This monument, near a museum in Xi'an, #China, marks the official starting point for the ancient Silk Road. It was built on the grounds of an old market, where traders would buy goods, pack up and head east to start the long journey to places like Kashgar, Iran, Baghdad, Damascus, Tyre, Istanbul, and eventually Rome. We're taking that same path for #cnnsilkroad. Only 7,000 or so kilometers to go! #silkroad #silk #iraq #syria #lebanon #turkey #kazakhstan #italy #travel #gothere