The Silk Roads have played an essential role in linking different cultures. Cultural elements such as rituals, art, music, craftwork, language, and gastronomy are all representative of cultural interactions among diverse populations. These elements include events such as traditional festivals, oral epics, and customs, as well as song and dance.  In addition, they include products like carpets, porcelain, traditional paintings, clothing, and food and drink, especially rice and tea. Moreover, customs not only represent the local culture inherent to a specific region, but also reflect elements borrowed and co-opted from other populations. 

In 2018 for its first edition, the Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest encouraged participants to capture these various elements that represent cultural interconnectivity on multiple levels.