, diversity and development! The 2021 edition of the Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads international photo contest, open to everyone around the world aged 14 to 25, is an unmissable opportunity to share your creative talent and capture the vibrant shared heritage of the Silk Roads.