The Silk Road originally started from Chang'an in the east, went west along the Weishui River, crossed the Loess Plateau, and reached Dunhuang through the Hexi Corridor.

Going west from Dunhuang, it is divided into two roads: the south road leads out of Yangguan, along the southern edge of the present-day Tarim Basin and the northern foot of the Kunlun Mountains, passing through Guloulan, Qiemo, Minfeng, Yutian, Hotan, Moyu , Pishan, Yecheng, Yarkand, and arrive at Kashgar; the north road leaves Yumenguan, along the northern edge of the Tarim Basin and the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, passing through Turpan, Korla, Baicheng, Aksu, and Bachu to reach Kashgar.

After the north and south roads meet in Kashgar, they continue to the west and climb to the Pamir Plateau. This is the most difficult section of the road. Then it passes through Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries, then crosses the Mediterranean, and finally reaches the end of the Silk Road, which is the capital of Qin, Rome and Venice.

Later, another Beixin Road was opened, from Dunhuang to Hami, along the Junggar Basin north of the Tianshan Mountains, crossing the Ili River and heading west to the ancient Roman Empire.