As a historian, I have studied both the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road, and as a television presenter, I have traveled to both.

I have traveled the Silk Road in the footsteps of the great traveler Marco Polo from the magical Italian city of Venice to Istanbul, and I have then followed it through the plains, mountains, and deserts of Iran and Central Asia to the great Chinese city of Chengdu.

I have traveled the Maritime Silk Road in the footsteps of the explorer Zheng He from Nanjing shipyard across the China Sea to Singapore and from there to Malacca, India, Arabia and Africa. 

In ancient times the journey by land or sea could have taken at least a year if you were lucky to survive the heat of the desert or the beating of the waves.

But I have now also explored the new Silk Railroad, the rail link from China to Europe, a journey that can take just 16 days to get from China to Madrid.

It is a mind-blowing achievement, and it was extraordinary to witness the excitement that surrounds it in both Yiwu and Chengdu. I am certain that excitement will be felt in both Europe and China, wherever the rail terminuses are located. Businesses are buzzing; culture and experiences are being shared.

Without any doubt, this new connection between east and west will change the world as we know it.

Dr Sam Willis is an award-winning historian, archaeologist and broadcaster. He has published 12 books and made numerous appearances on BBC and National Geographic. He co-hosts the documentary “The Silk Railroad” with CGTN anchor Li Qiuyuan. They investigate how the Silk Railroad is benefitting the countries and people along the route of the Belt and Road. 

The Silk Railroad is a first-ever co-production by CGTN and National Geographic. The documentary has been broadcast on National Geographic in about 140 countries and regions around the world since June.