The Southern Silk Road

The Southern Silk Road

The Southern Silk Road within China consists of three major routes, spanning over 2,000 kilometers in total. It starts westward from Dunhuang through the Yumen Pass, passes through Loulan, follows the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and the northern foothills of the Kunlun Mountains, crosses the Pamir Mountains to reach areas of present-day Afghanistan. The Hotan region has historically been the center of human activity along the Southern Silk Road. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the ancient Silk Road routes enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. However, with the advancement of human society and the development of science and technology, by the 15th–16th centuries, these routes were gradually replaced by maritime transport.

To this day, the Southern Silk Road is home to numerous cultural relics such as ancient cities, grottoes, and tombs, as well as stunning natural landscapes, sparking a global wave of interest in the “Silk Road.” Among them, none is more captivating than the legendary Southern Silk Road in Xinjiang. A series of historic events are intertwined with the Silk Road, making the Southern Silk Road a comprehensive carrier of these stories and a bridge for people to explore historical culture. Its tourism resource value is immense.