The Silk Road

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About The Silk Road

Silk Road, which was a great transcontinental route linked the Roman Empire in the West with the imperial court of China in the East, remains its charm to people. The ancient route started at Luoyang and Chang’an (the ancient name of Xian), the capitals of Tang Dynasty, reached the Yellow River at Lanzhou, then skirted westward along deserts and mountains before dividing into three routes at the oasis of Dunhuang. Walking through Xinjiang, brave ancient merchants and traveler went eastward continuously until they arrive at Rome.

History of the Silk Road
Named in the middle of the 19th century by the German scholar, Baron Ferdinand von Richthofen, the Silk Road, which is regarded as the greatest East-West trade route, was first traveled by Zhang Qian when he was sent on a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions in the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). The Silk Road was the information super highway of its age, serving as the conduit not only for goods but also for the transmission of knowledge and ideas between east and west.

Route of the Silk Road
The Han-dynasty Silk Road began at the magnificent capital city of Chang'an (today's Xian ). The route took traders westwards into Gansu Province through Lanzhou , Tianshui, Zhangye, Jiuquan along the Hexi Corridor reached Jiayuguan - the giant barrier of the Great Wall and the first key point of the route- Dunhuang. Dunhuang is in the west end of the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province. It is one of the well-known Chinese historical and cultural cities, and the bright pearl on the ancient Silk Road.

More info about The Silk Road.


from the route of silk road (starting at Xian), you may find a gradual of transition of culture, architecture from oriental, middle east to western style. Most dramatic change is the religion, i.e., from Han Buddhism via Tibetan Buddhism, Islam to Catholic/ Christian. The silk road has been being not only the route of trade but also a link of culture.