The Silk Road conjures images of bustling marketplaces and ancient caravans, trade and cultural exchanges that shaped civilisations. Now, this storied route inspires a new vision in the entertainment world—SilkRoadLand, a unique oriental theme park concept that blends education, culture, and immersive storytelling.
Initially set to open in Uzbekistan, the birthplace of this idea, the project will celebrate the rich history of the Silk Road, weaving together the diverse cultures that thrived along its path. Yet SilkRoadLand is more than just a regional endeavour. With its concept finalised and ready for development, the project’s creators are actively seeking developers and investors to bring it to life as a franchise in new locations around the globe.
The aim is to establish the theme park in countries with authentic connections to the Silk Road across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, creating a worldwide network of attractions reflecting the legacy of trade, exploration, and cultural exchange.
Speaking to blooloop, Gulchekhra-begim Makhmudova, entrepreneur, writer, producer, and creator of the SilkRoadLand project, shares her passion for creating a place that connects people through shared heritage. She envisions SilkRoadLand as a global meeting point of cultures—a destination where history is vividly brought to life through characters, stories, and interactive experiences.
As she explains, the park’s mission is to bridge continents and generations, providing visitors with a journey into the past while nurturing connections in the present. We also speak to Vincent Philippe, a leisure expert and manager at Voltere, the French firm hired to develop the project’s concept and feasibility.
With the groundwork laid, SilkRoadLand is ready to find the right partners to help realise this ambitious dream. This article explores the project’s inspiration, its potential as a franchised attraction and the unique opportunity it presents for investors.
The inspiration behind SilkRoadLand
The Silk Road was a network of overland trade routes that stretched across Asia, linking China to the Mediterranean and Europe. Spanning thousands of miles, it passed through regions like Central Asia, Persia (modern-day Iran), the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. This route played a vital role in the exchange of goods, ideas, and innovations from as early as the 2nd century BCE until the 14th century CE.
The Maritime Silk Road was the sea-based counterpart to the overland Silk Road, facilitating trade between East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa.
Today, these routes symbolise a shared legacy of connection and innovation.
For Gulchekhra-begim, the idea for SilkRoadLand comes from a deeply personal journey and a lifelong passion for preserving and sharing the rich history of the Silk Road:
“After surviving a near-death experience, my perspective on life changed completely—I realised that every day is precious, and I felt a calling to do something meaningful for future generations. My work has always been about building connections between cultures, whether through art, history, or business.
“Over the years, I’ve researched the treasures and stories of the Silk Road Treasures, written books and fairytales, and created a BEGIM brand fragrance line in France inspired by it. Now, I want to bring these stories to life through a theme park that isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about education, adventure, and inspiring curiosity in young people. SilkRoadLand will showcase the wonders of ancient trade routes, blending history with storytelling in an experience unlike any other.
“This is my mission: to create something lasting, educates, entertains and connects culture treasures across the world.”
What can guests expect?
Expanding on what this new park will look like and outlining the kind of experiences visitors will be able to experience, she says that visitors at SilkRoadLand can expect a truly immersive and unforgettable experience.
“We’re designing standout attractions that blend history, culture, and cutting-edge technology, including a spectacular night show featuring legendary heroes from China to Spain, brought to life through stunning performances, 3D illumination, and advanced mapping techniques. I’ve already written the script for this show, and it will be breathtaking.”
A ride themed like a camel train will take visitors around the park. It offers an interactive journey through different Silk Road regions, and children can enjoy the ride while learning about the history of these ancient trade routes.
“We’re also paying close attention to accessibility, creating unique experiences for visitors with disabilities, including specially designed camel train rides.”
Another highlight will be the Maritime Silk Road, developed as a themed water park. Every aspect of SilkRoadLand will combine education with entertainment to engage all the senses, creating something magical for families and people of all ages.
Choosing the right team to bring the SilkRoadLand vision to life
Gulchekhra-begim says the partnership with Voltere was a natural fit:
“I’ve been working with France for over 40 years. I was introduced to them through a trusted connection who knew they had the expertise to bring large-scale creative projects to life. When I shared my vision for SilkRoadLand and some of our initial visualisations, they immediately saw the potential.”
Voltere conducted a detailed feasibility study, prepared the business plan, and created a comprehensive timeline. It handled all the necessary research and documentation required to present the project to investors and government officials.
Since then, the project has progressed rapidly. Voltere visited Uzbekistan in 2022, and with the support of local authorities, the team secured a prime location for the park—150 hectares of land just 20 kilometres from Tashkent, near a river and close to the mountains. Working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and other government bodies, the company also analysed rapidly increasing tourist traffic and other key data.
A compelling concept
From his perspective as a leisure expert, Philippe says that SilkRoadLand is a unique and compelling concept:
“SilkRoadLand is both a completely new leisure offer for the local market and, at the same time, adapted to the chosen site. The visit to Tashkent during the launch of the project was rewarding. The capital already has almost ten parks.”
These are mainly small parks to be visited for short periods and, for the most part, on a pay-per-ride basis. However, they prove a real demand from the public for these family activities.
“When you study the local geography, the city is relatively isolated. Apart from the mountains, there are few leisure destinations. So that’s what we wanted to build: a critical mass sufficient to generate a short stay and to address all audiences, from the local family to tourists passing through, including groups and companies.”
“As it is an emerging market, we included all the pillars of a leisure destination and decided to build in phases rather than one after the other. So, as of the start, the guests will have a taste of each. As we grow, they will each be constantly revitalised by new attractions or features.”
Voltere’s approach to leisure and attractions complements Makhmudova’s vision for SilkRoadLand. “The initial material provided by Gulchekhra-begim was fascinating. We took great pleasure in immersing ourselves in her stories to draw an identity and a common thread for the place.”
“We proposed an intensive concept built around a core site that is alive all year round, divided between indoor and outdoor activities. Around this core site are located, like the petals of a flower, all the components (such as theme caravan park, water maritime park, immersive show, attractions, hotels, and eco-zoo villas). In doing so, the site retains the possibility of growth.”
Storytelling and worldbuilding
Gulchekhra-begim has a rich background in writing stories, fairy tales, and screenplays, which reflects her lifelong passion for history, culture, and storytelling. Over the years, she has extensively researched the ancient Silk Road, delving into its legends, treasures, and the lives of famous travellers. Her writings take inspiration from this research, blending historical facts with imaginative narratives to bring the vibrant world of the Silk Road to life.
Her storytelling focuses on preserving the cultural heritage of the Silk Road while making it engaging for modern audiences. She currently has four books in her Adventures of the Spirit of Time series for children. These fairy tales weave together elements of Central Asian folklore, Arabian myths, and Persian legends. Her stories often feature unique characters and epic adventures that emphasise the importance of knowledge, kindness, and cultural connection.
“For me, it’s a big honour to have my books published in Uzbekistan and the UK,” – she says. “These stories are about preserving our fairy tales, our culture, and our heroes—heroes from the Far East and the Orient, not characters like Spider-Man, but iconic figures from Oriental traditions like Farishta and pilgrim Hooja, like Bad Men oriental Zahar and Maimun…”
The power of edutainment
Her writing extends beyond books; she has also created scripts for films and animations to educate younger generations about the history of the Silk Road.
She strongly believes in the power of edutainment and envisions her stories as a bridge between cultures, offering both entertainment and valuable lessons. Many of her works have influenced the creative foundation of the Silk Road Land theme park, where her characters and tales will come to life in an immersive, interactive setting. They will also inspire souvenirs and merchandise at the park, adding another revenue stream.
Philippe adds: “To differentiate our destination from potential others that could be built in the same area, we anchor our concept on local stories, using many authentic characters and oriental legends.”
He explains that storytelling is key: “We create emotions, as this is what our guests come for. To trigger these emotions, we stage every component in a “wow” manner. For this, we become storytellers, using local legends and tales that feel authentic.”
SilkRoadLand welcomes partners
The project seeks partners and investors, and the team is positioning SilkRoadLand as a new tourist destination suitable for all audiences.
“At SilkRoadLand, we are targeting a large and young local population and tourists who visit this country with its many UNESCO World Heritage Sites,” says Philippe.
“Silk Road Land represents several destinations in one. An outing with friends, a family event to celebrate, and a fun tourist excursion as an introduction to the discovery of the culture and history of the country. The composition and master planning of the project allows all these experiences to coexist and be enriched.
“More than any other leisure destination, we genuinely hope the park will finally revive this multifaceted legend, the Silk Road. We believe it can become an important creative hub with a strong global reach. The richness of Gulchekhra-begim’s stories gives them all the potential to become successful films or series.”
“Just like the real Silk Road, this ambitious franchise project will not be done in a day. Partners and investors must position themselves with a long-term vision and a true spirit of partnership.”
While there have been copycat projects in recent years, Gulchekhra-begim stresses the idea and visualisations for SilkRoadLand are the first and only to be registered and copyrighted.
A living fairy tale
Finally, Gulchekhra-begim says her message to potential investors and partners, both for the initial site in her home country of Uzbekistan and her vision for a series of franchised parks worldwide, is simple:
“Let’s renew the Great Silk Road—let’s revive the ancient path of exchanging knowledge and treasures. Every country and culture has unique treasures to share, and so it’s vital that we pass this wealth of knowledge on to future generations.
“This project is about more than entertainment—it’s about connection, love, kindness, and beauty. We are one world, like one great body, and we cannot thrive without one another. Europe needs Asia, Asia needs Europe, and the land and ocean are inseparable – Caravan and Maritime Silk Road.
“That’s what SilkRoadLand represents—a living fairy tale that connects people and cultures, offering something deeper than what you find on a screen. It’s a place where knowledge, history, and beauty unite to create a new experience for young generations.”
Interested parties can find out more here or scan the QR code.
