Youth Lens on the Silk Roads Photo Albums
Discover the editions of the Youth Lens on the Silk Roads photo albums, showcasing the best photographs selected from each edition of UNESCO's Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads photo contest.
This photo album is the outcome of the 6th edition of the international photo contest Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads, organized by UNESCO in 2024.
In this edition, held under the theme 'Life Celebrations', young photographers have vividly documented festivities and cultural moments that highlight joy, unity, and shared heritage along the Silk Roads. Their powerful images capture how these celebrations and rituals continue to reflect and strengthen centuries-old connections between communities.
This photo album is the outcome of the 5th edition of the international photo contest Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads, organized by UNESCO in 2023.
It focused on the theme of Architecture, Monuments and Urbanism, inviting young participants to explore how the built environment along the Silk Roads reflects cultural heritage, historical influences, and the creative expressions emerging from centuries of intercultural exchange. Through their photographs, contestants documented a diverse array of architectural styles, historical landmarks, and urban landscapes, underscoring the interconnectedness of these sites and the shared heritage they embody. Their images illustrate how both ancient structures and contemporary metropolitan spaces along the Silk Roads continue to tell a story of creativity, resilience, and cultural dialogue.
This photo album is the outcome of the 4th edition of the international photo contest Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads, organized by UNESCO in 2022.
For this fourth edition, participants were invited to submit photography that represented the Silk Roads shared heritage through the two themes of 'Faith and Spiritualities' and 'Living Together'.
This photo album is the outcome of the 3rd edition of the international photo contest Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads, organized by UNESCO in 2021.
For this third edition, participants were invited to submit photographs that represented the Silk Roads shared heritage through the two parallel themes of 'Textiles and Clothing', and 'Intercultural Exchanges in the Time of Covid-19, including in the field of Textiles and Clothing'. Through this collection of images, one can discover the rich and diverse legacy of textiles and clothing along the Silk Roads. The contest seeks to reflect the impact of Covid-19 on interaction and exchange, with a view to building our post-pandemic future.
This photo album is the outcome of the 2nd edition of the international photo contest Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads, organized by UNESCO in 2019-2020.
For this second edition, participants were invited to submit photographs that best capture the elements of the shared heritage of the Silk Roads through one or more of the three themes of 'Gastronomy and Food Production', 'Music and Dance' and 'Traditional Sports and Games'.
This photo album is the outcome of the 1st edition of the international photo contest Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads, organized by UNESCO in 2018.
It gathers 74 photos which best illustrate the spirit of the contest, and the diversity of youth's views on the Silk Roads heritage within the four major themes of Culture, Monuments, Landscape and People.




