Silk Road Commerce

Timeline

1. 1161–1165Dunhuang · GansuThe Hexi Corridor remained the gateway from the Central Plains to the Western Regions, with markets in places like Dunhuang gathering Silk Road goods; border markets were limited under Song-Jin rivalry, but Western Regions merchant caravans still traveled east along this route.
2. 1163–1170Northern Tianshan Route · TianshanCaravans entered Western Liao's sphere of influence via the northern Tianshan route, then traveled to famous Transoxiana cities like Samarkand and Bukhara; Western Liao taxed and protected trade routes in the Semirechye region, sustaining East Asia–Central Asia–West Asia goods circulation.