The History of the Silk Road

When it comes to the Silk Road, Zhang Qian, a renowned diplomat and explorer, could in no way be neglected who pioneered the opening of the Silk Road. Zhang Qian was first sent to establish diplomatic relations with the Western Regions by the great emperor Han Wudi (reigned 140-87 BC), braving great hardship and danger to investigate the politics and geography of these new lands. A second mission followed, during which he made his way even farther west. On his two journeys, Zhang Qian explored a road of trade relations to the far west, the Silk Road.

Throughout the history, the Silk Road saw unceasing changes to the routes in accordance with the evolution of geography, politics and religion. The Silk Road took on it shape today around the Han dynasties (BC 206-260 AD) with the West Han’s capital Chang’an (today’s Xi’an) or East Han’s capital Luoyang (capital of the middle Henan Province) as its starting point. Then it went west through Jincheng (today’s Lanzhou, capital of western Gansu Province), Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Dunhuang, four ancient cities along the Gansu Hexi Corridor to the ancient state of Loulan. The road did not stop at Loulan; it went on to the farther west through today’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to countries far away from China like Afghanistan, Iran and east of the Roman Empire.