Zhang Qian was born in Chenggu county, Hanzhong, Northwest China’s Shaanxi province. He was an outstanding diplomat during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 24) and a pioneer of the ancient Silk Road.

In 139 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty expected to attack the Xiongnu, a powerful nomadic tribe, with the joint efforts from the Rouzhi, a strong adversary of the Xiongnu. Zhang Qian was recruited as a royal emissary to visit Xiyu, or the western regions, along with more than 100 people.

 Zhang led the diplomatic group to start the journey from Chang’an (now Xi’an), but they were captured by a Xiongnu tribe in the Hexi Corridor area and were sentenced to a 10 year detention. During the 10 years, Zhang always kept his mission in mind, and succeeded to escaped one day. He tramped over hills and dales to get to the Rouzhi, which had moved west to Daxia (now northern Afghanistan).

 Although he didn’t form a military alliance with the Rouzhi, he lived for one year in Rouzhi to investigate it and the neighboring countries, obtaining a large number of precious resources.

 However, he was captured again by the Xiongnu for one year in 128 BC while traveling on his way back home, even though he had changed his route. Finally, he returned to Chang’an in 126 BC.

 During the 13 years, Zhang Qian and his group members first opened the way to the western regions and the Silk Road, as well as brought back much information about the terrain, resources, customs, and national distributions in the western regions.

 In 123 BC, Zhang Qian and Wei Qing, a famous Western Han military general attacked the Xiongnu. Due to his familiarity with the Xiongnu terrains and rich experience marching in the desert, Zhang guided the Han army to find water plants in the desert, which helped lead to victory in the war.

 In 119 BC, Zhang Qian served as a royal emissary again to visit the western regions, leading to the long-term friendship between the Western Han Dynasty and countries in the western regions, as well as prosperity in economy and culture for both sides.

 Zhang Qian’s two visits enabled the Western Han Dynasty to establish friendly relations with the 36 countries of the western regions and opened up the Silk Road, which made the economic, cultural, and friendly exchanges between the Central Plains and the western regions increasingly prosperous.

A piece of Chinese painting of the Silk Road. [Photo/people.com.cn]