HONOLULU, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition featuring natural sceneries, profound history, and diversified cultures along the ancient Silk Road opened Friday evening at the University of Hawaii (UH) Manoa campus.

The Silk Road, which stretches from China to Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe, has played an irreplaceable role in bridging eastern and western cultures and promoting commercial and trade contacts since as early as China's Han dynasty (206 BC -- 220 AD).

"We are 'theoretically' part of the United States, but 'culturally' we are part of Asia," said UH Vice Chancellor Reed Dasenbrock at the opening ceremony at the Hamilton Library on campus.

Some 30 photos presented by Xinhua News Agency under collaboration with the Confucius Institute of the UH gave visitors a brief history of the Silk Road.

"The photos reminded me of my travel along the Silk Road back in 2013, people there are really nice and the sceneries are just splendid," said Yen Chun, director of Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

"Better understanding can always facilitate business," she added.

In recent years, China has attached great importance to the "Belt and Road" initiative, which is aimed at building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The Silk Road Economic Belt is being established along the ancient Silk Road trade route, while the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road runs through the country's south to Southeast Asia.

"The photo exhibition really gives Americans a clear picture of what the traditional Silk Road is like, so as to better understand the new Belt and Road," said Cyndy Ren, associate director of the Confucius Institute in UH Manoa.

"The future of the world will be largely decided by the relationship of the United States and China, and Hawaii is the place where east and west cultures meet more harmoniously, peacefully and deeply," said Dasenbrock, who hailed the exhibition as "the best testimony of our close collaboration."

The two-month exhibition titled "Along Silk Road" is expected to attract thousands of academicians, students and public visitors.