Since the ancient times, silk has been hailed as a desirable commodity. The smoothness of the silk fabric and its bright colors, such as blue silk, opened up a trade line from its main producing region to the rest of the world. China, the country that led the world in the production of finest silks, was connected to central Asia, the Indian sub continent, and Europe through the Silk Road. Traders traveled considerable distances to trade in silk and other commodities along the route. Though it spread in many directions it is estimated to have stretched over 5000 miles in just one direction.

The Silk Routes started from Changan, a city in north China and the then capital of the country. It spread across the province of Gansu and reached Dunhuang on the edge of the desert Taklamakan, characterized by extreme temperatures and harsh conditions. Very few oases dotted the desert area then and travelers preferred to circumvent it altogether. From Dunhuang, the trade route spread to Kashgar, at the foot of the Pamirs. There were branches of the route that carried pure silk in to the Indian continent, stretched to the Mediterranean, and into Africa.

The Silk Road stretched over such a long distance that it was not possible for a single trader to travel the entire length of the route. Goods and commodities were passed on from trader to trader along the route. Though it was the dominant item, silk was not the only item that the traders dealt with. Lacquer ware and porcelain were other items that were carried on the backs of animals along the route for trade. Silk was exchanged for gold, dates, saffron, sandalwood and myrrh etc.

The Silk Road wasn't only used for the trading of commodities. It served as an important link between cultures. Buddhism was brought from India and introduced in China via this trade route. However, the growing popularity of the route made it a target for bandits and savage tribes. The powerful Chinese rulers continued to give protection to silk merchants and the Tang dynasty and the Mongolian rulers saw to it that silk trade flourished along the route. The increasing importance of the sea routes gradually decreased the traffic on this land route.

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