Ancient Silk Road

Xi'an was the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road, which was not just a road, but an international connection bringing products from one side of the world to the other, an important path for cultural, commercial, and technological exchange between East and West. 

Silk Road is also known as the "friendship canal" based upon the silk trade between the West and the East. In the 2nd century B.C., Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty twice sent Zhang Qian on a diplomatic mission to the Western Lands; the road to the West was opened and brought more convenience to the communication between ancient China and Middle Asia than in previous times. In the meantime, it improved the friendship between nationalities along the road and promoted the development of human civilization as well.

Large quantities of Chinese silks were transported to the west along this road, thus the name Silk Road. Other Chinese materials besides silk, for example, metallic tools, cast irons, and paper-making technologies, were introduced to Europe via Middle Asia. Buddhism and its art were introduced to the West Lands via Middle Asia as well, then to the East. History has left the Silk Road with large quantities of cultural relics, such as the ruins of ancient cities, tombs, the Great Wall, religious temples, and grottoes. 

The most adventurous explorers and traders would have travelled thousands of kilometres to reach this city. Evidence shows that trade linkages with Europe began over 2,000 years ago: making Xi’an the oldest and arguably most important Silk Roads related site in China.

For Xi'an, the Silk Roads was an important source of economic dynamism and wealth. As the city opened up economically, so did China and Xi’an became one of the largest production centres and exporters of silk during the early days of the Silk Roads. It was also here that Marco Polo reportedly stayed as a trade emissary. Today, the city is vibrant with trade and industrial production, with a large and well-connected dry port just outside the city that warehouses goods on their way to Central Asia and Europe.

The Silk Roads, however, was more than just a source of material wealth for Xi’an. Its long history as the nexus of Chinese administrative power and as the easternmost pole of the Silk Roads has meant that Xi’an has long been home to a vast array of religions and cultures. Many Chinese ethnic Muslims, Christians and Buddhists can link their religions back to the traders and pilgrims who spread various elements of their respective religions as they travelled along the Silk Roads.