In order to protect these caravans and assure the safety of the trade, the Han Government dispatched General Zhangqian as an envoy to build good relationships with these small nomadic states. Starting from Chang'an, today's Xian, which was the capital of the Western Han Dynasty, Zhang led his team across the vast Western Regions and reached Loulan, Guizi and Yutian states and established trade relations with these small kingdoms. Loulan, Guizi and Yutian were three important states in the Western Region at that time. They were all abandoned for uncertain reasons and travelers today can see ruins of these three once flourishing places. Zhang's officers went even further into the central Asia. All of the kingdoms that Zhang and his team had visited sent their envoys to visit Chang'an (Xian) to express their appreciation for the new relationship and show their respect to the Han Government. From then on, merchants could travel on the silk route safely, and they began to explore this new route in order to carry silk from China to other parts of the world.

      Silk Road was once again disrupted by some nomadic tribes who allied themselves with the Xiongnu against the Eastern Han Dynasty. The famous general Banchao was ordered to subdue these tribes. Ban successfully took all the states and reopened the Silk Road. Banchao's great contribution to that ancient trade route lies not only in the reopening but in the extending it. Ban extended the route further towards Rome and over 5,000 kilometers trade of route was born. It soon became the most important trade link between China and the outside word.

        Silk Road, is the collective name given to a number of trade routes linking the Chinese and Roman Empire with the North Silk Road and the South Silk Road the most important.

       North Silk Road: Beginning from Chang,an, this route went westward, passed through Xianyang, traversed Shanxi-Gansu Plateau, Longxi, Linzhao, Lanzhou, across Wuqiaoling Peak, reached Wuwei in Gansu Province. That road then wound through the Hexi(west of Yellow River) corridor and arrived at Dunhuang, which was the most important exchange point between China and the rest of the world. Continuing westward it passed through Urumqi and then to Yili and traversed Russia finally arriving in Rome.

      South Silk Road: Started in Chang'an went through the Yangguan Pass, passed through Dunhuang, traveled across the vast land of Xinjiang province including Hami, Turpan, Korla, Kuqa, Aksu and Kashgar. It then stretched across the glacial Pamir plateau and reached Middle and West Asia. 

       The Silk Road served as the main trade link between China and the outside word until Tang Dynasty. Trade along the Silk Road gradually declined after the Tang Dynasty and it was completely replaced by the sea trade during the Ming Dynasty. 

        The opening of the Silk Road greatly boosted external trade. Merchants from the west brought horses, cattle, furs, hides and luxuries such as ivory and jade. New goods were also introduced to the Chinese by the traders such as Cucumber, walnut, sesame, figs, alfalfa and pomegranate, and new skills such as using grapes to make wine, which enriched China's ancient civilization.

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