In almost perfect timing with the Beijing Olympics, Treasures of the Silk Road by Madman arrives on DVD that takes the viewer on a wondrous historical and modern journey of those living near or on the ancient trade route of the Silk Road.

This engaging documentary goes into great detail in showing the viewer the vastness of the lands between Asia and India as we are taken on a majestic journey through the Tien Shan mountains and one of the world's largest deserts, the Taklamakan.

Unbeknown to me, Treasures of the Silk Road also informs us of the hidden civilizations of the Taklamakan and how its extreme landscapes and climates made this culture almost untouchable from visitors for hundreds of years.

The documentary is truly a work of art that pays homage to the original merchants who travelled on this amazing route as they traded with a variety of cultures such as the lost kingdom of the Loulan or the mysterious Buddhist sects.

If you are interested in archeology, nature or history, than Treasures of the Silk Road is a must have DVD and even though I am history buff, I was surprised at to how much history the Silk Road was linked to.

Brilliant video and audio quality, this is truly an inspirational documentary that is majestic, gripping and sometimes otherworldly, engaging from start to finish!