Author and journalist Miles Kington set out to find the old road that links Burma to China across a tortuous mountain route. Instead, he found the Burmese keen to deny its existence and the Chinese almost unaware of its presence. Along the way, he happened upon a temple Pwe -- a half opera, half comedy show -- the only show allowed in Burma's unique Buddhist socialist regime. 

Part of the Great Journeys series, which follows eight distinguished writers on eight fascinating journeys. Much of the romance and adventure of human history centers around the travel and trade routes of the world. In the course of migration, conquest, trade or pilgrimage, people have pushed across mountains, deserts and waterways to form the great highways of the world. This BBC series not only re-treads ancient footsteps, but captures the life, the color and the philosophies that are a part of these fabled highways today