The ancient Silk Road of western China never fails to enchant visitors with its irresistible charm. And members of the Chamber's recent mission to study business opportunities in western China were also in awe at the beauty and rich cultural heritage that Xian, Lanzhou, Dunhuang and Urumqi possess. It goes without saying that the scenic spots on the Silk Road are a must for anyone visiting the region.

The magnificent long-buried Terra-cotta Warriors of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) left us in awe. The 10,000 life-sized pottery warriors seemed to be narrating to us what life was like 2,000 years ago. The breathtaking cave paintings and vivid sculptures in the Mogao Grottoes tell of legends and the splendid artistic achievements of the Tang Dynasty (618-906) during China's golden age.

Charmed by frescoes and murals with fairy maiden dancers playing musical instruments and dancing in the heavens, we lapsed into the illusion that we were the audience watching a musical play. All the charms of the ancient Silk Road captured our souls and left us in awe at how camel trains brought great cultural and economic prosperity to the region.

So it was most fitting that our excursion in Dunhuang, Gansu, was a ride on a camel up Ming Sha Sand Dune. Before dawn had even broken, more than 20 members of the mission lined up at the entrance of our hotel at 5 a.m., chatting excitedly about the camel trek.

Our camels plodded up Ming Sha Sand Dune, and the silent blackness was broken only by the tinkle of camel bells. With tables and chairs set up on the dune, we ate breakfast -- ham and eggs, plus preserved egg and meat congee -- and excitedly awaited sunrise.

Slowly, the rosy morning glow of the sun painted the sky red. Its rays illuminated the desert that stretched for as far as the eye could see before striking a limpid spring, Yue Ya Quan (Lune Spring), which has also been called the Spring of Life. The view has probably changed little since the Loulan Empire. Will the Silk Road, as a link between the Central Plains, the northwest border and former doorway to the Western world, play a new role in the development of the western region?

The amazing beauty of Tianchi Lake (Heavenly Lake), lying at Tian Shan Range, is often depicted in martial arts novels and movies, the most recent one being "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," starring Chow Yun-fat.

Chinese legend has it that Tianchi is the site where the Queen of Heaven bathes and invites celestial beings to enjoy her "peach of immortality."

Another excursion brought us to Tianchi Lake in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Although it was a sweltering summer's day, the water in the lake, constantly refreshed by streams fed by melting snow from the surrounding mountains, made it icy cold. The green lake, amidst the rich verdant range where flocks grazed in the shadow of snow-covered peaks created a heavenly peace and tranquillity.