Yet even this experienced scholar was unprepared for the dazzling array of riches he unearthed, which came to be known as the Bactrian gold ... Bactria was on the Silk Road that linked China ...

My rail tour through Central Asia—Jewels of the Silk Road, offered by Golden Eagle Luxury ... replete with white tablecloths, gold-rimmed coffee cups, and tasseled drapes. Breakfasts were ...