Sent by Emperor Wu of Han to seek an alliance with the Yuezhi, Zhang Qian travelled west from Chang’an, survived long captivity by the Xiongnu, reached Central Asia, and returned with new information about lands and exchange networks beyond Han territory.
Sources and further reading
Silk Roads: Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor, UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Authoritative cultural-route context for the corridor and Zhang Qian’s diplomatic mission.
Wikidata Geographic Coordinates, Wikimedia Foundation and Wikidata contributors. CC0 geographic coordinates used to verify unambiguous named places during the July 2026 coordinate audit. This source supports contemporary point placement only, not historical route or chronology claims.