China's vast western
region is accessible to travelers along the classic Silk Road, the most
important connection between the East and West. Goods traded along the route were mainly silk
products and the name Silk Road.
At that time, only China grew mulberry,
raised silkworms to make silk products. In 133BC, Emperor Wudi of the Han
Dynasty (206BC-220AD) ordered to invade the Huns and established a relation with
the west. In 77BC, Han invaded the Loulan state and in 60BC, the superintended
government was set up to promote economic and cultural exchanges between
them.
This ancient trade route starts in the old
capitals of Luoyang and Xi'an (then called Chang'an), reaches the Yellow River
at Lanzhou, then skirts westward along deserts and mountains before dividing
into three routes at the oasis of Dunhuang.
When the ancient Silk Road came out of the
Hexi Corridor into Xinjiang, it broke into three main sections. The eastern
section ran from Chang'an to Yumen Pass or Yangguan Pass. The central section
started from Yumen Pass or Yangguan Pass to Chongling (the Pamirs). The western
section was divided to two routes: one ran through Iran, Iraq and The
Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, and the other ran northwestwards to reach
Europe via the Aral Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.
Generally speaking, the Silk Road brought
the constant exchanges between the East and the West. Chinese textile products,
papermaking technique and some art crafts were introduced to the west through
the route. And the western music, dancing, painting astronomy, calendar and
Buddhism were introduced into China.
There was also a Marine Silk Road
which connected the southern China and the West.