About Xinjiang
Silk Road Culture and History
The Silk Road is composed of several trade routes that linked China with the West in ancient times. It covered the Asian continent and connected China with Central Asia, the Mediterranean regions, and even some areas in Africa and Europe. This Silk Road was formally established by General Zhang Qian who was sent by Emperor Han Wudi to lead the westward expedition during the Han Dynasty. He reached the Western Regions and developed the Silk Road which connected the East and West in relation to economies and cultures.
Originally, the Silk Road was not developed for commodities; instead, it was for military and political purpose. In order to seek allies to fight against the Xiongnu (people of the nomadic tribes from Central Asia) who tried to invade the region repeatedly, General Zhang Qian was sent by Emperor Han Wudi to the Western Regions.
Later, Zhang Qian reported to Emperor Han Wudi that the Western Regions were interested in developing commercial relationships with the region of Han. Again, General Zhang Qian was sent to visit the Western Regions, bringing with him hundreds of bulls, sheep, and silks to present to them. Silk was specially preferred by them. Later, ambassadors from the Western Regions were sent to Chang'an (capital of the Western Han Dynasty, today's Xi'an), bringing in their local products. From then on, the exchange of commodities, knowledge, inventions, and so on became frequent, benefitting not only the regions engaged in the exchange, but also the people who lived along the Silk Road.
The collapse of the Han Dynasty caused the trading on the Silk Road to decline. However, the founding of the prosperous Tang dynasty revitalized the Silk Road, reaching its climax of booms. At that time, silk and embroidery were still the main products transported along the Silk Road. Meanwhile, more and more merchants, pilgrims, and missionaries from the Western Regions came to Chang'an (capital of the Tang Dynasty) through the Silk Road, expanding the exchange of ideas, knowledge, religions, philosophies, and cultures. The significant Buddhism was introduced in at this time.
The starting point of the Silk Road in the Han and Tang Dynasties was the capital city Chang'an (today's Xi'an). It went through some cities of Gansu Province such as Lanzhou, Tianshui, Zhangye, and Jiuquan along the Gansu Corridor and reached Jiayuguan Pass of Dunhuang - a major outpost and a bright pearl along the Silk Road.
When the Silk Road came out of Gansu Corridor into Xinjiang, it broke into three main routes: southern, central, and northern routes. The southern route ran west along the northern foot of Kunlun Mountains and went through Ruoqiang County, Minfeng County, and Hotan area, then reached Kashgar. Then, it went over the Pamir Plateau and reached India or passed through Afghanistan and Central Asia to reach the coast of the Mediterranean Sea or Arabia Sea. The central route ran along the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountain range through Loulan of Rouqiang County, Korla City, and so on and then across the Pamir Plateau reach to Russia. The northern route ran along the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountain range. It started at Hami County and went through Turpan, Urumqi, and the Ili River Valley, reaching the area along the Black Sea.
The trading along the Silk Road declined sharply as the Tang Dynasty fell and as the Marine Silk Road was formed and boomed. Since then, the prosperous Silk Road that was in good operation for more than a thousand years fell into disuse. The then rich cities with solid ramparts and bustling streets have been submerged in the vast desert. Nowadays, people can only trace their splendid history in the endless remains.
Nonetheless, the Silk Road not only played a crucial role as a bridge for the exchange of civilizations among the Asian regions and between Asia and Europe, but also improved significantly the exchange, integration, and development of the world civilizations.