Silk Road Relay Station Network

Timeline

1. c. -100–400Hexi Corridor–Dunhuang · GansuThe Han dynasty established post stations, beacon towers, and checkpoints in the Hexi Corridor, forming a government-controlled relay transport network. Nodes such as Dunhuang, Yumen Pass, and Yang Pass served both military garrison and merchant supply functions, providing institutional and technical templates for later Silk Road relay station layouts.
2. 501–581Tarim Basin oasis city belt · Tarim BasinIn the sixth century, the Northern Wei split into Eastern and Western Wei, the southern Liang and Chen coexisted with northern regimes, and the Western Regions were controlled by the Hephthalites, Gaochang, and other polities. Merchants traveled along the oasis chains of the northern and southern routes of the Tarim Basin; cities such as Gaochang, Kucha, Kashgar, and Khotan doubled as relay stations, providing lodging, warehousing, and guide services.
3. 581–600Chang'an–Liangzhou–Dunhuang post road · ChinaAfter the Sui unification in 581, the national post road system was rebuilt, with post envoys, post horses, and horse-change systems established, linking Chang'an to Liangzhou, Dunhuang, and routes toward the Western Regions. Officials such as Pei Ju compiled intelligence on Western Regions transport and trade, and the relay station network was reintegrated into the imperial administrative system, laying the infrastructure foundation for the Tang dynasty's Silk Road zenith.