9th Visit to China
Silk Road (丝绸之路)
Silk Road was a network of ancient trade routes which linked China with the West.
The trade route was opened up by Zhang Qian (张骞) during the reign of Emperor Wuti of Han Dynasty (汉武帝).
Goods and ideas were carried on the Silk Road.
As the name implies, silk was the major trade item.
Xian to Rome
The routes all started from Changan (长安), now Xian (西安), headed up the Gansu Corridor or Hexi Corridor (河西走廊) and reached Dunhuang (敦煌), a caravan stop.
After the caravan stop, the routes followed a series of oases that skirted the Taklamakan Dessert (塔克拉玛干沙漠), passed over to the Pamir Mountains to extend to Central and West Asia, continued to go across the Mediterranean Sea and finally reached Rome.
A Camel Caravan Track
Silk Road was actually a camel caravan track. It grew with the rise of Roman Empire. Rome was one of the famous destinations for silk.
Camel caravans carried silk, tea and porcelain from China to the Middle East and even to Byzantium (now Istanbul) and Rome. In the opposite direction, gold, silver, glass wares were carried to China. Other exotic animals and plants were also carried along the route.
In the train of these caravans, merchants, missionaries and other travellers entered China.
A Road of Idea
Silk Road played an important role in cultural exchange between China and the West.
More than just a trade route, various ideas, technologies and religions were spread along this network of trade routes.
Buddhism entered China, perhaps as early as the 1st century BC from India, initiating a long history of pilgrimages along the lonely desert route.
Grottoes, including the famous Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟), monasteries and temples were constructed in the oasis towns along the route.
Mosque
Later, Islam and Nestorian Christianity were also spread to China via the Silk Road.
The Silk Road lasted until 15th Century when newly-discovered sea routes to Asia opened up.
It was incredibly difficult and dangerous to travel along the Silk Road.
Travellers had to cross the inhospitable Taklamakan Dessert---one of the largest in the world and passed over the extremely dangerous mountain passes---some of the highest mountains in the world.
Bandits, wars, sandstorms and other natural disasters were to be expected on the route.
However, Silk Road has left its mark on the development of civilizations on both sides of the continent.
Travelling the Silk Road
Xian---the Starting Point of the Ancient Silk Road
Xian(西安), the capital of Shanxi (陕西) Province, is the largest city in north-western China. Wei River (渭河) runs along the northern border of the city.
For 2000 years, beginning in the 11th century BC, Xian has served as the capital of several of the most important kingdoms and dynasties in Chinese history, including Zhou (周), Qin (秦), Han (汉), Sui (隋) and Tang (唐).
With a long history of 3100 years, the city is blessed with numerous cultural relics and historic sites. The most renowned among these is the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang (秦始皇) with the Terracotta Warriors and Horses
The city walls in Xian have been well-preserved.
Statue of Qin Shihuang (秦始皇雕像)
Emperor Qin Shihuang (秦始皇 )---the First Emperor in Chinese History
In the later years of the Warring Periods (战国时代), China was torn apart by wars between the regional kingdoms. The Kingdom of Qin (秦国) was the strongest among the seven surviving kingdoms---Yen (燕), Han (韓), Zhao (赵), Wei (魏), Qi (齐), Chu (楚) and Qin (秦).
In 246 BC, the boy-king of the kingdom of Qin, Ying Zheng (赢政), ascended the throne at the age of 13. Later, he succeeded in completing the conquests of the other six kingdoms.
After he had unified China, he established Qin Dynasty (秦朝) in 221 BC, and proclaimed himself as Qin Shihuang (秦始皇)---the first emperor of Qin Dynasty.
It was during Qin Shihuang's rule that Qin Dynasty (221 BC--206 BC) began a series of reforms and undertook gigantic projects. All the projects were completed with huge resources and at the expense of numerous lives.
Reforms
Qin Shihuang standardized the writing system, units for measurements and currency. He also unified the legal codes, implementing rigid laws. Harsh punishments were meted out to those who opposed him.
Great Wall of China
To prevent attacks from the normadic tribes, especially the Xiongnu (匈奴), Qin Shihuang began the defence project. The old defensive walls built by the former kingdoms were repaired and linked up into a single continuous wall, known as the Great Wall of China--- the symbol of China.
Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang and Terracotta Warriors and Horses
Terracotta Warriors and Horses is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the army of Emperor Qin Shihuang. The archaeologists estimated that there were over 6 000 life-sized Terracotta Warriors and Horses discovered nearby the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang.
Terracotta Warriors and Horses is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The emperor commisioned the construction of his mausoleum and Terracotta Warriors and Horses soon after he ascended the throne, believing that the Terracotta Warriors would guard him in his afterlife.
Burning of Books and Burying of Scholars (焚书 坑儒 )
To eradicate the legacies of the old dynasties, Qin Shihuang ordered burning of the classical books and burying alive the Confucial scholars who did not obey him.
The short-lived Qin Dynasty was powerful and rich.
Qin Shihuang died at the age of 49 while seeking for elixir of life.
Huaqing Pool (华清池)
It was during Qin Shihuang's rule that Qin Dynasty (221 BC--206 BC) began a series of reforms and undertook gigantic projects. All the projects were completed with huge resources and at the expense of numerous lives.
Reforms
Qin Shihuang standardized the writing system, units for measurements and currency. He also unified the legal codes, implementing rigid laws. Harsh punishments were meted out to those who opposed him.
Great Wall of China
To prevent attacks from the normadic tribes, especially the Xiongnu (匈奴), Qin Shihuang began the defence project. The old defensive walls built by the former kingdoms were repaired and linked up into a single continuous wall, known as the Great Wall of China--- the symbol of China.
Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang and Terracotta Warriors and Horses
Terracotta Warriors and Horses (兵马俑)
Terracotta Warriors and Horses is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The emperor commisioned the construction of his mausoleum and Terracotta Warriors and Horses soon after he ascended the throne, believing that the Terracotta Warriors would guard him in his afterlife.
Burning of Books and Burying of Scholars (焚书 坑儒 )
To eradicate the legacies of the old dynasties, Qin Shihuang ordered burning of the classical books and burying alive the Confucial scholars who did not obey him.
The short-lived Qin Dynasty was powerful and rich.
Qin Shihuang died at the age of 49 while seeking for elixir of life.
Huaqing Pool (华清池)
如诗如画的华清池
Statue of Yang Guifei (杨贵妃)---One of
the Four Beauties of Ancient China
the Four Beauties of Ancient China
Located at the northern foot of Mount Li (骊山), Huaqing Pool was part of the Huaqing Palace (华清宫). It is famous as the scene of Emperor Xuanzong's (唐玄宗) romance with his favourite concubine, Yang Guifei. The pool was for Lady Yang to bathe in spring.
汉皇重色思傾国， 御宇多年求不得
。。。。。。。 。。。。。。。
。。。。。。。 。。。。。。。
春寒赐浴华清池 ，温泉水滑洗凝脂
。。。。。。。 。。。。。。。
。。。。。。。 。。。。。。。
在天愿作比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝
天长地久有时尽，此恨绵绵无绝期
－－－白居易
蒋介石行辕
It was also the site of the Xian Incident (西安事变) in 1936, when Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek (蒋介石) was arrested by two his own generals, Zhang Xueliang (张学良) and Yang Hucheng (杨虎城). Chiang Kai Shek was forced to participate in a United Front with Chinese Communist Party to oppose Japanese.
Night View of the Giant Goose Pagoda (大雁塔)
Lanzhou (兰州)
黄河母亲雕像
黄河---华夏文化发祥地---是中华民族的母亲河。她孕育了灿烂的中华文明，她也哺育了一代代的中华儿女。
黄河水车园
羊皮筏子
不到黄河心不死
掉进黄河洗不清
白塔山
Oriental Express Train (新东方快车)
Jiayuguan (嘉峪关)
黄河远上白云间
一片孤城万仞山
羌笛何须怨杨柳
春风不度玉门关
Jiayuguan (嘉峪关)
Located at the central part of the Hexi Corridor, Jiayuguan is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China. The structure was built during the early Ming Dynasty.
The pass is known as the "First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven"(天下第一雄关).
白日依山尽，黄河入海流。
欲穷千里目，更上一层楼。
Dunhuang (敦煌)--- China's Most Significant Capital of Buddhist Art.
Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟)
Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟)
Mogao Grottoes, also known as the caves of 1000 Buddha, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. This impressive site contains 492 grottoes, carved between the 4th and 14th centuries.
Despite years of erosion, there are still 2415 coloured sculptures and approximately 45000 square metre of murals remain in the caves.
The murals depict Buddhist Jataka, Buddha's life and teachings, patrons and scenery. They reflect the activities in which the people of the time engaged.
The Buddha is generally shown as the central sculpture, often attended by Bodhisattva (菩萨).
The different styles (from India, Greek and Persia) in the artworks show the great influence of western cultures in China.
Researchers come to Mogao Caves to study the evolution of Buddhist arts over 1000 years.
Thousands of ancient manuscripts such as sutras and poems were found sealed up in one of the caves in 1900s.
The manuscripts attracted a lot of scholarly interest. A large number of them were taken out of China by foreign expeditions at this time. They are now scattered around museums in some countries. The biggest collections are in the British Museum.
Mingshashan and Crescent Lake (鸣沙山月牙泉)
MingShashan (鸣沙山)
鸣沙月泉两相依
骑骆驼欣赏沙泉相依, 沙不掩泉, 泉不枯竭的神奇美景
Mingshashan (鸣沙山), literally means "Echoing-Sand Mountain", is so named for the sound of the wind whipping off the dunes or moving sands when people sliding down the slopes of the dunes.
Crescent Lake (月牙泉), a natural wonder in the desert, is surrounded by Mingshashan. The waters of the crescent-shaped lake is crystal clear.
Turpan (吐鲁番---丝绸之路重镇)
哈密瓜
吐鲁番盛产哈密瓜
最底，最热，最干，最甜的地方：吐鲁番
新疆吐鲁番是中国路地最底点（海拔－154米）。吐鲁番地区是一个高山围绕的盆地。气候干燥，气温很高，夏天最高气温有时可达49 oC.
吐鲁番火焰山
《西游记》铁扇公主雕像
火焰山是中国最热的地方，夏季最高气温达
49 oC.
《西游记》里有唐三藏西天取经受阻于火焰山，孙悟空借芭蕉扇扑灭火焰山。
一望无际的戈壁滩寸草不生
交河故城
交河故城是唐朝在西域最高军政机构所在地。由於吐鲁番干燥少雨的气候交河故城才能保存至今。
吐鲁番葡萄最甜
坎儿井是古代新疆人创造的地下水利灌溉工程。已有2000多年历史。鼎盛时期曾多达1700多条。坎儿井与万里长城，京杭大运河共称为中国古代三大工程。
新疆早晚温差相当大，到了这里，游客可以感受到“早穿棉袄，午穿纱，晚上围着火炉吃西瓜”的大漠气候。
新疆早晚温差相当大，到了这里，游客可以感受到“早穿棉袄，午穿纱，晚上围着火炉吃西瓜”的大漠气候。
吐鲁番虽然环境恶劣，几千年来还是一直有人类在这片绿州活动。丽娥不明白？？？
Urumqi---the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区)
卖馕的维族姑娘
Urumqi, meaning "beautiful pasture" has earned a place in the Guiness Book of Records as the most remote city from any sea in the world.
There are 47 ethnic groups living in Urumqi including the Han, Uygurs and Kazakhs. Uygurs and Kazakhs are speakers of a Turkic language. They are muslims.
Kazakh Yurt (哈萨克毡房)
International Grand Bazaar (国际大巴扎)
Historically, Urumqi was an important town along the ancient Silk Road.
Heaven Lake (天池)
Taking a Boat Cruise on Heaven Lake, in Xinjiang
Turquoise Waters of Heaven Lake
Heaven Lake is an alphine lake in Xinjiang. The lake lies on the north side of the Bogda Peak(博格达冰峰) of the Tianshan Mountain Range (天山山脉).
