Silk Road Facts
The Silk Road is a route to discover the history and the ancient culture about China. In its Chinese section, it stretches more than 4,000km linking cities like Xi’an, Lanzhou, Xining, Dunhuang, Turpan and Urumqi from east to west China. In Silk Road’ heyday, Korean peninsula, Japan region, Indian peninsula, Mediterranean east bank area and Middle East region, all involved in this international trading route. Xi’an was the world richest city in the world and crowded by the merchant all across the globe in the Silk Road heyday. Today Xi’an is modern city of central China with similar population with London and yet still it is not the top ten best cities in China. In the west, it was during the time of the Byzantine Empire, the Silk Road reached its peak.
The Silk Road also represents an early phenomenon of political and cultural integration due to inter-regional trade. Immeresly goods and treasures were not the only thing that got exchanged through the ancient route, religions and cultural traditions were also spread along the Silk Roads. Buddhism and Islam both spread into China though the Silk Road, numerous western merchants settled down in ancient China and merged in those ethnic group people along the silk route.
The Silk Road was not just a road or a trading route, the concept also refers to both the terrestrial and the maritime routes connecting Asia and Europe. The overland Steppe route stretching through the Eurasian steppe is considered to be the ancestor to the Silk Road. It was during the Ming dynasty in ancient China, the maritime silk route had reached its peak. It was after the Ming dynasty —— during the Yuan dynasty that the world-known Venetian traveler Marco Polo followed silk route reached China overland via Khotan in 1287–88.
For many geographers and travelers, FAQ about the Silk Road: What are the actual travel sites along the silk route? How about the history of the Silk Road? How about the climate along the Silk Route? What is the route of China Silk Road? What are the cultural issues on the Silk Road ... All of the Silk Road facts and concerned issues can be found in this page!
Started from the ancient China capital city Changan (Xian at present), the Silk Route stretches more than 7000 kilometres reaching the Mediterranean bank. The route was first created by an envoy called Zhangqian assigned by the Emperor of the Han Dynasty to deliver gifts which were mainly silk to those local regimes in the past West China, to hold their loyalty and to be allies of the Han Dynasty. Since the Chinese highly qualified silk had made its fame to the western countries, the merchants sought the opportunity of trading Chinese silk along this route and gained a great fortune. Few people would really finish the whole silk route journey rather they just mainly traded in a certain period of certain local crafts such as silk, blanket and carpet etc to other merchants of other periods. Each time everybody marked the price up along the way. In the end, silk, perfume, jade and sliver from China, cotton from India, ivory from Saudi Arabic, spicy from Iran and olive oil and wine from Mediterranean bank were all traded along the Silk Road. Thousands and thousands people have taken part and numerous goods traded in this great international trade at that time. The main cities along the Silk Road had grown larger and more important in helping the trade and merchant and caravans. Cities like Changan, Dunhuang, Kashgar, Istanbul and Rome had gained great benefits along the trading process.
Today, Chinese president Xi Jinping has announced to invest 14 billion dollars to boost the new Silk Road program which has a rather poetic name called One Belt One Road. It is more like a modern version of the ancient Silk Road, call it the “Silk Road Plus” if you are an Apple fan. The “One Belt One Road” is aiming to help those connected regions in culture and economy exchange with a more advance road net work consisted by airplanes, railways, high ways and even container ships.
While the ancient Silk Road today is rather a historical travel route on which you can experience interesting history and enjoy exotic culture. The Chinese section Silk Road stretches more than 4,000km on the gigantic regions of northwester China, an almost dizzying agglomeration of desert, grassland, raging river and colossal mountains. The best highlights are a series of historical towns, ruins and cultural sites linked as a chain of pearls which are Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, the Qinghai Lake in Xining, the Heaven Lake in Urumqi, the Gaochang Ancient City in Turpan, etc. There are also several ethnic groups regions along the silk route such as Mongolians, Huis, Uygurs and Hazaks who have maintained their unique traditions, cultures, living habits and religious beliefs embodying the culture exchange soul spirits of the Silk Road. All these magnificent ancient towns fulfilled with exotic cultures and mysterious history is waiting to present you a splendid Silk Road journey! Pack your baggage! Join us to trace the footprints of ancient travelers and create a unique Silk Road journey of your own!! Following are our detailed introduction, most read travel tips and best collection of Silk Road Tour Packages which are highly valuable, enjoyable and customizable!
