China’s new Silk Road leads west to Middle East

China is increasingly engaging with countries with mainly Muslim populations through cultural exchanges as its government champions the creation of a new, economic Silk Road. Two biennials opened this autumn in the countrys far-flung western regions, which are the respective homelands of Chinas two largest Muslim minorities, the Turkic Uyghurs and the more assimilated Hui. Meanwhile, the 11th Shanghai Biennale, which is due to open on 11 November (until 12 March 2017), features an unprecedented