Tourists visit the Site of Palmyra - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - located 215 km northeast of Damascus, Syria on Nov 9, 2011. Palmyra was a renowned city in the ancient Silk Road and once played a crucial role as the trade center between the East and the West. With a period of prosperity lasting more than three centuries, Palmyra is often regarded as the "Bride of the Desert".[Photo/Xinhua]

A tourist visits the Site of Palmyra - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - located 215 km northeast of Damascus, Syria on Nov 9, 2011. Palmyra was a renowned city in the ancient Silk Road and once played a crucial role as the trade center between the East and the West. With a period of prosperity lasting more than three centuries, Palmyra is often regarded as the "Bride of the Desert".[Photo/Xinhua]

A tourist visits the Site of Palmyra - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - located 215 km northeast of Damascus, Syria on Nov 9, 2011. Palmyra was a renowned city in the ancient Silk Road and once played a crucial role as the trade center between the East and the West. With a period of prosperity lasting more than three centuries, Palmyra is often regarded as the "Bride of the Desert".[Photo/Xinhua]

Site of Palmyra - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - located 215 km northeast of Damascus, Syria is seen in this photo taken on Nov 9, 2011. Palmyra was a renowned city in the ancient Silk Road and once played a crucial role as the trade center between the East and the West. With a period of prosperity lasting more than three centuries, Palmyra is often regarded as the "Bride of the Desert".[Photo/Xinhua]