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BEIJING, Oct. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The ancient Silk Road began here in Xi'an. It was a major political, economic, and cultural and imperial center. In 221BC, the First Qin Emperor unified the Chinese empire, standardized weights and measures, and codified the law. These reforms laid the foundations for economic and cultural exchanges. The Silk Road in the Han and Tang dynasties started here and people from across Eurasia pouring into the region.
Tourists from all over the world visit the Muslim Quarter. Muslim merchants settled down here in the Tang Dynasty and the Muslim Quarter has survived dynastic changes and thrived with well-preserved traditions.
The trade along the ancient Silk Road reached its peak in the Tang dynasty... The Tang Dynasty was one of the most powerful nations in the world and Chang’an, which would later become Xi'an, was a major center of international trade. In 2006, archaeologists discovered these remains of the Tang West Market, with the deep marks left by carriages and the ancient masonry bridge.
Ceramics excavated at the Tang West Market depict figures like this camel team used to carry goods along the Silk Road… to this exquisitely carved tile show a fusion of civilizations and growing prosperity brought by trade.
Now, Xi'an, is once again attracting the world's attention. The government is not just aiming to bring goods and ideas to Xi'an, but also boosting the regional economic growth and prosperity. In 2013, the first Chang’an-central Asia cargo train left Xi'an carrying Chinese-made goods. The new Silk Road is intended to revive the regions past glories through infrastructure and energy.
More than 2,000 years ago, the Chinese diplomat Zhang Qian served as an imperial envoy and brought back reliable information about Central Asia. Today it's hoped the Silk Road Economic Belt will bring all the countries along the route together to create modern prosperity.
(Source: CCTV.com)
