Han Dynasty diplomat Zhang Qian's expedition in 138 BC is considered to have laid the foundation for the subsequent Silk Road. The ancient Silk Road has left a large number of cultural relics for humanity, including many famous intangible cultural heritages. Muqam is one of them. Known as the "mother of Uygur music," it integrates song, dance and folk music. It is a part of the tapestry that makes up the culture of Xinjiang, a hub on the ancient Silk Road. In 2005, Xinjiang's Twelve Muqams were inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. CGTN's TianWei recently visited Shache County, known as the hometown of the Twelve Muqams, to watch the performance and learn about Muqam from several generations of artists.