'Journey to the West' is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Originally published anonymously in the 1590s during the Ming Dynasty; its authorship has been ascribed to the scholar Wu Cheng'en since the 20th century. In English-speaking countries; the tale is also often known simply as Monkey.

The novel is a fictionalised account of the legendary pilgrimage to India of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang. The monk travelled to the Western Regions during the Tang dynasty; to obtain sacred texts (sutras). The Bodhisattva Guan Yin; on instruction from the Buddha; gives this task to the monk and his three protectors in the form of disciples 鈥?namely Sun Wukong; Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing 鈥?together with a dragon prince who acts as Xuanzang's steed; a white horse. These four characters have agreed to help Xuanzang as an atonement for past sins.

Zhangye is an important light industrial and agricultural centre at the heart of the Hexi Corridor with a population of about 200;000. It was originally an important garrison town designed to protect Silk Road traffic and keep the troublesome nomadic invaders out of China Proper. Pictures From Asia David Henley