Many objects among Dr Ting’s collections were bought in Central Asia along the Silk Road. Examples include a framed paper quilling featuring an Armenian cross, a rug with the Lord’s Prayer in Armenian, and images of the Zoroastrian guardian spirit Faravahar. Most people are not aware that the descendants of these Silk Road countries have left many marks in Hong Kong. Their contribution to the growth of Hong Kong should not be overlooked. Dr Ting’s research interest has long focused on foreign ethnic groups in Hong Kong and he has written a number of books on related topics. In this section, we feature excerpts from two of Dr Ting’s books to help visitors understand the important roles played by the descendants of the Central Asian countries along the Silk Road in the growth of Hong Kong during the 19th and 20th centuries.