Samarkand, a city with more than 2,000 years of history, has undergone a major transformation in the 21st century. Once a key node in the ancient Silk Road, it’s now a modern city and an active participant in the Belt and Road Initiative. From the excavation of the Ruins of Afrasiab to the present-day international conferences that it hosts, CGTN reporter Feng Yilei looks into Samarkand's modern metamorphosis that continues to bridge the gap between the East and the West, past and present.