The Silk Road is
a historically important international trade route between China and the
Mediterranean. Because China silk comprised
a large proportion of the trade along this ancient road, in 1877, it was
named the 'Silk Road' by Ferdinand von Richthofen, an eminent German a
geographer.
It is now included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
33 historical sites are along the road in total and 22 of them distribute in
Shaanxi, Henan, Gansu and Xinjiang of China.
A brief introduction about this route includes its basic
information, chronology, renowned attractions along the road, and other
interesting knowledge.
The road is not only an ancient international trade route,
but also a splendid cultural bridge liking the cultures of China, India,
Persia, Arabia, Greek and Rome. The Four Great Inventions of China and
religions of the West were introduced into their counterparts.
From the time Zhang Qian opened up the world-famous Silk Road
during the Han Dynasty, until the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty, it enjoyed a
history of about 1,600 years.
This ancient road begins at Chang'an (now Xian), then by way
of the Hexi Corridor, and it reaches Dunhuang, where it divides into three, the
Southern Route, Central Route and Northern Route. The three routes spread all
over the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and then they extend as far as
Pakistan, India and even Rome.
Other Routes
In fact, besides the Silk Road in the northwest of China,
there are another two trade roads in the southwest of China and by sea, which
also contributed greatly to the development of the world. They are called the "Southern Silk Road"
and the "Silk Road on the Sea".
The scenery and sights along the Silk Road are spectacular
and intriguing. There are well-known Mogao Caves (Mogao Grottoes) in Dunhuang,
the bustling Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar and exotic customs in Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region and more …
There are all kinds of tour plans for traveling the
world-famous road. TravelChinaGuide provides many tour lines for visitors to
experience the adventures of this ancient trade road.
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