• The Silk Road: Manifest Destiny Xinjiang province, in China's remote west, is booming as a gateway to oil, trade and power. But few indigenous inhabitants are sharing its prosperity Photographs by Daniele Dainelli—Contrasto for TIME
	• The Malacca Strait: Strait Sailing From bustling Singapore to the chaotic, often lawless islands along the coast of Sumatra, the Malacca Strait is an ancient hub of globalization Photographs by John Stanmeyer—VII for TIME
	• Uzbekistan: Between Curtain and Crescent A former Soviet republic and home to some of the most stunning monuments in the Islamic world, Uzbekistan strikes an uneasy balance between religious devotion and totalitarianism Photographs by Yuri Kozyrev for TIME
	• Sri Lanka: Under Adam's Peak A crossroads for the world's four major religions, Sri Lanka is less united by its shared traditions than divided by its differences Photographs by Yunghi Kim—Contact Press Images for TIME
	• Mongolia: Buried Treasure Mongolia is sitting on huge deposits of copper, gold and other minerals. But as its newfound wealth changes the face of the impoverished country, many fear the windfall could be a blessing or a curse Photographs by Carl De Keyzer—Magnum Photos for TIME