LONDON, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Traditional Chinese dance drama Silk Road comes to Britain for the first time, 34 years after its birth.

It was performed by Gansu Dance Drama and Opera Ensemble on Wednesday and Thursday at the Peacock Theater of the Sadler's Wells group, Britain's leading dance house.

Since 1979 when it was born, the drama has been performed in 30 countries and regions and 400 cities to audiences of more than four million, most recently at New York's Lincoln Center.

Inspired by the landscape of northwest China's Silk Road and the early Dunhuang Frescoes and performed by a 47-strong ensemble, it depicts a story of peace and friendship between Chinese merchants and foreign traders.

Set in the Sanwei Mountain, a place blessed with thousands of Buddhas and lit by holy lights, the performance follows a painter's daughter who is kidnapped after they help save the life of a Persian businessman on the Silk Road. It was adapted into a film in 1982.