Dunhuang, the well-known Buddhist Caves in China, British explorer Aurel Stein just missed a significant mural which depicting an ancient anecdote： Over 1,300 years ago, one Chinese monk brought with him a monkey, a pig and p horse to set on a long journey in pursuit of Buddhist sutras. Thus, the story of “ The Journey to the West” had spread from the East throughout the whole world. However, few people realized such a legend did really exist in history.
In the fall of 628 A.D., a monk by the name of Xuanzang setting out from Chang-An, embarked on a journey to the West……. After 19 years of time span, he had travelled over 50,000 kilometers across the entire Western Region, Central Asia and India, ranging over 100 nations.
With the passing away of Ven. Xuanzang, there were over one million people in Capital Chang-An to see him off on his funeral ceremony. Emperor Tang Gao-zung lamented with a deep sigh：I have lost a national treasure! Indian historian Ali said that “ it would be almost impossible to reconstruct the history of India without Xuanzang.” British historian Smith commented that “ to Indian history it would be no exaggeration whatsoever you estimated Ven. Xuanzang.” And reputable Chinese literati Lu-Xun deemed that “ Xuanzang is the backbone of China and the epitome of national spirit.”
For the first time ever, the great epic documentary film of “ The road of Xuanzang ”chronicled faithfully the entire colorful and legendary life of the holy monk. A truly westward epic, going west for obtaining Buddhist sutras, with herders crisscrossing the prairies, exotic Western Region’s panorama and dreamlike Great Tang Dynasty as the backdrop, “ The road of Xuanzang” unfolds the true story in the 7th century A.D., covering from Chang-An to India, half way across the Asian Continent, re-enacting the history like a painting scroll.
