جبرئیل’s Reviews > The Silk Road - Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran: A Travel Companion > Status Update

Balkh.
Its said its the oldest city of the world. It was 1000years old when Alexander captured it in 329BC.
A key point of Silk Road, once capital of Kingdom of Bactria.
Termed “paradise on earth” when Islam reached here. Became producer of scholars.
Birthed Jalaluddin Balkhi in 1207, he had to escape to Rum, hence Rumi, due to onslaught of Genghis Khan.
Only 1 mosque is left from that time. Masjid 9 Gunbad

Too dense.
Open google & maps, to actively understand.
After all its history and maps.

The monks/travelers/scholars of China, from Xian, Shaanxi.

Fa Xian(337-422) and Xuanzang(600-664), who traveled to India and more than 20 kingdoms of their time, and translated Buddhist literature from Sanskirt to Chinese. 2 main contributors of Buddhism to China.