It is said the Ancient Tea-Horse Road is the route that goes from the tea fields of China's Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, through the Tibet Autonomous Region and into India. From the time of the Tang Dynasty the area prospered from its tea production, and with the spread of Tibetan Buddhist culture and the demand for tea and horses, the trade route flourished with many people going back and forth. Metals such as copper and iron, as well as products such as consumer goods, Tibetan medicinal herbs, rugs and furs were all carried along this route, and over the years the roads were split up.   When I see the road myself, it is like a reflection of the people's lives. The steep, dangerous mountainous region spreads out all around. As I travel along the roads that people have built, going over rivers and mountains, I see the connections between the various cultures of the different minorities and I begin to realize how each race is proud of its heritage. Accepting one another’s similarities and differences and deepening one’s understanding and respect for others, paves the way to peaceful coexistence. With those thoughts and my curiosity antenna leading the way, I traveled across the Tibet Autonomous Region, Yunnan Province, Sichuan Province, and Beijing City in search of my own re·birth.   This is the second volume of the "Roads" series, which started with "Around the Taklamakan Desert," a photo collection based on the Silk Road. I hope you enjoy your visual journey. People's Republic of China Population: ca 1.3 billion Territory: 9.6 million km² Capital: Beijing Ethnic Groups: Han and the other 55 groups Language: Chinese Religion: Buddhism, Muslim, Christian etc.