Zhang Qian's journeys had promoted a great variety of economic and cultural exchanges between the Han dynasty and the Western Regions. Because silk became the dominant product traded from China, this great trade route later became known as the Silk Road. [39]

Zhang Qian (born, Chenggu [now in Shaanxi province], China—died 114 bce) was a Chinese explorer, the first man to bring back a reliable account of the lands of Central Asia to the court of China.

Aug 10, 2021 · Zhang Qian (张骞), a Chinese diplomat from the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), is regularly name-dropped as the “founder of the Silk Road,” with President Xi Jinping calling him a “friendly emissary” on a “mission of peace” at the 2017 Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Apr 22, 2022 · Zhang Qian, as China Silk Road pioneer, was an outstanding envoy and explorer in Chinese history, opening up the ancient Silk Road and bringing reliable information about the Western Regions.

The expedition of Zhang Qian in 138 BC is considered to be the foundation of the first ‘Silk Road’. On his return to Han China, his most important achievement was to demonstrate the possibility for safe travel far to the west.

Zhang Qian, an outstanding diplomat, traveler and explorer in the Han dynasty of China was honored as the "pioneer of the silk road", "the first Chinese to open their eyes to see the world" and "the Columbus of the east".

Oct 6, 2024 · Sima Qian, writing during a time when the Han Dynasty sought to define its place in a vast and interconnected world, framed Zhang Qian’s journey in a way that highlighted the Confucian virtues of loyalty and perseverance.

Though Zhang Qian never successfully completed his diplomatic missions, his profound knowledge of the western region (or "Xi Yu" in Chinese) helped establish trading routes later known as the Silk Road.

The precursor of the Silk Road, China’s first major trade route, was explored by Zhang Qian, head of a Chinese diplomatic mission to today’s Central Asia dating back more than 2,000 years ago, marking an important step in history’s march toward globalization.

Zhang Qian (Chang Ch'ien, Chang Chien, Zang Qian) — traveled 138-116 B.C. — was a Chinese general and envoy credited with opening the Silk Road.. His first trip (138-125) skirted the Taklamakan desert via the northern route, passed the Pamir, then reached Ferghana.