When did Zhang Qian go to the Western Regions?

Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions in the third year of Jianyuan, the first year of Yuanshou and the fourth year of Yuanshou.

In the third year of Jianyuan (BC 138), he was called to be an envoy to the western regions in order to contact all ethnic groups in the western regions and crack down on Xiongnu who harassed the frontier. On the way, he was detained by Xiongnu for more than ten years. After that, I went to the Western Regions and made friends with Dawanguo, Kangju, Da Yue and Daxia. On the way home, he was detained by Xiongnu for more than a year, and then fled by chaos. Yuan Shuo returned to Han in three years and was named Doctor Dazhong.

According to the western regions' knowledge of the poisonous country, in the first year of Yuanshou (122 BC), Emperor Wu once again set out from Qianwei, West Shu, and set out for the poisonous country. Unfortunately, this time, due to various obstacles, it failed only in Kunming.

In the fourth year of Yuanshou (former 1 19), he was ordered to send envoys to Wusun, and also sent envoys to Dawan, Kangju, Da Yue, Daxia, Rest in Peace, Khotan, Sumi and other countries in Wusun, and established extensive diplomatic relations. Thus, the road between the Han Dynasty and western countries was opened.

The significance of going to the western regions

Zhang Qian's main contribution in his life was to visit the Western Regions, which broadened people's horizons and officially opened the channel between the Han Dynasty and the Western Regions. It not only strengthened the economic and cultural ties between the people of all ethnic groups in the western regions and the Han people, but also promoted the formation of a feudal multi-ethnic country and opened up a channel for economic and cultural exchanges between ancient eastern and western countries-the Silk Road.

The Silk Road starts from Chang 'an in the east, passes through Gansu, Xinjiang, Afghanistan and Iran, and extends to the east coast of the Mediterranean, with a total length of more than 7,000 kilometers. It is the longest international trade channel in ancient history. This road has become a symbol of friendship between Chinese and Western peoples and a bridge for economic and cultural exchanges. Zhang Qian deserves to be called a great traveler, explorer and outstanding diplomat.