絲綢之路是歷史上連接中國和地中海的一條重要 貿易路線。因為這條路上的絲綢貿易占絕大部分，所以在1877年它 被德國的一位地理學家命名為絲綢之路。這條古道從長安開始， 經過河西走廊,到達敦煌后分成三條：南部路線， 中部路線和北部路線。這三條路遍布新疆維吾爾自治區，然后擴展到巴基斯坦，印度， 甚至羅馬。

　　The Silk Road is a historically important international trade route between China and the Mediterranean. Because silk comprised a large proportion of trade along this road, in 1877, it was named the Silk Road by an eminent German geographer. This ancient road begins at Changan, then by way of the Hexi Corridor，and it reaches Dunhuang, where it divides into three, the Southern Route，Central Route and Northern Route. The three routes spread all over the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and then they extend as far as Pakistan, India and even Rome.