The Silk Road
The Silk Road is most famous trade route connecting China through Asia with Africa and Europe. The center of the Silk Road is located in Xinjiang China. Going west, it connects with Gansu, and Xinjiang Provinices of China all the way to Chang’an (Xi’an today), and going east, it connects all of central Asian countries.
By traveling the famous Karakoram Highway through Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, central Europe one reaches the east cost of the Mediterranean Sea. The total length of the Silk Road is 7,000 kilometers (4,900 miles) of which around 4000 kilometers (2,800 miles) are in China.
The Silk Road has two main routes
- ·The land route prospered during the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and declined during the Ming Dynasty (1386 – 1644).
- ·The sea route was used during the Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 AD), prospering during the Song Dynasty (960 AD – 1279 AD) and the Yuan Dynasty (1271 AD – 1368 AD). The Sea route declined during the Ming dynasty(1368 AD_1644 AD).
The rich history of this famous Silk Road that was active for more than 2000 years is again flourishing with the dynamics of tourism. Today, tourists from all over the world can explore the Silk Road by experiencing the different routes of thecaravan trails tailored to their interest. Today’s tourist can discover the cultures of the peoples living along the Silk Road; by visiting historical sites, and cultural relics while enjoying the stunning scenery and many other fascinating attractions, the tourist will feel part of this ancient historic Silk Road.