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 One hundred antique cars of the world-famous brands produced since 1934 participated in a unique motor rally, "Amsterdam to Beijing" along
the Great Silk Road.
The rally started in the Dome Square of Amsterdam and crossed the territory of 14 countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and China - those that the Great Silk Road used to cross centuries ago. The ancient transnational route that connected East and West for millennia played an outstanding role in the development of civilization. Merchants used it for carrying their goods on horseback and camelback, while numerous travellers and missionaries made their way on foot.
 
The cars, with an average age of 50 years, covered the distance of 17,500 km within a month. They reached Tyanyanmen Square in Beijing on August 13, 2006.
In contrast to ancient travellers and caravans, the participants in this rally did not have to stay in noisy and overcrowded caravan-serais. Instead, they rested in comfortable hotels situated along the route at points approximately 700 km from one another.
 
The most interesting part of the journey lay across the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, via the cities of Bukhara, Shakhrisiabz, Samarkand and Tashkent where the race-drivers were welcomed by local residents.
 The partner of the Organizing Committee of the motor rally in the Asian countries was the The Great Silk Road Tour Operators Group which has been operating in the tourism market since 1998. The Group was formed by leading tour operators in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan.
The caravan of antique cars that negotiated this most difficult route once again highlighted the tremendous importance that the Great Silk Road played in the history of mankind and the significance of the international programme intended to bring it back to life.
About Amsterdam - Beijing rally 2006
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