A tour taking in major sites along the ancient Silk Road was launched in Beijing on August 28.

It is jointly hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and SAIC Volkswagen, and aims to promote trade and cultural exchange.

The tour will continue until September 29 and visit nine places in seven countries, including China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Poland, the Czech Republic, France and the Netherlands.

The Chinese leg of the epic journey will see the tourists visit significant places in Beijing, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Gansu and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

"We hope to evoke the spirit of the Silk Road through our retracing of the route and offer development opportunities along the way," says Li Xiaolin, chairman of the friendship association.

Business talks, youth forums, cultural exhibitions and sport exchanges are to be staged during the tour.