Silk Road, do you dare to travel?

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Embark on a fantastic journey

Heading west from Xi'an

You will come across an ancient road network

It has everything that will dazzle you

The peaceful smile of Buddha

Snow-capped mountains in the desert

Mysterious character legend

And countless city-states in desert oases

This road network is long enough

It spans across the Eurasian continent

As far as North Africa

From the land of China

Stretching to the Mediterranean Sea

The length of the straight line at both ends is equal to one quarter of the equator

This road network is dangerous enough

The vast desert Gobi of Eurasia

Vast grasslands and majestic mountains

All are testing

Pedestrian courage, perseverance and determination

This is the Silk Road

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Silk Road route diagram, map by @陈景逸/Planet Research Institute)

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As early as the dawn of civilization

The ancestors walked out this road with their feet.

They overcame many obstacles

So you can hear the voice from the other side of the world

For later scholars

The content of the Silk Road is extremely complex

Involving religion, history, politics, culture

For those who walk on the road

Its meaning is very clear

That belongs to the minority, to the brave.

One in ten thousand human goals

01

To survive

For some ordinary people

Beginning of the trek

It's a last resort

Around 200 AD

Some came from what is now eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan

Immigrants from the Jiandala region

With a scale of less than 100 people per batch

Crossing the mountains and migrating eastward

(Gandhara was said to be one of the sixteen kingdoms of ancient India, and later a province of the Persian Empire, and later ruled by the Kushan Empire. Map by @Chen Jingyi/Planetary Research Institute)

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Their homeland, the Kushan Empire

Once stood in Central Asia

One of the four great powers along with the Eastern Han Dynasty, Parthia, and Rome

And greatly promoted the prosperity of Buddhism

It also allowed the influence of Buddhism to pass through the valley

Spread to China

(The Bamiyan Buddha ruins in Afghanistan are important relics on the channel for the spread of Buddhism; the Buddha was blown up by the Taliban in 2001, picture source @Visual China)

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But at this time, the Kushan Empire was in turmoil.

Maybe they were fleeing, or maybe they were driven away.

We no longer know exactly why they migrated.

But I can imagine what kind of courage they have

After all, the road to the east

So difficult

Tens of millions of years of mountain building

On the western edge of China,

A natural barrier

(The Panlong Ancient Road, located at the foot of the mountains of the Pamir Plateau on the western edge of China, photographer @水冬青)

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Tianshan Mountains, Hindu Kush Mountains

Kunlun Mountains, Karakoram Mountains, etc.

Several huge mountain ranges meet here

Forming the snow-covered Pamir Plateau

The average altitude is over 4,500 meters

(Sketch of the location of the Pamir Plateau, drawn by @Chen Jingyi/Planetary Research Institute)

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Towering mountains

(Please watch in horizontal mode, China-Pakistan Highway on the Pamir Plateau, photographer @阿石)

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With the eternal ice and snow on the mountain

Together they form a barrier that blocks the passage of life.

"The Great Wall"

(Please watch horizontally, Karakoram Mountains, its highest peak K2 is 8611 meters above sea level, the second highest peak in the world, photographer @7556 meters)

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Facing these natural blockades

Migrants must be extremely careful

First, they need to calculate the time

Choose to cross the lower mountain passes in the summer when there is less snow

Otherwise winter is coming

Howling cold wind

Might become the god of death that traps them

(Razdan Pass in Kashmir was once part of the ancient Silk Road. Stein once entered China from here. Image source: @Visual China)

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At the same time, the road ahead

Most of the steep mountain trails

Below is a terrifying valley

You must show all your care and patience

Moving inch by inch on the cliff

(Located in the Hunza Valley in northern Pakistan, close to the China-Pakistan border, Gandhara immigrants in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD were very likely to have passed through here. Image source: Visual China)

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that's all

They climbed over the mountains

And during the long journey

Keep carving pictures and words

Or record that you have been here

Or pray to God for peace

(Buddhist stone carvings near the Indus River in Chilas, northern Pakistan, photographer @孙志军)

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finally

People who successfully broke through the blockade

Arrived at the oasis in the Taklimakan Desert in western China

Niya, the capital of the Jingjue Kingdom in the Western Regions

Accepted them

(Niya Ruins Pagoda, located in Minfeng County, Xinjiang, photographer @李钟鸣)

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Migrants brought Buddhism to the locals

and the writing system of my hometown, the Qūlu script

This script originated in the ancient Gandhara region.

With the spread of commerce and religion

In the small country of Tarim Basin

Spread

People used Kharosthi to record

Trade, government orders, lawsuits

Even the trivial things

The discovery of these documents thousands of years later

After the passage of time

These migrants and this history prove the existence

(Kharosthi wooden slips unearthed from the Niya ruins, photographer @肖懿宁, map @李雪茜/Planet Research Institute)

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An oasis similar to Niya

Widely distributed in the central part of Eurasia

The climate here is dry

Fortunately, the rivers formed by the melting snow and precipitation from the mountains flow down.

Moisturizing the desert oases

They extend from the Hexi Corridor to

In the desert of the Mediterranean

(Ili River Valley Oasis, photographer @刘辰)

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However, oasis resources are limited

Many necessities need to be obtained through external exchanges

Therefore, oasis residents have had the habit of doing business since ancient times.

The Sogdians were

The best among them

They are an ancient Iranian people.

The homeland was originally in the central part of Eurasia

Oases of all sizes near Samarkand

Western classical literature refers to this area as

Sogdiana

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Samarkand was once an important city-state in the Sogdian region. Image source: Visual China)

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Or due to population growth

Or need to exchange supplies

The Sogdians began to migrate and engage in business

Their business network

Taking oases as bases

Expanding from west to east

Tarim Basin, Hexi Corridor, Northern Central Plains, Mongolian Plateau

Many important towns formed their settlements

(An ancient gemstone double bust seal unearthed in Sogdia reflects the image of the Sogdians, picture source @British Museum, map @Li Xueqian/Planet Research Institute)

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Goods are transferred and delivered in these locations

Luxury goods are especially sought after by Chinese and foreign dignitaries

Including glass and gemstones from Central Asia

Persian and Mediterranean gold, silver, and frankincense

As well as Chinese silk, paper, and tea

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the

Li Xian, the general of Northern Zhou

It is very likely that it was taken from the Sogdians.

Obtained the Greek-style gilded silver pot that was very popular at the time

(A gilded silver bottle unearthed from the tomb of Li Xian in Guyuan, Ningxia, engraved with scenes from the Greek legend of the Trojan War. Photographer: @Sun Zhijun, map by @Li Xueqian/Planetary Research Institute)

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Profits often come with

High risk on the road

313 AD

Wandak, a Sogdian merchant living in present-day Wuwei, Gansu

Sent a letter to his superiors in Samarkand

He reported in the letter

The Turmoil in the Central Plains and the Situation of the Agents in Various Places

This was the Yongjia Rebellion before the fall of the Western Jin Dynasty.

Wanda's agents in Jiuquan and Wuwei are still safe.

The subordinates sent to the heartland of the Central Plains

But the sound has been cut off

(A letter from the merchant Vandak, discovered by Stein in 1907 at the beacon tower of the Great Wall northwest of Dunhuang, image source @British Library, map @Li Xueqian/Planetary Research Institute)

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Not only that

There were often robberies along the way.

At the very least, all the goods are lost.

In serious cases, life may be lost

(The "Hu Merchants Encountering Robbers" in Cave 45 of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang depicts the scene of Hu merchants from the Western Regions being robbed by bandits on the Silk Road. Photographer: @孙志军)

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But in such a harsh environment and under the invasion of bandits

From the 3rd to the 8th century AD

The Sogdians gradually took control of

Trade along the route from Samarkand to Chang'an

In the vast sea of ​​sand, on the long road

Connecting civilizations

Ordinary people set out to survive

For others

distance

Has a greater significance

02

To develop

4th century BC

In the distant Greek region

A kingdom called Macedonia

Rising strongly

(The statue of Alexander in the square of Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia today, picture source: Visual China)

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Young King Alexander

Full of interest in the mysterious East

In the writings of the Greek writer Euripides at that time

It is a land of great wealth and beauty.

(The rich East described by the ancient Greek tragedy writer Euripides in "The Companion of Dionysus", map by @Li Xueqian/Planetary Research Institute)

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334 BC

Alexander the Great decided

Persia in the East

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"Let us bring war to Asia and bring wealth back to Greece."

He led his army to cross one of the dividing lines between Asia and Europe for the first time.

Dardanelles

(Please watch in horizontal mode. The Dardanelles Strait, located in northwest Türkiye, is the only waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Image source: Visual China)

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Soon afterwards

On the Granicus River in present-day Turkey

He defeated the Persian king Darius III

They successively captured important cities such as Ephesus and Miletus

(The ancient city of Ephesus, located in southwestern Turkey, was once the second largest city in the ancient Roman Empire and is now one of the world's cultural heritage sites. The picture shows the amphitheater of the ancient city, which was built along the hillside and is estimated to accommodate 25,000 people. Image source: @Visual China)

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In the next expansion

Alexander is unstoppable

He also seized Syria and Egypt from the Persians

(Today's Syrian capital Damascus, picture source @Visual China)

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Afterwards

He marched north into the heart of Persia

Conquer Babylon, the capital of the Persian Empire

and cities such as Susa and Persepolis

(The ruins of Persepolis, located in present-day Iran. It is said that the Persian Empire had multiple capitals, and Persepolis was one of them. Photographer @于奕奇)

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He continued to move eastward with great ambition.

Climb the high and cold Hindu Kush Mountains

Arrival in Bactria and Sogdia

Until we reach the Fergana Basin adjacent to Xinjiang

Almost knocking on China's door

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Alexander's eastern expedition route. The Bactria mentioned above is the "Daxia" recorded in ancient China. Map by @Chen Jingyi/Planetary Research Institute)

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Alexander's Ten Years of Expedition

Fighting in Egypt, Persia, Central Asia, and even the upper reaches of the Indus River

Bringing endless war and destruction along the way

Also established a huge empire spanning Europe, Asia and Africa

Wherever you go

More than 70 cities are named after Alexander

Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city

One of them

(Alexandria Port, photo source: Visual China)

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He opened up the passage from Central Asia to Europe

And established many Greek colonies

The most famous site is the Ai Khanum ruins in Afghanistan today.

The remaining buildings here

Typical Greek style

(The ruins of Ai-Khanum, located northeast of Kunduz City on the northeastern border of Afghanistan, is the only complete Greek city discovered in the area ruled by the Bactrian Greek Kingdom. Image source: @ Guimet National Museum of Asian Art)

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When Alexander's Eastern Expedition came to an end

About 200 years later

The emergence of another hero

Once again, the connection process was promoted

138 BC

In order to eliminate the threat of the Huns

The young Emperor Wu of Han was determined to contact the Great Yuezhi in the Western Regions.

Fight against the Huns

However, the Han Empire at this time

Knowledge of the Far West

There are only distant legends and scattered information

(The Western Tour of King Mu of Zhou and Emperor Huangdi recorded in the ancient history of the pre-Qin period was the earliest imagination of the Western world in ancient China. Image source: @Huitu.com, map by @Li Xueqian/Planetary Research Institute)

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Envoy Zhang Qian

With great courage and determination

Starting from Chang'an, heading west

Crossing the Hexi Corridor

Crossing the Taklimakan Desert

Crossing the Pamirs

Arriving in the Fergana Valley in Central Asia

And thus finally found the Great Yuezhi

(Fergana Basin in Uzbekistan today, image source: Visual China)

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He spent a total of 17 years on both occasions.

After many hardships, he traveled through the Western Regions

These countries have different customs and unique products

For example, the "Tiaozhi Kingdom" in the far west is rich in ostriches and magic.

In the south, there are elephants in Sindhu.

Dawan (Yuān) not only produces wine,

It also has the heart-stirring

"Blood Horse"

(The Ferghana horse is also known as the Akhal-teke horse. The "Sindhu" mentioned above is the earliest translation of ancient India. Image source: Visual China)

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After that, the Han Dynasty included the Western Regions in its territory.

The four Hexi counties including Zhangye and Dunhuang were established in the Hexi Corridor

Strengthen management

The Dafangpan City that remains near Yumen Pass today

The east-west length is 132 meters, and the remaining height is still 6 meters on average

It is very likely that it was established in Dunhuang County during the Western Han Dynasty.

Military material storage facilities

Ruins at sunset

It seems to show the former glory of the Han Empire.

(Dafangpan City is not far from Yumen Pass. There are different opinions in the academic community about which warehouse city in the literature Dafangpan City corresponds to. Photographer @杨文杰)

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For areas further west

The Han Dynasty sent officials and troops

Establish post stations and the Western Regions Protectorate

Ensure safe and smooth east-west traffic

(The "Xuanquanzhi Ruins" in Dunhuang was a post station during the Han Dynasty. More than 23,000 bamboo slips were excavated from it, including many postal documents between the Han Dynasty and various countries in the Western Regions. Photographer: Sun Zhijun)

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that's all

Two hundred years apart

The ambitions of Alexander and Emperor Wu of Han

Meet in the Fergana Valley

The east-to-west communication avenue is now fully connected

This is not a straight road.

It is a network of ever-changing roads.

Persia and the Arab world called it the "Great Trade Route"

The ancient Chinese named them

"Southern Road to the Western Regions" and "Northern Road to the Western Regions"

but

Keep this passage open

It's not an easy task

03

To protect

At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, the Central Plains was in turmoil.

The Xiongnu took the opportunity to control the Western Regions

Traffic between the Central Plains and the Western Regions was interrupted again

The Western Regions Cheshi (jū shi), Shanshan (shàn shàn) and other countries

Unable to bear the harsh policies and heavy taxes of the Xiongnu

He repeatedly requested the Central Plains to re-administer the Western Regions

(Please watch in horizontal mode. Jiaohe Ancient City, located outside Turpan City, was once the capital of the ancient Cheshi State. It is the largest and best-preserved earthen building site in China. Photographer: @飞翔)

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73 AD

The Han army marched out of the border in four directions

Defeated the Xiongnu at Puleihai

(Pulehai Lake, now Balikun Lake in Xinjiang, photographer @陈剑峰)

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at the same time

The Han Dynasty sent Ban Chao as an envoy to the Western Regions

Appease the Western Regions

After a break of more than 50 years

Re-established the posts of Protector General of the Western Regions and Commandant of Wuji

Restored communication with the Western Regions

But the good times didn’t last long

The Xiongnu took advantage of the death of the Eastern Han emperor to make a comeback

Eastern Han general Geng Gong defended Shule City

When we finally retreated to Yumen Pass

Only thirteen people left

(Please watch in horizontal mode. The old site of Shule City where Geng Gong was stationed is now the site of Shichengzi in Qitai, Xinjiang. Image source: @Huitu.com, drawn by @Li Xueqian/Planetary Research Institute)

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The Central Plains was in turmoil, and Ban Chao was ordered to return to the court

After hearing this, many countries in the Western Regions tried their best to retain him.

Li Yan (yǎn), military commander of the Shule State

He committed suicide in front of Ban Chao to persuade him to stay.

The princes and people of Khotan wept and wailed.

Block Ban Chao's mount

then

Ban Chao finally decided to disobey orders and stay in the Western Regions

94 AD

Ban Chao used the military forces of various countries

Conquer the foot of Tianshan Mountain

The Three Kingdoms of Yanqi, Yuli, and Weixu

Suppressed the last group of rebel forces in the Western Regions

Bogdaqin Ancient City in Yanqi County, Xinjiang today

It was once the capital of the Yanqi Kingdom.

(Satellite image of the Bogdaqin ancient city ruins in Xinjiang, image source @Esri Image Map)

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However, although the Eastern Han Dynasty won several victories

But they were never able to completely destroy the Huns.

For the complete stability of the Western Regions

Ban Chao is determined to find the powerful ally from afar, Daqin.

That is Rome

97 AD

Ban Chao sent his subordinate Gan Ying to Daqin

Gan Ying crosses the Pamir Plateau

Passing through northern Pakistan and southern Afghanistan

Crossing the Iranian Plateau, ending at the Persian Gulf

Because the journey is too long

Gan Ying sighs at the sea

The wish of the Han Dynasty to form an alliance with the Qin Dynasty was thus shattered.

Although he ultimately failed to reach Daqin

He was the first Chinese person to reach the Persian Gulf in recorded history.

(High-rise buildings in Dubai, Persian Gulf; the reason for Gan Ying's diplomatic mission is still controversial; image source: @Visual China)

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From Zhang Qian's Mission

To the protection of Ban Chao, Gan Ying and others

Efforts of several generations

Opened up and consolidated this communication channel

And all this

It also laid the foundation for the subsequent story.

04

For the sake of faith

After Zhang Qian's Mission to the Western Regions

Buddhism from ancient India was introduced to the Western Regions

In the following centuries

The Western Regions have many Buddhist caves, numerous pagodas and temples, and many eminent monks.

Including Subashi Buddhist Temple and Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves

Many Buddhist relics

Survival to this day

(The Subashi Buddhist Temple in Qiuci, Xinjiang, which was built in the 3rd century AD, photographer @文兴华)

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As Buddhism gradually spread to the interior

68 AD

Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty ordered the construction of Luoyang City

Built the first official Buddhist temple in China

White Horse Temple

(Luoyang White Horse Temple, photographer @刘岩峰)

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After that, eminent monks from India and the Western Regions came one after another.

Traveling eastward to the Central Plains

Translating Buddhist scriptures and promoting Buddhism

Among them, the first translator with reliable records is An Shigao

It is said that he was originally a prince of the Parthian Empire.

The motherland was a huge empire that dominated today's Iran, Iraq and other places.

(The ruins of the ancient city of Nissa, the capital of the Parthian Empire, is located near Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan today. Image source: @Visual China)

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After his father's death

Became a monk and traveled eastward

Arrived in Luoyang during the reign of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty

Since then, Buddhist scriptures have been translated in China

It opened the precedent for the Chinese translation of Buddhist scriptures

(The representative of the early Chinese translation of Buddhist scriptures is "The Sutra of Forty-two Chapters", image source @Palace Museum)

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However, from the early days of Buddhism

Buddhist scriptures have been translated into various languages

Including Sogdian, Tocharian, Khotanese, etc.

Buddhist scriptures introduced into the Central Plains in the early period

These are all products of multiple translations.

Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties

The eminent monk Faxian discovered

Many Buddhist scriptures that have been translated several times contain missing parts.

To solve the confusion of Chinese Buddhist scriptures

He decided to go to India, the birthplace of Buddhism.

Seeking the True Scriptures

399 AD

Faxian, who was over 60 years old, and his companions

Heading west from Chang'an

When they left Yangguan Pass, they encountered their first test.

The arid and barren Bailongdui Yadan Group

(The Bailongdui Yadan landform in the Lop Nur area was formed after the sediments of ancient rivers and lakes dried up and were blown by strong winds over the years. Photographer: Sun Zhijun)

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It is extremely dry here, and no life is left.

The severe sandstorm covered the road traces

Only the bones of the victims can serve as road signs

(Faxian's Records of Buddhist Countries)

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"There are no birds flying above, no beasts running below, and looking far and wide, I have no idea where to go. The only signs I see are the bones of the dead."

Faxian was lucky

After 17 days and nights of life and death

They left the area

Continue westward

There is a second level waiting for them.

The "Sea of ​​Death" that scares all adventurers

Taklimakan Desert

The world's second largest mobile desert

Its sand dunes are ever-changing

Strong sandstorms often occur

It took Faxian and his party one month and five days to complete the

Just walked out of this sea of ​​sand

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Taklimakan Desert, photographer @张扬小强)

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And there is still a difficult hurdle waiting for a long time ahead

This is the Pamir Plateau mentioned above.

Faxian recorded that

(Faxian's Records of Buddhist Countries)

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"There is snow in the Congling Mountains in winter and summer, and there are poisonous dragons. If you lose your mind, you will spit out poisonous dragons, rain and snow, flying sand and gravel."

Fortunately, the small country in the Pamir Plateau

Jiecha Kingdom

Provided them with supplies

Only then were they able to cross the mountains and enter the Tianzhu region.

(Apricot blossoms in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County; some scholars speculate that this may belong to the territory of Jiecha Kingdom, but there is still controversy, photographer @姚璐)

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When they crossed the Pamir Plateau

Swat Valley

The hardest part of the journey

Left behind

(Located in the Swat Valley in northwestern Pakistan, it was once a famous tourist destination in Pakistan, but was later occupied by the Taliban. Due to frequent conflicts, it is difficult to find the latest photos, so only blurry old photos can be used instead; Image source: Visual China)

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Faxian traveled in ancient India for 8 years

Huijing, my companion who set out from Chang'an

Died while crossing the Safed Mountains

Many companions were scattered everywhere

Faxian persisted to the end

Thirteen years after his departure

He returned home by sea with the scriptures he had obtained.

Became the first Chinese monk to arrive in India

(The Safed Mountains, the natural border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, image source @wikimedia commons)

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Influenced by Faxian

There was an endless stream of monks seeking the Dharma on the journey to the West.

Later, there were eminent monks such as Xuanzang and Yijing.

Travel far to seek the true scriptures

According to statistics

Documented monks who went to India

There are 105 people

Many more did not leave their names.

Or die on the way, or turn back halfway

The pursuit of faith and true knowledge has continued from generation to generation

(Liang Qichao counted the eminent monks who went to India throughout the ages, drawn by @Li Xueqian/Planet Research Institute)

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However, the political power in the Western Regions changed and disputes continued

Threatening travel safety from time to time

In addition, as the climate turns dry

The combination of factors such as intensified sandstorms and reduced river water volume

As a result, many important towns in the Tarim Basin were gradually abandoned.

(Please watch in horizontal mode. The ancient city of Andir in Hotan, Xinjiang, was probably abandoned due to the war. Image source: Visual China)

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And then

Another Silk Road is emerging on the sea

Becoming the main channel of communication between the East and the West

The traditional Silk Road

Gradually declining

Until a thousand years later

It turned out to be the experience of a group of explorers and treasure hunters.

It has once again attracted worldwide attention

05

The Silk Road Reappears

19th century

Central Asia becomes the focus of competition among the great powers

Western explorers came to Central Asia

A detailed survey of the mountains and rivers here was carried out.

in

Russian explorer Przhevalsky

Outstanding achievements

(Bust of Przevalsky in today's Alexander Garden in St. Petersburg, image source @wikimedia commons)

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Since 1870

Przewalski comes to China

Collecting specimens and measuring terrain along the way

A comprehensive survey of western China

More than 30,000 kilometers

He explored Qinghai Lake

(Qinghai Lake, photographer @朱金华)

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We visited the Qaidam Basin, which is full of salt marshes.

Hoh Xil No Man’s Land

(Zhonai Lake and Tibetan antelopes in Hoh Xil. Purjevals once saw a large number of Tibetan antelopes in Hoh Xil. Photographer: @秦晖)

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The Altun Mountains, which were not on European maps, were mapped.

(Purjevals became the first Western explorer to climb the Altun Mountains. The picture shows the peaks of the Altun Mountains in the early morning. Photographer: Jiang Hong)

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While passing through the Junggar Basin

Przewalski discovered a herd of wild horses that is rare in the world

Later, this extremely precious animal

Named after him

"Przewalski's horse"

(Przewalski's horses lived in extremely harsh desert Gobi. After they were discovered, they were poached on a large scale and were almost extinct in just 50 years. Photographer @孙志军)

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At this time, the explorers' eyes

It also mainly revolves around the mountains and rivers of Central Asia

Later, Swedish explorer Sven Hedin

Accidentally discovered a new world in the desert

The Silk Road expedition thus opened the next chapter

(Sven Hedin, image source @wikimedia commons)

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Sven Hedin in his youth

von Ferdinand von Richthofen

The latter traveled all over China from 1868 to 1872

It was the first east-west communication channel connecting China to the West via Central Asia.

Named after its most distinctive commodity, silk

Silk Road

1895

Sven Hedin and his companions

Depart from Kashgar to Hotan

(Kashgar at the foot of the Pamir Plateau, image source: @Visual China)

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He traveled along the Yulong Kashi River, which was rich in beautiful jade.

Head east into the Taklimakan Desert

Deep in the desert

He was delighted to discover the ruins of an ancient city

This is the famous Dandan Uilik ruins.

(Dandan Uilik Ruins, the former site of an important military town of Khotan during the Tang Dynasty, photographer @仇梦涵)

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What he didn't expect was

His luck is far from over.

On the next journey

He also discovered on the west side of the Keriya River

The ruins of the ancient city of Kaladun

(The ruins of the ancient city of Keriya Kaladun, which is likely to be the capital of the ancient Yumi Kingdom in the third or fourth century AD, photographer @刘玉生)

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A bigger surprise

It will come in the next exploration

In 1900, Sven Hedin came to Xinjiang again

Follower Oldekin is lost

A site was accidentally discovered in the desert near Lop Nur

A groundbreaking discovery that was lost for more than 1,500 years

Loulan Ancient City

Appearing in front of the world like this

(A corner of the ruins of the Three Rooms in Loulan, photographer @姜鸿)

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In the following decades

Explorers from all over the world flocked to

Ancient town ruins and cultural relics buried under the yellow sand

Reappeared in the world and shocked the world

(Please watch in horizontal mode. Major explorers from various countries who came to the Chinese section of the Silk Road in modern times to steal cultural relics. Map by @李雪茜/Planet Research Institute)

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That was a turbulent time for China.

Crazy excavations by treasure hunters such as Stein and Pelliot

A large number of cultural relics have been lost overseas

However, the research on Silk Road archaeology began

Since then,

(In 1908, the cultural relic thief Paul Pelliot was checking Dunhuang documents in the Sutra Caves of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. Image source: @wikimedia commons)

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This was a road that was once extremely prosperous and busy.

However, thousands of years have passed

When the glorious faith of ancient India faded

Central Asia's prosperity disappears

The glory of Han and Tang dynasties is buried under the sand

What remains of the Silk Road today?

When scholars dig up fragments of history buried under the sand

Restore them to the past on this long road

We saw the answer

That is the path I walked on foot.

For the goal, the brave ones move forward

They are

Migrating refugees, trading merchants

The conquering emperor and the pioneering envoy

Buddhist monks praying

…

(The statue of Master Xuanzang on the South Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, photographer @Sun Yan)

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If you ask what is the Silk Road?

It is the one in ten thousand human goal

A path with only one in ten thousand chance of success

Only one in ten thousand brave warriors dare to set foot on this

The Road of the Brave

The wind and sand cannot bury it, and the snow-capped mountains cannot stop it.

Because the goal is calling ahead

Onward, forward, and forward again

Flatten the bumps and make a road

After fighting the difficulties, we set off again

Don't be afraid of the wind, frost, snow and sword

Don't be afraid of difficulties

(The scroll of "Snow Covered Tianshan Mountains" by Hua Yan, a great painter of the Qing Dynasty. At the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, a lone traveler in a red cloak and an old camel walk slowly in the snow. Image source: @wikimedia commons)

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This article was created by

Written by : Xiang Bu Xiang

Editor : Director

Image : Daytime Design : Li Xueqian

Map : Chen Jingyi Review : Hong He & Xia Ya & Wu Xintian

Cover Photographer : Shui Dongqing & A Shi

Audit Expert

Professor Wang Binghua from Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

Wu Bin, distinguished professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University

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