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Silk Road Relay Stations and Caravans

Type Object Region Eurasia Time -200–1601

Silk Road relay-station caravans used camels and horses along Eurasian overland routes, with Ming-Timurid embassies and Hexi Corridor stations sustai…

Timeline

  1. -200–901Chang'an (Tang dynasty) · ShaanxiThe Han established the four Hexi commanderies and the Tang had a dense post road network; camel caravans traveled westward along fixed routes, with relay stations handling horse changes, warehousing, and customs clearance, forming the basic operating model of overland trade.
  2. 1421–1430Samarkand · UzbekistanAfter the Timurid Empire split, Samarkand remained a caravan hub; Ming and Shah Rukh envoys traveled through it, and camel caravans carried silk, horses, and gems across the northern and southern routes of the Tianshan.
  3. 1425–1430Jiayu Pass · GansuThe Ming maintained a relay station network in the Hexi Corridor; tributary missions and Western Regions caravans entered through Jiayu Pass, with stations providing lodging and horse changes to keep overland trade and diplomatic channels open.

Sources