A folk troupe of Huayin shadow play performs in front of an ancient palace. The traditional shadow play is popular among the old. It's a very old folk art popular in Shaanxi province. [Photo by Jiang Bin / For China Daily]

Cities along the Silk Road are enormous treasure troves of history, culture, architecture and the arts. A photography competition held by the imaging and optical producer Canon Inc invited photographers to focus their lenses on these Silk Road jewels, offering a glimpse into the glamour of the past and the vibrancy of the present.

The project Discovering the Beauty of Silk Road has received about 8,000 photo submissions from the public since its launch in August. The photos capture traditional shadow plays, glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), Buddha sculptures, and ancient relics from the wealth of royal families, as well as the everyday lives of ordinary people.

The first year for the project has focused on the two ancient capitals Chang'an (now Xi'an) of the Western Han Dynasty (206BC－AD24) and Luoyang of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220). Both of which were the starting cities for the Silk Road during their dynasties.