The Silk Road is a great East to West trade route and vehicle for cross-culture exchange started in the second century BC. It was first traveled by the adventure of Zhang Qian started the journey to the far West for the political contact with Yuezhi, a nomadic tribe, in 138 BC. But, it was only in 1870s that the geographer, Ferdinand von Richthofen gave the name by which we now know as the Silk Road.

The general Zhang Qian was sent by Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 220) to recruit the Yuezhi, who were the enemies of the Xiongnu in the second century BC. Finally in 128 BC, Zhang Qian had reached the destination, Yuezhi. However, he was surprised by Yuezhi people. Yuezhi was living in peace and well settled in the various oases of Central Asia and no longer interested in taking their revenge on the Xiongnu.

Without the succeeding in interesting the Yuezhi in fighting the Xiongnu, Zhang Qian set off on the return journey via southern Silk Road. He was once captured by Tibetan tribes allied with Xiongnu for a year and escaped in 125 BC in returning his way back to China. Of the original party only he and another company completed the 13 years journey - the first land route between East and West that would eventually link Imperial China with Imperial Rome.

The network of the Silk Road was soon flourished during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). However, later in 12th century, the entire communities and active oasis towns along the Silk Road were disappearing in the space, as the glacier-fed streams ran try. As well, of course, the downfall of Tang Dynasty led to political chaos and an unstable economy less able to support foreign imports. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644) shut China off from the outside world, ending the centuries-old exchange of culture and religion in East and West.