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Politecnico di Milano
Scuola di Architettura e Società
Polo di Mantova
Laurea Magistrale
Architettura
Revival of Hosi Corridor
under the Circumstances of Belt and Road Initiative
Politecnico di Milano
School of architecture and society
Master in Architecture
Supervisor: Prof. Maria Cristina Colombo
Student: Liting DU
CONTENTS
CONTENTS ...................................................................................................... I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................. III
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................... IV
CHAPTER 1.
CHINA-PROPOSED BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVES ........... 1
1.1
WORLD ECONOMIC SITUATION BACKGROUND .......................................... 1
1.2
ANALYSIS ON CHINA’S INTERNATIONAL TRADE ......................................... 4
1.3
BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE .................................................................... 9
1.4
POLICY.............................................................................................. 11
CHAPTER 2.
SILK ROAD .......................................................................... 16
2.1
HISTORY OF SILK ROAD ...................................................................... 16
2.2
GEOMETRY OF SILK ROAD .................................................................. 33
2.3
IMPACT AND IMPORTANT ROLE (COMMODITY, CULTURE, RELIGION) ........... 34
CHAPTER 3.
SIX SECTIONS OF SILK ROAD AND ITS CENTER CITY .. 36
3.1
LUOYANG AND CHANG’AN (XI’AN), CENTRAL CITIES OF CENTRAL CHINA .. 37
3.2
DUNHUANG, CENTRAL CITY OF HOSI CORRIDOR .................................... 40
3.3
KASHGAR, CENTRAL CITY OF SOUTH XINJIANG ...................................... 41
3.4
SAMARKAND, CENTRAL CITY OF CENTRAL ASIA ..................................... 42
3.5
HAMADAN, CENTRAL CITY OF IRAN ....................................................... 43
3.6
CONSTANTINOPLE (ISTANBUL), CENTRAL CITY OF TURKEY ...................... 45
CHAPTER 4.
HOSI CORRIDOR AND ITS POTENTIALS .......................... 48
I
4.1
ANALYSIS ON GEOGRAPHY OF HOSI CORRIDOR .................................... 49
4.2
HISTORY ........................................................................................... 55
4.3
ONCE-PROUD ECONOMY .................................................................... 56
4.4
CULTURE AND RELIGION DIVERSITY ANALYSIS ........................................ 57
4.5
ANALYSIS ON THE SPREAD OF BUDDHISM ALONG HOSI CORRIDOR .......... 60
4.6
ANALYSIS OF HERITAGE SITES ALONG THE HOSI CORRIDOR .................... 66
4.7
CURRENT ECONOMY .......................................................................... 79
4.8
PROBLEMS ........................................................................................ 91
4.9
POTENTIALS UNDER BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE ..................................... 95
CHAPTER 5.
PROPOSALS ON THE CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF HOSI
CORRIDOR
99
5.1
CULTURAL CORRIDOR ......................................................................... 99
5.2
DIGITAL CORRIDOR ........................................................................... 109
5.3
TOURISM: A PILGRIMAGE FOR CULTURE ............................................... 113
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCE:......................................................... 119
II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor,
Prof. Maria Christina Colombo, for her patience, motivation, enthusiasm, and
immense knowledge. Her guidance helped me in all the time of research and
writing of this thesis. I could not have imagined having a better supervisor and
mentor for my thesis.
Besides my supervisor, I would like to thank Ms. Martina Veneri at
welcome desk, for all her kindness and help since I came to politecnico di
Milano. In every respect of daily life, she has been always giving me advices
and help.
I would also like to thank all my teachers who have helped me to develop
the fundamental and essential academic competence.
My sincere thanks also go to all my friends, for their encouragement and
support during the two years in Europe.
Last but not the least, I would like to thank my family: my parents DU
Gongqiang and HE Jianying, for giving birth to me at the first place and
supporting me spiritually throughout my life.
III
ABSTRACT
In September and October of 2013, when Chinese President Xi Jinping
visited Central Asia and Southeast Asia, he raised the initiative of jointly
building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road,
also known as the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Belt and Road Initiative is a development strategy and framework,
proposed by People's Republic of China that focuses on connectivity and
cooperation among countries primarily in Eurasia. China recently pledged
US$ 40 billion to a Silk Road Fund designed to improve trade and transport
links in Asia. The fund will be used to support the development of "Belt and
Road initiative".
So far, the Silk Road once flourishing for more than one thousand years,
has prepared to come to life.
With the purpose of revitalization, first of all, I made analysis on the history
and culture of the whole Silk Road. Afterwards, follows the second chapter
describing the background of Belt and Road initiative, along with its brief
introduction of its policy.
After analyzing the current economic situation at home and abroad, as
well as the wax and wane of the Silk Road in history, in terms of history and
geography, in the third chapter, I could divide the Silk Road into 6 sections,
each of them with its important historical central city. From the east to the west,
they are Central China, centered on Luoyang and Xi’an (Chang’an); Hosi
corridor, centered on Dunhuang; south Xinjiang, Kashgar; Central Asia,
centered on Samakand; Iran, centered on Hamadan; Turkey, centered on
Istanbul.
Among the sections above, as one part of the Silk Road on the World
IV
Heritage List, Hosi corridor has the unique geographical location and
possessed the largest possibility of development and vitalization due to
economic policy and its profound and splendid history.
As a consequence, in the fourth chapter, I go into the study on the Hosi
corridor, including its history, nature, heritage, as well as the economy of its
administration zone, Gansu province. In the study, hundreds of heritage sites,
for instance, ancient cities, grottos, and the Great Wall, which have historical
and cultural values, deserve particular concerns. Under the economic impact,
the precious culture and heritage must be carefully protected and
well-preserved.
In return, we can take advantage of the cultural heritage of Hosi corridor,
to promote Hosi corridor as a “Cultural Corridor” and “Digital Corridor”,
presenting the prosperous culture and history by several proposals, which
demonstrated in the last chapter. Thus, the culture and economy of Hosi
corridor can strive to thrive.
Key Words:
Silk Road, the Belt and Road initiative, culture and heritage, Hosi corridor,
urbanism, tourism
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CHAPTER 1. CHINA-PROPOSED BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVES
CHAPTER 1. China-proposed Belt and Road
Initiatives
1.1
World economic situation background
1.1.1 The Atlantic-rim trade（15th century to the early 20th century）
Before 1800, the world economic center is in Asia, only surpassed by
Europe in 19th century because of the Industrial Revolution.
Around 1750, we had the British Industrial Revolution, an inflection point
in the economic history of the world. The industrial revolution modified the
whole structure of English society. It raised the curtain on modernization of the
world, and the expansion of capital promoted the modernizing procedure.
.
(a)
(b)
Figure 1.1 photo of the he British Industrial Revolution
The urbanization starts from Britain's industrial revolution, with the
development of industrial revolution, spreads to the American-European
continent. The commercial revolution in the West shortly changed into
industrial revolution, but the East lost the opportunity.
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Figure 1.2 The Atlantic-rim trade
1.1.2 The Pacific-rim trade（mid-20th century to the early 21st century）
The
third
scientific
technological
revolution
has
shortened
the
spatiotemporal distance and accelerated the cultural exchanges.
In the 21st century, economic globalization has been deepening under the
tide of the new scientific and technological revolution. Industry integration is
against this background that accompanied the pace of new scientific and
technological revolution to us.
Figure 1.3 The Pacific-rim trade
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1.1.3 The Indian-ocean-rim trade（after 21st century）
After 21st century, complex and profound changes are taking place in the
world. The international financial crisis has taken place frequently, and has
brought enormous impact and destruction to a lot of countries' economy. The
underlying impact of the international financial crisis keeps emerging; the world
economy is recovering slowly, and global development is uneven; the
international trade and investment landscape and rules for multilateral trade
and investment are undergoing major adjustments; and countries still face big
challenges to their development.
The Chinese, African, Indian and ASEAN proportion of urban residents in
the word has been notably increasing from 28% in 1960 to 49% in 2013.
Figure 1.4 proportion of urban residents in 2013
The ratio of total volume of import and export trade of the world’s total has
increased from 14% in 1960, to 35% in 2013.
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Figure 1.5 ratio of total volume of import and export trade in 2013
The FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) GDP of the world’s has grown from 8%
in 1960, to 40% in 2013.
Figure 1.6 The FDI in 2013
1.2
Analysis on China’s international trade
1.2.1 Import and export trade
China is the largest export economy in the world and the 22nd most
complex economy according to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI). In 2013,
China exported $2.25T and imported $1.56T, resulting in a positive trade
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balance of $690B. In 2013 the GDP of China was $9.2T and its GDP per capita
was $6.81k. 1
Figure 1.7 ecnomy complexity, exports, impotrs, and GDP per capita
from 1980 to 2013
During the last five years the exports of China have increased at an
annualized rate of 6.8%, from $1.62T in 2008 to $2.25T in 2013. The most
recent exports are led by Computers which represent 9.3% of the total exports
of China, followed by Broadcasting Equipment, which account for 5.71%.
During the last five years the imports of China have increased at an
annualized rate of 12.7%, from $856B in 2008 to $1.56T in 2013. The most
recent imports are led by Crude Petroleum which represents 12.8% of the total
imports of China, followed by Integrated Circuits, which account for 8.94%.
The top import origins of China are Other Asia ($155B), South Korea
($142B), Japan ($133B), the United States ($130B) and Australia ($94.4B).
While the top export destinations of China are the United States ($423B),
Hong Kong ($270B), Japan ($163B), Germany ($92.5B) and South Korea
($80.3B).
As of 2013 China had a positive trade balance of $690B in net exports. As
compared to their trade balance in 1995 when they still had a positive trade
balance of $79.8B in net exports.
1
From OEC (the Observatory of Economic Complexity), by Alexander Simoes
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Figure 1.8 Import and export balance 2
When China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in late 2001, its
share of world exports stood at 4.3%. After China's accession into WTO in
2001, China's export volume increases enormously.
The trade structure in China is undergoing improved and optimized,
although the export mainly depends on labor-intensive manufacturing and the
service trade is poor.
Figure 1.9 Import and export routes of the grain, energy resource and raw materials
2
From OEC (the Observatory of Economic Complexity), by Alexander Simoes
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Figure 1.10 Import and export routes of the industrial and high-tech products
As a large agricultural country, agricultural product plays an important role
in China's exportation. Because the manufacturing industry product which
takes the most important role in Chinese exports trade are the main trade
products between China and ASEAN.
In the past 25 years, export tax rebate policy played a positive role on the
economic development and Reform and Opening of China, and it also
promoted export trade effectively. Presently, the economic growth of our
country mainly depends on the expansion of investment demand and
enlargement of export.
1.2.2 Status and problems
First of all, the excess capacity and excess foreign exchange assets
maybe the biggest problem. Besides, Chinese oil, gas and mineral resources
highly depend on foreign countries. What is worse, China’s industrial and
infrastructure is concentrated in the coastal areas, these core facilities will be
easy to lose if there are any external attack.
1.2.3 Investment and trade
Nowadays, China has become an acknowledged big trade nation.
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According to data from World Bank, in 2013, China’s total volume of foreign
trade reached $46441 trillion, only after the United States of $5.0326 trillion,
ranking second in the world. It is the first time that China shares 10 percent of
global trade, which is by no means clear that it is the peak of China.
Figure 1.11 Changes in global trade proportion of China, the United States and Japan 3
1.2.4 Solution
From the experience of the Marshall Plan of the United States and Japan
archipelago reform plan, after the export-oriented strategy of the two countries,
the external trade once again glow the vitality, export competitiveness
significantly enhanced. Since the Marshall Plan, the international trade
competitiveness of the United States continued to rise and reached the peak
period in the 1960s, accounting the proportion of global trade nearly 16%.
Japan accounted for 7.6% of the global trade in 1984, because of the
archipelago reform plan since 1970, 2% higher than 5.4% in 1970.
Along the B&R Initiative increase the export, China is expected to
accelerate the progress of transforming from a big trading country to a
powerful trading country. The proportion of global trade is expected to improve.
3
By CMBC ( China Minsheng Banking Corp . Ltd .)
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1.3
Belt and Road Initiative
The Belt and Road, which consists of two main components, the
land-based "Silk Road Economic Belt" (SREB) and oceangoing "Maritime Silk
Road" (MSR), run through the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa,
connecting the vibrant East Asia economic circle at one end and developed
European economic circle at the other, and encompassing countries with huge
potential for economic development.
The development strategy was unveiled by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in
September and October 2013 in announcements revealing the SREB and
MSR, respectively. The strategy underlines China's push to take a bigger role
in global affairs, and its need to export China's production capacity in areas of
overproduction such as steel manufacturing.
Figure 1.12 Schematic diagram of Belt and Road initiative
The Silk Road Economic Belt focuses on bringing China, Central Asia,
Russia and Europe (the Baltic) together; linking China with the Persian Gulf
and the Mediterranean Sea through Central Asia and West Asia; and
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connecting China with Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean. 4
Essentially, the 'belt' includes countries situated on the original Silk Road
through Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The initiative
calls for the integration of the region into a cohesive economic area through
building infrastructure, increasing cultural exchanges, and broadening trade.
Apart from this zone, which is largely analogous to the historical Silk Road,
another area that is said to be included in the extension of this 'belt' is South
Asia and Southeast Asia. Many of the countries that are part of this 'belt' are
also members of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Figure 1.13 Trading route of Belt and Road initiative
The 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road is designed to go from China's coast
to Europe through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in one route,
and from China's coast through the South China Sea to the South Pacific in the
other.
4
an action plan on the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative issued by the National Development
and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic
of China, with State Council authorization, from China Daily
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On land, the Initiative will focus on jointly building a new Eurasian Land
Bridge and developing China-Mongolia-Russia, China-Central Asia-West Asia
and China-Indochina Peninsula economic corridors by taking advantage of
international transport routes, relying on core cities along the Belt and Road
and using key economic industrial parks as cooperation platforms. At sea, the
Initiative will focus on jointly building smooth, secure and efficient transport
routes connecting major sea ports along the Belt and Road. The
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar
Economic Corridor are closely related to the Belt and Road Initiative, and
therefore require closer cooperation and greater progress.
1.4
Policy
The co-construction of B&R Initiative is aimed at promoting the flow of
economic factors, the efficiency of resource distribution, market convergence,
coordination of economic policies along the line, the regional cooperation in
wider range, higher level, in order to create an open, inclusive, balanced
regional economic cooperation framework.
1.4.1 Opening-up
China's economy is closely connected with the world economy. China will
stay committed to the basic policy of opening-up, build a new pattern of
all-around opening-up, and integrate itself deeper into the world economic
system. The Initiative will enable China to further expand and deepen its
opening-up, and to strengthen its mutually beneficial cooperation with
countries in Asia, Europe and Africa and the rest of the world.
In advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, China will fully leverage the
comparative advantages of its various regions, adopt a proactive strategy of
further opening-up, strengthen interaction and cooperation among the eastern,
western and central regions, and comprehensively improve the openness of
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the Chinese economy.
Figure 1.14 Different irections of opening-up
1.4.2 New Eurasian Continental Bridge
Facilities connectivity is a priority area for implementing the Initiative. On
the basis of respecting each other's sovereignty and security concerns,
countries along the Belt and Road should improve the connectivity of their
infrastructure construction plans and technical standard systems, jointly push
forward the construction of international trunk passageways, and form an
infrastructure network connecting all sub-regions in Asia, and between Asia,
Europe and Africa step by step. At the same time, efforts should be made to
promote green and low-carbon infrastructure construction and operation
management, taking into full account the impact of climate change on the
construction.
Thus, the New Eurasian Continental Bridge emerged as the times require.
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Figure 1.15 Map of midline for Eurasia Land Bridge
New Eurasian Continental Bridge, also known as "the Second Eurasian
Continental Bridge", is from Lianyungang (in Jiangsu Province) to Rotterdam.
International railway transportation route in China consists of the Longhai
Railway and Lanzhou Xinjiang Railway. The transcontinental railway will pass
through Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang, to the
border of China and Kazakhstan-Alataw Pass. After abroad, New Eurasian
Continental Bridge can reach the Rotterdam ports in Holland by 3 routes.
The midline integrates with the Russian railway station, via Smolensk,
Brest, Warsaw and Berlin, finally reaching the Rotterdam port. It is the midline
that would go through more than 30 countries or regions in the world, total
length of which is 10900 kilometers.
1.4.3 Northwestern and northeastern regions
When it comes to the northwestern and northeastern regions, we should
make good use of Xinjiang's geographic advantages and its role as a window
of westward opening-up to deepen communication and cooperation with
Central, South and West Asian countries, make it a key transportation, trade,
logistics, culture, science and education center, and a core area on the Silk
Road Economic Belt.
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We should give full scope to the economic and cultural strengths of
Shaanxi and Gansu provinces and the ethnic and cultural advantages of the
Ningxia Hui autonomous region and Qinghai province, build Xi'an into a new
focus of reform and opening-up in China's interior, speed up the development
and opening-up of cities such as Lanzhou and Xining, and advance the
building of the Ningxia Inland Opening-up Pilot Economic Zone with the goal of
creating strategic channels, trade and logistics hubs and key bases for
industrial and cultural exchanges opening to Central, South and West Asian
countries. We should give full play to Inner Mongolia's proximity to Mongolia
and Russia, improve the railway links connecting Heilongjiang province with
Russia and the regional railway network, strengthen cooperation between
China's Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces and Russia's Far East
region on sea-land multimodal transport, and advance the construction of an
Eurasian high-speed transport corridor linking Beijing and Moscow with the
goal of building key windows opening to the north.
As a result, the aim of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai is to form the
channels to Mid Asia, South Asia and West Asia, the hub of trade and logistic,
the exchange base of cultural.
1.4.4 Guanzhong - Hosi corridor – Tianshan corridor
China and the five Central Asian countries are planning to link a new
Eurasia Land Bridge, which, known as the modern Silk Road, will connect
Europe and Asia. It is the pass of famous "Silk Road" in the world that
communicates the east and the west, now it becomes the only access to the
second "Eurasia Land Bridge ".
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Figure 1.16 corridor
The Midline of the Eurasia Land Bridge is Lianyungang-Zhengzhou-Xi'an–
Lanzhou–Xinjian–Central Asia–Europe.
By bringing the comprehensive economic and cultural superiority of
Shaanxi and Gansu, the ethnic and culture superiority of Ningxia and Qinghai,
Xi’an is developing as a superstar of inland. This area is becoming the hub of
commerce and logistics and the culture exchange base for Central Asia,
Southern Asia, and Western Asia, by accelerating the reform and opening-up
of Lanzhou and Xining, promoting the construction of inland open economy
test area in Ningxia.
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CHAPTER 2. Silk Road
2.1
History of Silk Road
2.1.1 The origin: Jade Road (15th century BC)
In the Nile Valley, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and the north of the
Yellow River basin, there is a disconnected route called grass road, made up
by several small commercial routes, which have been certified by
archaeological discoveries. It is the initial embryo of the Silk Road. However,
early Silk Road is not for the silk trade, but for the jade.
Around the15th century BC, Chinese merchants had come in and go out
the edge of Taklimakan desert, to buy the Hetian jade Produced in Xinjiang
(Sinkiang), in the meanwhile, to sell marine products like Sea Shells. In this
way, they made small business with people in central Asia. They started from
Kunlun Mountains, stretching on both sides to transport the jade to the
far-away places. The east route went through Gansu, Ningxia, Shanxi, until
Henan, while the west went through Uzbekistan, till Europe and Asia countries
along Mediterranean coast. That is the Jade road, which has a history of more
than six thousand years. And it was the first communication between the east
and west.
Jade Gate Pass, one of the west gates during the Han Dynasty, exactly
name after the Jade Road. "Why complain Qiangdi willow, not spring of Yumen
Pass," Tang Dynasty poet Wang Huan-the first of this "Liangzhou words,"
Song for thousands of years now.
According to historical records, as well as geographical and cultural
research made by archaeologists at home and abroad, the Hetian Jade have
went through Hosi corridor, gradually transferring east. Until 13 BC, Hetian
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Jade arrived in Yin capital (modern Anyang in Henan province), becoming the
most precious and delicate royal jade. The Jade Road’s west routes have two
choices: the south starts from Hetian, through Cele, Yutian, Minfeng, Qiemo,
Ruoqiang, Milan, Lop Nor (nuclear testing site in Xinjiang), Loulan till
Dunhuang; the north way begins from Hetian, going through Yecheng, Shache
(a county in Xinjiang), Yingjisha County, Kashgar, Kuqa, Aksu, Luntai, Korla(a
county in Xinjiang), Turfan, ending in Dunhuang. After joining together, these
two routes continue going east through Anxi and Jade Gate Pass, spreading to
Anyang City, south of Shanxi, or west of Henan.
Figure 2.1 Jade Road
The Yurungkash River, also called White Jade Rive, carries jade down
from the Kunlun mountains and into the Taklamakan desert.
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Figure 2.2 Baiyu River
Figure 2.3 Chinese painting, Baiyu River in the Ming Dynasty, 5
5
Chinese scientist Song Yingxing in the process of" Heavenly Creations"
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2.1.2 The prelude: Persian Royal Road (5th century BC)
The Persian Royal Road, which was established during the Achaemenid
Empire (500BC - 330 BC), would come to serve as one of the main arteries of
the Silk Road.
Under the control of Darius I (521BC - 485BC), who was the leader of
Persia, Egypt, Babylon, and India, expending and sprawling Persian had
established imperial power in the region of central and west Asia. Based on
historical records, Darius I liked fresh fish from Aegean Sea and water from his
hometown Parthia, so The Persian Royal Road appeared.
The Persian Royal Road which was only used by the royal family, ran from
Susa, in north Persia (modern Iran) to the Mediterranean Sea in Asia Minor
(modern Turkey) and featured postal stations along the route with fresh horses
for envoys to quickly deliver messages throughout the empire.
Herodotus, writing of the speed and efficiency of the Persian messengers,
stated that “there is nothing in the world that travels faster than these Persian
couriers. Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor darkness of night prevents these
couriers from completing their designated stages with utmost speed". The
Persians maintained the Royal Road carefully and, in time, expanded it
through smaller side roads. These paths eventually crossed down into the
Indian sub-continent, across Mesopotamia, and over into Egypt.
After that, his successor Ptolemy I Soter finally controlled Egypt in 323BC.
Greeks began to promote business between Asia Minor, India, and East Africa,
by the open ports occupied by Greek.
After Alexander the Great conquered the Persians, he established the city
of Alexandria Eschate in 339 BC in the Fergana Valley of Neb (modern
Tajikistan). Leaving behind his wounded veterans in the city, Alexander moved
on. In time, these Macedonian warriors intermarried with the indigenous
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populace creating the Greco-Bactrian culture which flourished under the
Seleucid Empire following Alexander’s death. Under the Greco-Bactrian king
Euthydemus I (260BC - 195 BC) the Greco-Bactrians had extended their
holdings. According to the Greek historian Strabo (63AD - 24 AD), the Greeks
“extended their empire as far as the Seres” (xi.ii.i). `Seres’ was the name by
which the Greeks and Romans knew China, meaning `the land where silk
came from’. It is thought, then, that the first contact between China and the
west came around the year 200 BC.
2.1.3 Silk Road timeline
From 200 BC up to the 14th century AD, the Silk Road was a popular
social system that had a profound impact on world history.
Figure 2.4 Silk Road Timeline 6
6
From the book “The Silk Road: A New History”, Valerie Hansen, Oxford University Press, 2012
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2.1.4 The development of Silk Road
Two thousand years ago, two great things happened respectively in the
East and the West, which had a significant impact on the Silk Road. The east
is the Han court sent Zhang Qian to the Western Region, while the west is
Alexander's eastward expedition and the rise of the Roman Empire.
2.1.4.1 On the East
After Wen-Jing, Former Han dynasty in the east witnessed flourishing and
prosperity. The Han Dynasty was regularly harassed by the nomadic tribes of
the Xiongnu (Huns) on their northern and western borders. Emperor Wudi plan
to negotiate with the regimes in the western regions for help in defeating
Xiongnu, so he sent Zhang Qian to mission to Yuezhi expelled from homeland
by Modun chief.
As a result, In the year of 138 BC, General Zhang Qian with a caravan of
100 men set out the first travel from Chang'an, the capital of Han Dynasty, to
the far West of the area beyond the Great Wall. It was first traveled by the
adventure of Zhang Qian started the journey to the far West for the political
contact with Yuezhi, a nomadic tribe, but he was caught by Xiongnu soon.
After more than 10 years, they escaped from captivity. Then they went on their
adventure, arrived in Dayuan (modern Fergana), Sogdiana (modern
Samarkand), Yuezhi (in the central Asia), Balkh (around Afghanistan and
Pakistan). Zhang Qian’s expedition led him into contact with many different
cultures and civilizations in central Asia.
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Figure 2.5 The travel of Zhang Qian to the West 7
Finally in 128 BC, Zhang Qian had reached the destination, Yuezhi.
However, he was surprised that Yuezhi was living in peace and well settled in
the various oases of Central Asia and no longer interested in taking their
revenge on the Xiongnu. Without the succeeding in interesting the Yuezhi in
fighting the Xiongnu, Zhang Qian set off on the return journey via southern Silk
Road. He was once captured by Tibetan tribes allied with Xiongnu for a year
and escaped in 125 BC in returning his way back to China. Of the original party
only he and another company completed the 13 years journey - the first land
route between East and West that would eventually link Imperial China with
Imperial Rome.
In the year of 126 BC, Zhang Qian came back to Chang’an, only with one
servant.
The diplomatic stalemate resulting from Zhang Qian's mission had some
important consequences, as much political and military as commercial. Zhang
7
details of mural from cave 323, 618-712 CE, Dunhuang frescoes
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Qian reported on some kingdoms in the West Regions, delighting Emperor
Han Wudi with detailed accounts of the previously unknown kingdoms of
Ferghana, Samarkand, Bokhara and others in what are now the former Soviet
Union, Pakistan and Persia as well as the city of Li Kun, Rome, with their
special products. These fascinating prices form the many Kingdoms of West
tempted Emperor Wudi to dispatch successive missions to develop a further
more political contact led by Zhang Qian in 119 BC. They started to make
official visits once again with west countries, carrying with tens of millions of
gold, silk, Cattle and sheep. Hence, the Silk Road generally formed. The
mission group from China later returned with foreign products, for instances,
Ferghana horses, furs and so on.
In 60BC, the Western Regions Frontier Command was established, which
pushed the Silk Road into a flourishing era.
2.1.4.2 On the West
BC336, Alexander the Great conquered the Greek and ruled it. Then he
continued his conquest towards the east. When the powerful Persian army
was destroyed, he captured most of India. He found that silk was used, by the
Persian court and its king, Darius III. After Alexander the Great’s death, the
lands were divided into several countries by his military officers.
Between 171-138BC, Mithridates I of Parthia campaigned to expand and
consolidate his kingdom in Mesopotamia. The Seleucid King Antiochus VII
Sidetes (138-129 BC) opposed this expansion and, also wishing revenge for
the death of his brother, Demetrius, waged war against the Parthian forces of
Phrates II, Mithridates successor. With the defeat of Antiochus, Mesopotamia
came under Parthian rule and, with it, came control of the Silk Road. The
Parthians then became the central intermediaries between China and the
west.
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Figure 2.6 Menade, dressed in silk coat 8
After Roman conquered Egypt in 30BC, thanks to the effort which China
had made to expand trade towards the west, there was a boom in the
communication and international trade between India, Southeast Asia, Sri
Lanka, China, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Numerous novelties,
technologies and exchange of ideas, back and forth, spread through the Silk
Road among countries. The trade between the continents became
well-regulated and well-organized. Roman joined in this commercial road
soon.
Alexander the Great expansion into Central Asia stopped far short of
Xiongnu region resulted in Romans appear to have gained little knowledge of
the Seres, Chinese. Little by little, the demands of eastern precious goods
from the West were grown rapidly.
8
Museum of Naples, Italy
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2.1.4.3 The Silk Road
While many different kinds of merchandise traveled along the Silk Road,
the name comes from the popularity of Chinese silk with the west, especially
with Rome. The Silk Road routes stretched from China through India, Asia
Minor, up throughout Mesopotamia, to Egypt, the African continent, Greece,
Rome, and Britain. The northern Mesopotamian region (present day Iran)
became China’s closest partner in trade, as part of the Parthian Empire,
initiating important cultural exchanges. Paper, which had been invented by the
Chinese during the Han Dynasty, and gunpowder, also a Chinese invention,
had a much greater impact on culture than did silk. The rich spices of the east,
also, contributed more than the fashion which grew up from the silk industry.
Even so, by the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus (27BC – 14AD) trade
between China and the west was firmly established and silk was the most
sought after commodity in Egypt, Greece, and, especially, in Rome. From
100AD, Romans started to have an enthusiasm towards silk, which was
passed on from Parthians. At the same time, the kingdoms in Central Asia sent
their own emissaries to Chang'an, China.
The Silk Road is a route in the vast dessert, in series, linking oases one by
one.
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Figure 2.7 Map of ancient Silk Road during Later Han (25-220AD)
Figure 2.8 Zoom in（main routes, other routes, important trading center）
2.1.5 The prosperity of the Silk Road
Li Yuan (566–635AD) founded the Tang Dynasty after the fall of the Sui
Dynasty(581 -618AD). The Tang Dynasty is commonly regarded as the golden
age of Chinese civilization. China’s achievements during the Tang Dynasty
were exemplary, thus the Tang Dynasty is often considered by historians as
the greatest dynasty in ancient China.
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Tang Dynasty (618-907AD) had a vast territory and a large population.
With the establishment of the four Duhu, as well as the operations of the
frontier junctions, the network of the Silk Road was well protected and
managed, thus soon flourished during the Tang Dynasty.
On the other side of Silk Road, after Aurelius, silk remained popular,
though increasingly expensive, until the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD.
Rome was survived by its eastern half which came to be known as the
Byzantine Empire and which carried on the Roman infatuation with silk.
During the medieval history, ‘Fulin’ is the old name of Byzantine Empire in
ancient Chinese book. But with the opening of Silk Road, Chinese regarded
Roma Empire the same as Tang that enjoyed a high level of civilization. As a
result, Byzantine Empire was called ‘Da Qin’ at that time.
During the centuries in the medieval history, Byzantine Empire was always
the most prosperous in economy among the European countries. Its capital
city, Constantinople (modern Istanbul), which lies at the crossing of Europe,
Asia, and Africa, is the meeting point of merchant ship around the world. Thus,
it became the end of Silk Road, and its highly developed international transit
trade had brought local people huge wealth. Cities such as Thessaloniki,
Trebizond, Antioch, and Alexander, served as important ports for trade,
importing silk, fur, food, valuable timber, aroma materials, dyestuff, ivory,
jewelry, and exporting glass, mosaic paintings, fabrics and brocade, weapons,
wine, gold coin and silver coin, jewelry, and some art-ware.
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Figure 2.9
Figure 2.10 Silk road merchants
The largest territory Controlled by the Byzantine Empire covers an area of
270 square kilometers (Justinian I), while the population peak value is 34
million (4th century AD). Empire's economy based on agriculture, and had
developed commerce and handicraft industry. The majority income of the
Byzantine Empire came from tariff and trade taxes.
Along the network of routes disease traveled also, as evidenced in the
spread of the bubonic plague of 542AD which is thought to have arrived in
Constantinople by way of the Silk Road and which decimated the Byzantine
Empire.
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Figure 2.11 Map of ancient Silk Road during Tang (618AD – 907AD)
Figure 2.12 Zoom in（main routes, other routes, important trading center）
However, later in 12th century, the entire communities and active oasis
towns along the Silk Road were disappearing in the space, as the glacier-fed
streams ran try. As well, of course, the downfall of Tang Dynasty led to political
chaos and an unstable economy less able to support foreign imports.
During the middle period of Tang Dynasty, because of the continuous wars,
Tang gave up the right to manage the Silk Road. Central Asia was in the hand
of Islam, and the Silk Road was blocked up. Although recovered afterwards, it
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could not compare with the previous one. On the other hand, the economic
center transferred to southward. As the coastal harbor developed, sea trade
became popular. Silk Road on the sea gradually took place of the land silk
road.
At the same time, China's economic center moved to the south. With the
development of coastal ports, overseas trade in the southeast had become
very active. Tang empire set up the bureau for foreign shipping in Guangzhou
in Xianqing sixth year (661AD). Guangzhou became an important port of
China's overseas trade.
2.1.6 The decline of the Silk Road
The Chinese had very purposefully kept the origin of silk a secret and,
once it was out, carefully guarded their silk worms and their process of
harvesting the silk. The Byzantine emperor Justinian (527- 565 AD), tired of
paying the exorbitant prices the Chinese demanded for silk, sent two
emissaries, disguised as monks, to China to steal silk worms and smuggle
them back to the west. The plan was successful and initiated the Byzantine silk
industry. When the Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks in 1453 AD, the Ottoman
Empire closed the Silk Road and cut all ties with the west.
After Yuan Dynasty, little by little, Silk Road was underappreciated, which
indirectly stimulated the European sea power. After the publication of Marco
Polo's travel notes, China and Asia became a prosperous wealthy civilization
country that many Europeans were yearning for. Spain and Portugal began to
try to bypass the Mediterranean route and old Silk Road controlled by Italy and
Turkey to connect China in order to get more profits than trade along the Silk
Road. Some countries also hoped to spread their religions to the East.
Developing during Tang Dynasty, Quanzhou continued to thrive to be the
largest oriental bay in the east.
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Foreign businessmen gathered in Guangzhou port, Fan Corner was set
up for foreign businessmen to settle down. Businessmen came from all over
the world by sea to buy Chinese silk, and at the same time bring the foreign
goods to China. The maritime Silk Road was developed and prosperous
thrived from the late-Tang Dynasty to Yuan Dynasty.
2.1.7 Ending and reverb
In the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), Over 600 years ago, Admiral
Zheng He, the famous Chinese navigator, took seven voyages across the
ocean to explore the outside world, reached East Africa 4 times. These
voyages left an important influence on the culture and politics of those nations
for years on. In the 28 years of his voyages, it was recorded that China
received 318 visits by envoys from across Asia and Africa, or fifteen visits a
year on average.
Figure 2.13 Route of Zheng He’s voyage
Zheng He's voyage was a political, economic and diplomatic activity which
was unprecedented and transnational. It was a brilliant maritime expedition
surprising the entire world. Shipping fleet had reached as far as the east coast
of Africa and the red sea, the trade between Chinese and western were in its
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prosperity at that time.
However, later on, the ocean voyages undertaken by Zheng He in the
Yongle and Xuande periods became the swan song. After that, only petty
dealers went trafficking abroad. Commodities such as munitions, rice, bean,
ironware, raw silk, silks and satins, horses and books are prohibited to export.
Moreover, the Ming Dynasty shut China off from the outside world, ending
the centuries-old exchange of culture and religion in East and West.
Guangzhou was always the biggest commercial port. During Ming and
Qing Dynasty, due to the ban on maritime trade, Guangzhou became the only
harbor open to the outside world.
Because of the seclusion policy, the transportation along Silk Road was
shrinking. The closing of the Silk Road forced merchants to take to the sea to
ply their trade, thus initiating the Age of Discovery (1453-1660 AD) which led to
world-wide interaction and the beginnings of a global community.
In 1492, one of Columbus targets for voyage was to arrive in China, and to
create another trade route better than the Silk Road. However, in his
disappointment, he leaded Europe to discover the new continent of America.
The explorers after Columbus opened the Colonial era of the new world in
America. After the 17th century, Netherland and the United Kingdom expanded
their forces in Afica, America and South Pacific. In the early 19th century, even
though European powers had spread all over the ocean, China was still
regarded as the most prosperous and ancient civilization, their desirable land.
Some scholars considered it as the spiritual influence of Silk Road in the
history of communication between east and west, which was also the reason
why the west thought that
doing business with China could bring them
enormous profit, during the recent 200 years..
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Figure 2.14 Marine Silk Road in Qing
After Qing Dynasty (1636—1912AD), China closed its doors. Only
Guangzhou could receive foreign business men, and marine Silk Road was
blocked.
2.2
Geometry of Silk Road
In the conventional sense, the Silk Road passed through Dunhuang, and
ends in Alexandria, the important port of Egypt. Skirting the edges of the harsh
and inhospitable Taklimakan desert, the Silk Road actually had several
different branches, each passing through different oases.
Generally speaking, the Silk Road starts from central China (Chang’an,
Luoyang centered), heading westwards till Dunhuang, then split into two
routes at Sinkiang (south Xinjiang), one following the southern Tianshan
piedmont (so-called north Silk Road), the other following the north foot of
Pamirs-West Kunlun Shan (so-called south Silk Road), both of which bypass
around Lop Nor and the edge of Taklimakan desert. After going through
northern Turpan and Kuq, as well as southern oasis cities like Loulan, Khotan,
the two routes meet at Kashgar, the westernmost part of Xinjiang. As the road
goes on westward, after crossing Pamirs Plateau, once again, it divides into
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two: from the northwest, northern route entering into the Samarkand and
Sogdiana region in central Asia, while from the southwest, southern route
getting into central Afghanistan, India, and northern Pakistan. After
interchanged in Iran, Silk Road continues westwards. Within Iraq, it crosses
over Tigris River and Euphrates River, into its western gate, Dura–Europos.
After that, it keeps on westwards, and arrived in Palmyra (within the borders of
Syria), which is the most crucial transit area for the trade at the west end of Silk
Road. Westwards, it goes across Mediterranean Sea, getting to Roma;
northwards, across Asia Minor, it arrived at Antioch or Istanbul in Turkey.
Southwards, it reached Alexandria port in Egypt. So far, the Silk Road
stretching thousands of miles comes to an end.
Figure 2.15 Silk Road map
2.3
Impact and important role (commodity, culture, religion)
During this period, it is the first time that existed regional empires
contemporaneously throughout the human history, and came the age of first
globalization. The so-called “Silk Road” is the main road of the cultural
communication. In between, there are people like ambassadors, soldiers,
merchants, the monks and priests, along with commodities like fabric from the
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west, silk from China, spice from India, gold vessels from Persia, as well as the
concepts and faith like Buddhism. After that, any narratives about ancient
civilization of the world cannot make a detour round the Silk Road.
The greatest value of the Silk Road was the exchange of culture. Art,
religion, philosophy, technology, language, science, architecture, and every
other element of civilization was exchanged through the Silk Road along with
the commercial goods the merchants carried from country to country.
Buddhism spread from India to China, Korea and Japan; Islam from the
Middle East to Southeast Asia and Christianity to the Far East from Europe.
Figure 2.16 Culture systems in the world
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CHAPTER 3. Six sections of Silk Road and its
center city
Based on history analysis, from my point of view, the whole Silk Road can
be very broadly divided into six sections in geometry way from east to west to
reflect the diverse geographical zones and differing cultural and political
regimes that they traversed. Each of the section has a center city. In history,
these center cities are not only vital important in geometry, but also the center
of prosperous economy, where have breed numerous wonderful culture and
art in the world.
From the east to the west, they are Central China, centered on Luoyang
and Xi’an (Chang’an); Hosi corridor, centered on Dunhuang; south Xinjiang,
Kashgar; Central Asia, centered on Samakand; Iran, centered on Hamadan;
and Turkey, centered on Istanbul.
In this chapter, I will make a brief introduction about the history of the six
center cities, as well as their relationships with Silk Road.
Figure 3.1 Six sections and center city
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Among the sections above, as one part of the Silk Road on the World
Heritage List, Hosi corridor centered on Dunhuang has the unique
geographical location and possessed the largest possibility of development
and vitalization due to economic policy and its profound and splendid history.
As a consequence, in the next chapter I will take it as a perfect case to
have a deeper study on Hosi corridor and its peripheral areas in detail, and
have several proposals on it in the last chapter.
3.1
Luoyang and Chang’an (Xi’an), central cities of Central
China
In Chinese history, Chang’an and Luoyang two most famous ancient
capitals, called “two capitals”, both of which are the capitals for more than 10
dynasties.
The advantage of Chang’an is the landform, while the advantage of
Luoyang is the convenient transportation. Typical dynasties which chose
Chang’an as capital, such as the Western Han Dynasty and Tang Dynasty,
became the most brilliant and influential dynasties in history. Chang’an located
in the front line of the national wars with prairie nationalities. Choosing
Chang’an as capital is a symbol for outgoing dynasties. Luoyang located in the
middle of Central Plains. If Choosing Luoyang as capital, it is easy to control
the eastern plains and the different governors.
Luoyang and Chang’an are two center cities in Central China, which starts
in Chang’an in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. The most easterly
section has routes across Luoyang and Guanzhong basins and the fertile
lands of the Loess Plateaux of Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces
3.1.1 Luoyang
Situated on the central plain of China, Luoyang is one of the cradles of
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Chinese civilization, and is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China.
Figure 3.2 Recovering of Luoyang residential area in Sui and Tang dynasties 9
In the later Han Dynasty, the Silk Road stating with Luoyang, could lead to
eastern Mediterranean coast. In 166 AD, the first Roman mission, sent by "the
king of Da Qin (the Roman Empire), Andun" 10, reached Luoyang after arriving
by sea in Rinan Commandery in what is now central Vietnam. In 605 AD,
Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty chose Luoyang as "east capital", made the
command of digging the Great Canal, which was listed on the World Heritage
List in 2014. Once in history，Luoyang was the center of politics ,economy and
culture, and traffic hub leading in all directions.
9
10
From the book “Continuation”
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, r. 161-180 AD
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CHAPTER 3. SIX SECTIONS OF SILK ROAD AND ITS CENTER CITY
Figure 3.3 Map of the Great canal in Sui and Tang dynasties
3.1.2 Chang’an
Located very close to Luoyang, Chang'an is another an ancient capital of
more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an.
Chang'an had been settled since the Neolithic times. For more than 1100
years, it had been the center of politics, economy and culture. In 202 BC,
Emperor Liu Bang (Wudi) took the power in Chang’an. After opening the Silk
Road, Chang’an became the center of Eastern civilization and the point of
departure of the famous Silk Road.
During the Tang dynasty (618–907AD), Chang'an was, along with
Constantinople (Istanbul) and Baghdad, one of the largest cities in the world. It
was a cosmopolitan urban center with considerable foreign populations from
other parts of Asia and beyond.
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CHAPTER 3. SIX SECTIONS OF SILK ROAD AND ITS CENTER CITY
Figure 3.4 Model of ancient Chang’an 11
3.2
Dunhuang, central city of Hosi corridor
Dunhuang is situated in a rich oasis containing Crescent Lake and
Mingsha Shan (meaning "Singing-Sand Mountain").
Figure 3.5 Crescent Lake in Mingsha Mountain
Figure 3.6 Mingsha Shan
11
From Xi'an Museum
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Dunhuang commands a strategic position at the crossroads of the ancient
Southern Silk Route and the main road leading from India via Lhasa to
Mongolia and Southern Siberia, as well as controlling the entrance to the
narrow Hosi Corridor, which led straight to the heart of the north Chinese plains,
the ancient capitals of Chang'an (Xi'an) and Luoyang.
In later centuries, during the Sui and Tang dynasties, it was a major point
of communication between ancient China and Central Asia and a major hub of
commerce of the Silk Road.
3.3
Kashgar, central city of south Xinjiang
Kashgar is an oasis city, located near the border with Tajikistan and
Kyrgyzstan. It has a history of over 2,000 years and served as a trading post
and strategically important city on the Silk Road between China, the Middle
East, and Europe. Kashgar is part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Located historically at the convergence point of widely varying cultures
and empires, Kashgar has been under the rule of the Chinese, Turkic, Mongol,
Persian, and Tibetan empires.
Figure 3.7 Kashgar dessert
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CHAPTER 3. SIX SECTIONS OF SILK ROAD AND ITS CENTER CITY
Figure 3.8 Kashgar ancient city
The book “the travels of Marco Polo” of Yuan Dynasty described the
Kashgar as Kachgar.
3.4
Samarkand, central city of Central Asia
Samarkand is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia, prospering
from its central location on the trade route on the Silk Road between China and
the Mediterranean. The city is also famous for being an Islamic center for
scholarly study.
It was the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarqand
Regions. It is now the nation's third largest, after fast-growing Namangan in the
Ferghana Valley.
In the 14th century it became the capital of the empire of Timur
(Tamerlane) and is the site of his mausoleum (the Gur-e Amir). The
Bibi-Khanym Mosque (a modern replica) remains one of the city's most
notable landmarks. The Registan was the ancient center of the city. The city
has carefully preserved the traditions of ancient crafts: embroidery, gold
embroidery, silk weaving, engraving on copper, ceramics, carving and painting
on wood.
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Figure 3.9 Samarkand 12
Figure 3.10 Bazaar in Samarkand 13
In 2001, UNESCO added the city to its World Heritage List as “Samarkand
– Crossroads of Cultures”.
3.5
Hamadan, central city of Iran
Hamadan is believed to be among the oldest Iranian cities and one of the
oldest in the world. It is possible that it was occupied by the Assyrians in 1100
BC; the Ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, states that it was the capital of the
Medes, around 700BC.
12
By Richard-Karl Karlovitch Zommer
13
By Georgy Gabashvili,
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Figure 3.11 the city of hamadan the ancient Ekbatana
Figure 3.12 Hamadan, Persia. Original wood engraving drawn 14
In Iranian, Hamadan means the meeting place. Because Hamadan is not
only the political center of the Medes Empire, but also the center of vital
communication line of ancient Iran, maintaining the prosperity of international
trade between east and west.
14
By Taylor, engraved by Kohl. 1884. Good condition. Hand-coloured. 18,5x13cm. Matted.
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Figure 3.13 16th century map of Hamedan 15
After Empire of the Medes, Hamadan became one of the four biggest
cities of Ancient Persian Empire. During the Parthian Empire, once it was the
capital city and the vital city for the mid Silk Road.
Hamadan has been prosperous for more than two thousand seven
hundred years. Until today, it is the most important Iran city, and the center of
agricultural and animal husbandry production in Iran.
3.6
Constantinople (Istanbul), central city of Turkey
Constantinople was the capital city of the Roman/Byzantine (330–1204
AD and 1261–1453AD), the Latin (1204–1261AD), and the Ottoman (1453–
1924AD) empires. It was reinaugurated in 324AD at ancient Byzantium, as the
new capital of the Roman Empire by Emperor Constantine the Great, after
whom it was named, and dedicated on May 11st, 330.
15
By Iran Matrakçı Nasuh
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Figure 3.14 Ottoman Empire at fall of Constantinople, 1453
Figure 3.15 Map of Constantinople
In the 12th century, the city was the largest and wealthiest European city
and it was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and
Byzantine times.
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Figure 3.16 Constantinople, 1857
The Silk Road, both on the land and on the sea, had brought Byzantine
Empire great fortune. Constantinople was at the crossing of several trade
routes, holding the major crossroad of east-west traffic bridge and south-north
channel. From 5 century till 15 century, it had been the largest commercial and
shipping center. Marx called it a golden bridge between the east and west.
Businessmen treat the city as a transfer station, acting as middlemen in the
west-east trade, to get fat profits.
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CHAPTER 4. HOSI CORRIDOR AND ITS POTENTIALS
CHAPTER 4. Hosi corridor and its potentials
Having a long history and brilliant culture, Hosi corridor is the vital road
towards the west in mainland China. Starting from Lanzhou, going through
Wushao Mountain, it is the moment to set foot on the Hosi corridor.
Since it lies on the west of Yellow River, long and narrow like a corridor in
the “valley” between mountains, it is named Hosi corridor.
Running on the edge of the Qilian Mountains, with the Badain Jaran and
Tengger deserts to the north, the routes cross the Shiyang, Black and Shule
rivers formed by melted snow, until they reach Dunhuang. The Hosi corridor is
the flat land some 900 kilometers in length, and between few kilometers to
several hundred kilometers in width, that caravans had to cross to move from
central China to the Tian-shan Mountains.
Figure 4.1 loation of the Hosi corridor
In 2014, as one of the four Tian-shan corridor, Hosi corridor was added to
the World heritage List. Other 3 sections on the Tian-shan corridor is central
China, North and South of Tian-shan Mountains, and the Zhetysu Region.
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Figure 4.2 Four sections of Tian-shan corridor 16
The Tian-shan corridor is one section or corridor of this extensive overall
Silk roads network. Extending across a distance of around 5,000km, it
encompasses a complex of trade routes that developed to link Chang’an in
central China with the heartland of Central Asia from the 2nd century BC when
long-distance trade in high value goods, particularly silk, started to flourish
between the Chinese and Roman Empires.
4.1
Analysis on Geography of Hosi Corridor
4.1.1 Physiographic feature
From Wushao Mountain to the Jade Gate Pass (border between Gansu
and Xinjiang), Hosi corridor is a long and narrow place in between two
mountain ranges, north of which is Monts Qilian and Altun Mountains, while
16
From the UNESCO, Silk Roads _the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor_maps of
inscribed property,2014
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CHAPTER 4. HOSI CORRIDOR AND ITS POTENTIALS
south mountains are Mazong Mountain, Heli shan, and Longshou Mountains.
Its altitude is around 1000-1500 meters. With smooth flat landscape, sufficient
light and water, Hosi corridor is an oasis famous for its good condition of
agricultural Tractor-ploughing in the Gobi dessert. Known as “granary for the
Northwest”, Hosi corridor is the main commodity grain base for the province
and has a brilliant prospect for agriculture in the future.
Figure 4.3 Relics of Jade Gate Pass
Around the corridor, geographic types are various and complicated, the
mountain land, plateau, plain, river valley, desert and gobi staggered distribute.
The terrain is long and narrow, with tilt from southwest to northeast.
The extremes of geography along the routes graphically illustrate the
challenges of this long distance trade. The routes touch great rivers, alpine
lakes, crusty salt flats, vast deserts, snow-capped mountains and ‘fecund’
prairies. The climate varies from extreme drought to semi-humid; while
vegetation covers temperate forests, temperate deserts, temperate steppes,
alpine steppes and oases.
This
spectacular
landscape,
with
landform
shaped
by‘divine
craftsmanship’ and documented over more than a thousand years, is the
backdrop to the nominated sites. Given its scale, it is the wider setting in the
widest sense of the word.
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Figure 4.4 Mountain chain, Oasis and desert along the Hosi corridor
On the north, it is called “Beishan mountains”, with the attitude between
1000 meters and 3600 meters. Since close to the Tengger desert and the
Badain Jaran Desert, it is the typical scenic beyond the frontier, where the
winds are blowing and sands are gusting.
Figure 4.5 dessert and Gobi along the Hosi corridor
The other side of the corridor is region of Qilian Mountains for more than
1000 kilometers long. Most of the region has a high attitude above 3500
meters. The mountains are covered with snow all the year round, and its
glacier winding its way through the mountains. It is a natural reservoir which is
solid for Hosi corridor. The vertical distribution of dessert, meadow, forest and
ice is clear on the mountain.
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Figure 4.6 Karst landform in Zhangye, and Qilian Mountains
Oasis always appears at the places where water is ample. The Hosi
Corridor oasis is also formed by the slush from Chilian Mountain, and has
become the largest agricultural irrigation district.
Figure 4.7 Oasis
For example, Ejin Banner, a typical natural oasis in the desert area,
provides a natural green defense for Hosi Corridor.
4.1.2 Administrative division
When it comes to administrative division, Hosi corridor belongs to Gansu
province, which located in the northwest of the country.
Gansu lies between the Tibetan and Loess plateaus (Huangtu plateaus),
and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and
Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east. The Yellow
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River passes through the southern part of the province.
Figure 4.8 Gansu Province
Gansu has a population of 26 million (2014) and covers an area of
425,800 km²s. The capital city of Gansu is Lanzhou, located in the southeast
part of the province. Besides, Lanzhou is the geometrical center of China.
From southeast to northwest, Hosi corridor goes through five cities:
Weiwu (Liangzhou), Zhagye (Ganzhou), Jinchang, Jiuquan (Suzhou), and
ends near the Jade Gate Pass (Yumen Pass).
Wuwei called Liangzhou in old times, a famous major crossroad on the
Silk Road, which was one of the four counties in Hosi region. It enjoys a really
great advantage of location.
Jinchang is an industrial city, and a base producing Ni and Co in China.
Zhangye City locates in the Hosi Corridor midsection, is typical arid area,
has obvious view of oasis and desert, and exists of serious water resource
shortage and soil salinization problems.
Jiuquan District has relative favourable industrial foundation and rich
agricultural, tourist and mineral resources.
The city of Jiayuguan enjoys the highest urbanization. Jiayuguan Pass is
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one of gateways for ancient Silk Road. The Great Wall begins in the east from
the Shanghaiguan Pass and ends at the Jiayuguan Pass in the west.
Figure 4.9 5 cities on Hosi corridor
4.1.3 Analysis of Significance and uniqueness of the geographical
location
From Chang’an (Xi’an) westwards along the Silk Road, after passing
though Hosi Corridor to Dunhuang, the Silk Road only just starts to divide into
north and south routes to avoid the Tibetan Plateau. Afterwards, it goes to
central Asia, finally arriving in the west word. Hence, Hosi corridor becomes
the key position on the ancient Silk Road, connecting material trade and
culture exchange among Europe, Asia and Africa.
Since ancient time, Hosi corridor has been a fertile land both for
agriculture and animal husbandry. As a result, it was called “granary for
northwest”. Due to its advantageous geographic location, it had always been a
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battleground place of great military importance. Running along the "neck" of
the Gansu province, Hosi corridor was an important strategic outpost and
communications link.
The corridor was also the important link and historical witness for both of
the people. Hosi corridor is the important door for Qin, Han Dynasty and the
other peoples, which bore the main task of both economic and cultural
exchanges.
Hosi Corridor is the main bridge to the west when China was prosperous.
During Han, Wei, Sui, Tang, yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Hosi Corridor had
been the strategic sustentation of the whole northwest region. The link of
nomads from north and south of the corridor could be cut off by occupying the
Hosi Corridor, and then the vast area of northern and southern Mount
Tianshan could be controlled.
The relics of ancient castles located along the Hosi Corridor are the most
powerful evidences or the development and operation of the Dynasties in the
Central Plains.
4.2
History
Hosi corridor encompassed numerous different nationalities within the
Han, Xianbei and Mongolian empires and nation states, including Han, Cao
Wei, Western Jin, Western Qin, Northern Wei, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Xianbei
and Mongolian peoples.
In
ancient
times,
it
was
an
important
strategic
outpost
and
communications link, as the Hosi corridor runs along the "neck" of the Gansu
province. During the countries of East Zhou (the Spring and Autumn
770-256BC), it was occupied by Xirong Nationalit, and during the period of the
former Qin Dynasty (the Warring States), it was invaded by Rouzhi. After that,
Xiongnu conquered it and built their city.
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The economic and religious exchange road appeared in 1 BC, the road
was blocked by Hun later. Emperor Wu of Han sent General Li Guang, Wei
Qing, Huo Qubing to open up the road which later called the Silk Road. Then
the Emperor set up four counties- Wuwei County, Zhangye County, Jiuquan
County and Dunhuang County.
Hosi Corridor was quite famous in Chinese history. This area was key
routes of the Chinese Buddhism, the key of Silk Road. Four counties set here
for station troops and wasteland reclamation. During the Han Dynasty, it was
the northwest military center. Because of the mountain barrier, many famous
litterateurs lived here to escape from the northern war. This area has a long
culture and history, hundreds of places of historic interest and scenic beauty
illuminating as heavenly Galaxy.
4.3
Once-proud Economy
The economic prosperity of Hosi Corridor in old days was only after
Changan and Jervois (Suzhou and Hangzhou). The ancient merchants
backwards and forwards on the Corridor were mainly from Huizhou, Shanxi,
Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Persia.
The road of tea started from Mount Wuyi and Mount Huang, via Chang’an
and Lanzhou into Hosi Corridor, then passed through Xinjiang and Middle East
arriving in the Mediterranean. While the Silk Road started from Jervois, via
Tianshui and Lanzhou into Hosi Corridor as well, and then passed through
Xinjiang and the Middle East reaching the Mediterranean. Besides, medicinal
materials, leather, spice, jewelry and gem were all resold and exchanged on
the Hosi corridor. Only after that, could the goods get to Chang’an.
At that time, with busy and various business all over the world, the
economy of Hosi corridor developed, prospered, and in its full flourish. Once,
Hosi corridor has been the subsidiary financial center, as well as the biggest
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foreign trade center, which was closest to Chang’an.
4.4
Culture and religion diversity analysis
Ancient Silk Road originated from Xi’an, passing through Hosi corridor,
into Xinjiang by Yang guan and Yumen guan (Jade gate Pass) separately.
Hence, Hosi corridor became the key part for ancient Silk Road, connecting
trade and cultural exchange among Europe, Asia and Africa. The collisions
between western and eastern cultures stimulated sparkles, settling down
magnificent history and culture. Hosi Corridor is the famous hub of
communications in history, and the center of various nationalities, and is
characterized by cultural border.
“As we know, there are only four historical, self-contained and far-reaching
culture systems, which are China, India, Greek, and Islam. And they have only
one mixing spot: Hosi corridor and Xingjiang region.” 17
As a consequence, the Hosi Corridor is the important region in which the
multi-nationality and the multi-culture are spread in our country in the ancient
time.
4.4.1 Multi-ethnic coexistence and inhabitant polytropism
The Sui and Tang Dynasties is the second peak period of China's feudal
society. Especially in the early stage of Tang Dynasty, the Han Chinese culture
of the Central Plains once again occupied the mainstream culture of Hosi
Corridor. Because of the cultural policy of the Tang Dynasty, the Chinese
culture, as mainstream, has formed a pattern of the common development with
multi-national cultures. After the An Lushan Rebellion, Tibetan occupied area
of Hosi Corridor and implemented the policy of national assimilation in Tibetan
17
Quote from Ji Xianlin
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culture. Various nationalities have experienced the process of Tibetan culture
including the Han nationality. Thus, the Tibet culture and Tibetan Buddhism
took root in Hosi region.
During the Song Dynasty, Dangxiang people deceloped in the northwest
region and established the Western Xia Dynasty controlling the whole Hosi
Corridor, and left a lot of relics of that period.
Nowadays, Gansu has been a multi-ethnic province since ancient times,
and all of the 56 ethnic groups of China can be found here. The total
population of minorities is 2.199 million, accounting for 8.7% of the total
population of the province. There are 16 ethnic minorities having a population
of more than 1,000 people, including Han, Tibetan, Hui, Yugur, Tu and
Mongolian, etc. Three unique ethnic minorities, Dongxiang, Yugur and Bao’an,
only live in Gansu, enjoying their rich and special folk customs.
4.4.2 Multi-culture and cultural tolerance
The glory of Hosi corridor started from former Han, lasting until the
Republic of China. Pre-Qin period prevailed Majiayao culture, Qijia culture,
then it turned to religious and national harmonization. What’s more, the
corridor is the homeland for many emperors and senior generals, for instance,
famous General Ma Chao from Western Liang, the royal Duans family of the
Dali Kingdom, and Script-sage Zhangzhi.
Hosi corridor is the exchange channel between ancient Chinese and
Western culture, the key of the Silk Road connecting east and west civilization.
The magnificent culture was formed in this area where four ancient civilizations
intertwined. It includes the religious essence of ancient Confucianism,
Buddhism and Taoism, Manicheism, Nestorianism, Zoroastrianism, preserved
the languages and characters of ancient Han, Tibetan, Sanskrit, Uighur,
Khotan, Sogdian, Western Xia and Tukhara. This corridor is the real world
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cultural heritage.
Figure 4.10 Part of the Dunhuang star chart with three sections of the sky along the
equator ending with the circumpolar region (left). 18
Belonging to the Chinese cultural system in the ancient world, Hosi culture
has cultural commonality with other region cultures such as Chu culture,
Ba-Shu culture and Qi-Lu culture. On the one hand, Hosi culture has the same
origin with others, that is continuous Chinese civilization that never had a
break for thousands years. On the other hand, they have the containment to
absorb other cultures as well as various tributaries.
4.4.3 Multi-religion and religious integration
During the Western and Eastern Han, Buddhism, Taoism has appeared
on the Hosi corridor.
Hosi corridor once has been the center of Buddhism in northern part of
China, where eminent monks and masters converged. Mahayana and
Hinayana went through Hosi corridor, finally arrived in Chang’an. Four great
translators of Sanskrit-transcription, Kumarajiva, Xuanzang, and Amoghavajra,
had really deep and closed links with Hosi corridor.
Besides Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism and Nestorianism
18
Credits British Library
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arrived in China with the Silk Road as well, that many people had faith in.
Moreover, along the branches of Silk Road, they spread to Japan, korea and
other Asian countries.
0.10%
3.40%
0.40%
8.20%
Non religious faiths 87.9%
Buddhism 8.2%
Islam 3.4%
87.90%
Protestantism 0.4%
Catholicim 0.1%
Figure 4.11 Diagram of religion
Nowadays, there are five kinds of religions in Gansu province, which are
Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism, Christianity and Taoism. The population of
Islam and Tibetan Buddhist are relatively larger than the other. The Islamic
nation is mainly distributed in Dongxiang, Hui, Sala Baoan, and Kazak. While
the Tibetan Buddhism nation is mainly Tibetan, Mongolia, Tu and Yugur.
Catholic, Christian and Taoism believers are distributed in all ethnics, but in
small number.
4.5
Analysis on the spread of Buddhism along Hosi corridor
4.5.1
Communication of Buddhism in the world
Besides silk, paper and other goods, the Silk Road carried another
commodity which was equally significant in world history. Along with trade and
migration, the world's oldest international highway was the vehicle which
spread Buddhism through Central Asia.
Buddhists follow three main traditions; the Theravada or Southern
tradition; the Mahayana or Northern tradition; and the Vajrayana Tibetan
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tradition.
Long ago, Buddhism began to spread southwards from its place of origin
in Northern India to Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Indo-China and
other South East Asian countries. It also moved Northwards through Kashmir
Afghanistan along the ‘Silk road’ into the Himalayan kingdoms (Sikkim, Bhutan,
and Nepal), Tibet, Mongolia and other parts of Central Asia, and also into
China, and later Korea and Japan. Buddhism not only affected the lives and
cultures on those regions but also left us with a world of wonders in arts and
literature.
This was a fortunate development because Buddhism had all but died out
in India after the Muslim incursions of the eleventh Century CE. In more
modern times, the spread of Communism has also virtually obliterated
Buddhism from various other countries where it was once strongly established
(e.g. China, Vietnam, Tibet, Mongolia etc.).
Nowadays, there is a resurgence of Buddhism in these countries.
Nowadays, however, Buddhism is attracting an increasing following in Europe
and the Americas. In Asia, it is thriving in countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar,
Thailand, Korea and Japan.
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Figure 4.12 Buddhism Spread routes
With the Silk Road opened in the 200 BC, missionaries and pilgrims
began to travel between China, Central Asia and India. This is probably the
first time a Chinese heard about Buddhism. After a Buddhist community was
established in Loyang, which is the capital, the Buddhist community grew
continuously. They introduced the sacred books, texts and most importantly
the examples of Buddhist art, never before seen in China.
After Buddhism spread to China, it went through more than half a century
development and become prosperous and spectacular until the Sui and Tang
Dynasties period when it culminated.
4.5.2 Important role that Hosi corridor played for the communication of
Buddhism
At the beginning of the Later Han Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced into
the Western Regions along the Silk Road, and spread to different west nations.
There are still a lot of arguments about the time when Buddhism was
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introduced into the Western Regions. However, the basic statement of
domestic and international academia is that Buddhism was propagated into
the Western Regions during 200-100BCE.
Buddhism was introduced in western Khotan in 87BCE. After that, during
60-10BCE, it spread toward west and east, to cities on both north and south
routes of the Silk Road, for instance, Karghalik, Kashgar, Aksu, Kuqa, and
Loulan.
The conversion to Buddhism had taken place among the Xiongnu at an
early stage of Buddhism. Buddhism penetrated Hun, or Xiongnu (Early Hun),
as early as the 200 BCE around Hosi corridor region. The Buddhism got
spread by dictation, but the Chinese Buddhist Scripture didn't appear until the
Eastern-Han Dynasty, when Xiongnu chief offered General Ho (Han) a golden
statue called "Great Divinity".
Figure 4.13 Silk Road spread through Hosi corridor
4.5.3 The pilgrimages of Xuanzang through Hosi corridor
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While numerous pilgrims arrived China from the West, Chinese Buddhist
pilgrims were sent to India during different times and the accounts which some
of them have left of their travels in the Silk Road provide valuable evidence of
the state of Buddhism in Central Asia and India from the 4th to the 7th
centuries. Some of the more famous Chinese pilgrims were Fahsien (399 to
414), Xuanzang (629-645), and I-tsing (671-695).
Xuanzang is famous for his seventeen-year overland journey to India.
Concerned about the incomplete and misinterpreted nature of the Buddhist
texts that had reached China, he followed the Silk Road in the 6th century
(early Tang dynasty) to describe the interaction between China and India, and
collect Buddhist scriptures from India.
Figure 4.14 figure of Xuanzang19
Xuanzang set off in 627, travelled 25000 kilometers to explore Buddhist
factions’ theories. He continued heading west though Hosi corridor, across
Yumen Pass, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and finally ended in India,
which is the center of Buddhism. After spending 17 years to learn all kinds of
19
Song Dynasty, collected in the National Museum in Tokyo, Japan
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doctrines about Mahayana and Hinayana, he brought back 150 Buddha's
relics, 7 Buddhist statues, and 657 theory scriptures.
Figure 4.15 the travel of Xuanzang 20
After that, Xuanzang then took charge of the Ci'en Temple and did the
translation of the scriptures there. Xuanzang built the pagoda in order to have
a place for his Buddhist books.
20
The Silk Road in World History, Xinru Liu, 2010, Oxford University Press, USA
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Figure 4.16 Region of Buddhist Monasteries at the time of Xuanzang 21
4.6
Analysis of Heritage sites along the Hosi corridor
There are a great many historical sites mainly in the Gobi Desert and in
oases north of the Qilian Mountains where the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century
BC begun to establish military agricultural colonies to support trade within the
territory of nomadic groups of people such as Xiongnu, Tibetan and Uighur.
Gradually many of these people became settled.
The sites consists of extensive richly decorated cave temples that reflect
the wealth created by the trade in these remote areas (the most elaborate
along the whole of the Silk roads), the essential infrastructure (forts and
beacons) to support travellers crossing these thinly populated areas,
settlements that developed purely to cater for the caravans, and the complex
irrigation-based agricultural systems that were needed in desert areas to feed
21
The Silk Road in World History, Xinru Liu, 2010, Oxford University Press, USA
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travellers and communities.
Among them, five sites along Hosi corridor are in the World Heritage List,
which are Yumen Pass, Mogao Grottos, Xuanquan Posthouse, Suoyang City,
and Jiayu Pass. Besides, two sites, Bingling Cave and Maijishan Grottos,
which are located along the Silk Road in Gansu province, are incorporated into
the World Heritage list
Figure 4.17 World heritage on the UNESCO list
Figure 4.18 Bingling cave temple complex, Maijishan Grotto, Mogao caves
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Figure 4.19 Suoyang city, Xuanquan posthouse
Figure 4.20 Jiayuguan Pass, Yumen Pass(Jadegate Pass)
4.6.1 Relics of ancient cities and castles
Hosi Corridor is an important region that has preserved the largest
number of ancient castle relics with the most complete types and time
sequence.
More than two hundred sites of ancient cities remain, along the Hosi
corridor, which really unique in other part of China, among which, Suoyang city,
Jiayuguan castles, Xuanquan Posthouse, Gaogu city, camel city, and
Jade-gate Pass city are the most famous sites. According to archaeological
Studies, it is Xiongnu that first started to build truly cities along the Hosi
corridor. Many of the existing ones were built during the Period of Wei, Jin and
Southern and Northern Dynasties.
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Figure 4.21 Map of ancite cities or castles
Most of the ancient cities are built, grouped by oasis along the corridor.
Usually, these areas enjoy adequate facilities like transportation and water
source, which are ideal places for agriculture and husbandry. It is these cities
along the Silk Road that are the main route of Silk Road, also transfer station
and supply depot for east-west traffic arteries as well.
The counties distributed along main stream region of Heihe River are the
natural barrier for Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolian Plateau and Hosi Corridor.
There are satellites of castle guard around the counties, usually 3 to 10 in
number. The large castle has an area of thousand square meters, the small
ones can also reach an area of hundreds of square meters. The castles in Hosi
Corridor are usually foursquare or rectangle, the layout in the castle is usually
regular. Castles are constructed by board building of rammed soil, tall and
thick. Some of the important castles also use brick built package later. Most of
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castles set gate in two or three walls, some only have one gate. In the later
period, the gates were usually set in four walls, and there were Barbicans at
the gate.
4.6.2 Remains of the Great Wall along the corridor
The Great Wall is an ancient Chinese fortification, almost 4,000 miles long,
originally designed to protect China from the Mongols. Since the beginning of
the 7 or 8 century BC, the construction continued for more than 2000 years,
distributed widely in northern and central China.
The Great Wall snakes about 6,700 kilometers westward from
Shanhaiguan Passon (the Bohai Bay) to Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu.
Figure 4.22 Jianyuguan Pass
The history of construction of the Great Wall can be traced back to the
western Zhou Dynasty. After that, there have been three peaks of the Great
Wall built, namely, the Qin Great Wall, Han Great Wall, and Ming Great Wall.
During the Warring States period, because of the strong vigilance among
different nations, the Great Wall construction came into the first climax. But the
length of the wall is relatively short in this period.
After Qin conquered six nations, First Emperor of Qin made the order to
connect and renovate the defending walls left before. It is the first time that the
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walls were called the Great Wall.
During Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu had several big west expeditions. After
conquered the Huns, he started to build the Great Wall to prevent the Huns
invading again. The Great Wall of Han is the witness of the first west
development in history.
The Great Wall of Ming Dynasty is another great defense project in
Chinese history. The Ming Empire almost had not stopped the construction of
the Great Wall in its 200 years of existence. Large numbers of military
fortresses were built while constructing the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty, which
guarded the border land along the Great Wail according to the military level.
Majority of the Great Wall that people see today was built during this period.
Figure 4.23 Master plan of Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty 22 (with highlight)
The Great Wall is not only a famous military defense in the ancient China,
but also a cultural boundary line, which distinguishes the agriculture civilization
from the nomadic civilization. From another aspect, it guaranteed the safety of
central China, kept trade along the Silk Road flowing, and promoted the
communication between nations around the borders.
With the discovery and control of the west region, step by step, the Great
22
“Study of Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty” by Hua Xiazi
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Wall on the Hosi Corridor was constructed by Former Han government. At first,
on the east, the Great Wall joined hand with Qin Great Wall, while the west part
was built to Jiuquan, which was the first prefecture in the west. Later on, when
the corridor went to Dunhuang, the Great Wall followed there.
Figure 4.24 Remains of the Great Wall along the Hosi corridor in Gansu province
From Lanzhou, heading west towards Wushao Mountain, we could see
the Han Great Wall and the Han frontier. Dilapidated Great Wall, off and on,
stretching from the bottom to the hillside, is singing a long elegy of history. Also,
some Han Great Wall and ruins of beacon tower still stand around Jade Gate
Pass.
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Figure 4.25 Beacon Tower and remain of Great wall
Figure 4.26 The Great Wall post station
Fortunately, some remnant parts of the Han Great Wall on the Hosi
Corridor are high enough that its constructional layers are visible. It was
Interlace-constructed with one layer of sandy soil and another layer of bulrush
or rose-willow, each of them 12-15 centimeters.
Although the Great Wall now ends at JiaYuGuan Pass, there are still many
watchtowers extending beyond there along the Silk Road. As far as getting into
Xinjiang (Sinkiang) province, The Great Wall no longer has continuous wall,
but only beacon towers one by one.
4.6.2.1 Jiayuguan Pass
The Great Wall defensive system was improved in Ming Dynasty, dividing
the whole line into 9 parts and 11 towns. Accordingly, each town was divided
into roads and passes. Every beacon tower was linked, corresponding to each
enemy tower. Towns and Passes had its castles, located along the vital
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transportation line.
There stand 14 major passes (Guan, in Chinese) at places of strategic
importance along the Great Wall, the most important being Shanghaiguan and
Jiayuguan.
Jiayuguan, the starting point at the western end of the Ming Dynasty Great
Wall, is the transport hub of ancient Silk Road. Jiayuguan Fortress was
considered to be the last outpost of Chinese civilization.
Figure 4.27 photo of Jianyuguan
Figure 4.28 Bird's eye view of Jiayuguan model
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Jiayuguan castle, built on the west of Jiayuguan in 1372, was the most
magnificent pass, which was also the most complete and best preserved.
Composed of inner city, the barbican and outer city, its masterplan appeared
as trapezoid.
4.6.3
Hosi Grottos
Grotto is a kind of Buddhist architecture form originated from India.
Buddhism advocates reclusive hermit, therefore, monks choose remote places
such as the high mountains and lofty hills to dig caves for accommodation
while practicing. Indian grotto pattern probably has a square hall as the core,
surrounded by a ring of columns, square practice rooms are chiseled around
the core, and usually there are colonnades outside the cave.
Chinese grottoes were originally in imitation of India, mostly located in the
Yellow River valley in northern China.
Hosi Corridor is traffic artery between China and the West since ancient
times. After Han defeated the Huns, Buddhism spread to China, and had an
unprecedented development in Hosi area during Wei, Jin, Northern and
Southern Dynasties. There were many eminent monks at that time. Buddhist
temples and grottoes were built gradually,
Hosi Grottos are the grottos along the Hosi corridors, including Mogao
caves, Yulin Caves (Grottes de Yulin), Matisi Grottos, Western Thousand
Buddha Caves, Wenshu mountain grottos, Changma grottos, Tiantishan
Grottos, and so on. Most of them were dig within Qilian Mountain, and set up
during Wuliang period (300-400AD).
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Figure 4.29 Hosi Grottos
The form of the Hosi Grottos were influenced by both India Chaitya
grottoes and Chinese traditional architectural from. And the content of statues
and murals in these grottos were simple but natural and lifelike, mixed together
with the carving and painting techniques of India and the western regions.
4.6.3.1 Mogao Grotto
Dunhuang city was established as a frontier garrison outpost by the Han
Dynasty to protect against the Xiongnu in 111 BCE. It also became an
important gateway to the West, a center of commerce along the Silk Road, as
well as a meeting place of various people and religions such as Buddhism.
Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes (Thousand-Buddha Cave), so far, 1600 years
of history, is the world-famous treasure houses of art. Lying in the steep cliffs of
Mingsha Mountain of Dunhuang City, it is telling the story of the great flowering
of Buddhist art in China.
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Figure 4.30 Photo of Mogao grotto
The construction of the Mogao Caves near Dunhuang is generally taken
to have begun sometime in the fourth century CE. It flourished in the
short-lived Sui Dynasty. By the Tang Dynasty, the number of caves had
reached over a thousand.
Figure 4.31 Flying Apsaras from cave 321 and 390 23
It records the belief, pattern and text of ancient people in different
dynasties. The painted murals in the Dunhuang Grottoes along the ancient Silk
23
Duan Wenjie’s copy and Wang Fenglin’s copy in the flourishing Tang Dynasty
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Road in China form the world's longest painted corridor, with a total of 45,000
square meters of painted murals.
Figure 4.32 the plan and section of No.285 cave 24
The remarkable culture and art treasure of Dunhuang Grottos consists of
gorgeous murals, painted sculpture and coverall the Mogao Grottoes
anniversary of literature.
24
From “the Mogao Grottoes: grottoes structure and its statue”, by Yan Wenru, Xia Nai mapping and
drawing.
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4.7
Current Economy
4.7.1 Infrastructure (mainly transportation)
4.7.1.1 Highway
By the end of 2014, the total length of highway in Gansu Province is
138000 km, including 3300 km of expressway, 7491 km second-class roads,
120700 km of rural highways. The road density reaches 32.43 km/100km². All
cities and 48 counties are connected by expressway. All the townships and 70%
villages are connected by asphalt (concrete) roads.
Figure 4.33 The Highway system
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Figure 4.34 Highway milleage and its Passenger carrying capacity in 2014 25
4.7.1.2 Railway
The total length of railway in Gansu Province is 3811 km, including 798 km
of high speed railway. The railway network has covered 12 cities. Lanxin high
speed railway is electrified double-track railway from Lanzhou to Urumqi via
Xining, the important part of the Gansu, Qinghan and Xinjiang railway
networks. It is the transportation artery between Xinjiang and inland, and
greatly shortens the driving time. And it is also the first high speed railway in
high altitude cold and sandstorm area in the northwest of China. This railway
has accumulated valuable experience for the development of this kind of area.
25
From National Bureau of statistics of China
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Figure 4.35 the railway system
Figure 4.36 Railway milleage and its Passenger carrying capacity in 2014 26
26
From National Bureau of statistics of China
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4.7.1.3 Airport
After Jinchang, Zhangye, Xiahe these 3 airports completed by civil
aviation, the total number of airports in service is 9. Lanzhou Zhongchuan
Airport and Dunhuang Airport officially become international airport. There are
nearly 100 International and domestic flight routes in total.
Figure 4.37 Map of airport in Gansu
4.7.2
Resources distribution and new energy in Gansu
Longnan, the southern Gansu mountainous region includes south of
Weihe River, Lintan, Diebu county and the mountainous region to the east. It is
the west extent part of Qinling Mountains. In the overlapping and magnificent
mountain range contains clear and fresh water, where grow the rich plants and
vegetation.
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Loess plateau locates in the center and east of Gansu. After millions of
years of earth crustal movement, wars in various dynasties, erosion of disaster,
loess plateau has torn to pieces and become one of the poorest parts in China
although it contains endless treasures-rich in oil and coal resources.
Gannan plateau is a part of the roof of the world-Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
The average altitude of Gannan plateau is more than 3000 meters, is a typical
plateau region with broad marsh, fat cattle and horses, is one of the main
bases of animal husbandry in Gansu Province.
Figure 4.38 Map of industrial (primary and secondary industries)distribution in Gansu
The total area of Gansu Province is about 454400 km², most of the area is
mountains. The area of mountains and hills in the province accounts for 78.2%
of total area. The land utilization ratio is 56.93%. In addition to the deserts,
Gobi, swamps, rocky-mountains, bare rocks, permanent snow and glaciers,
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273141 km² land still can be used for production and construction, accounted
for 60.11% of the total land area.
The area of forest resource is 39665 km², including the old-growth forest
in Bailong River, the Taohe River, Chi-lien Mountains, and the Daxia River
areas, with more than 4000 species of wild plants in the forest. The area of the
whole grassland resources is 157529 km², accounted for 34.67% of total land
resource area, including 156483 km² of natural grassland, which accounts for
99.34%. This area is one of the main bases for animal husbandry and
grassland farming in China.
The water resource belongs to three river basins, the Yellow River,
Yangtze River and inland-river.
Figure 4.39 Hydrology around Hosi corridor
In the Yellow River basin, the mainstream of Yellow River passes
throughout central, which has 36 branches. In spite of its good water condition
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and large area, majority of the basin is covered by loess. Therefore, vegetation
here is sparse, water and soil loss is severe. While Changjiang River system in
Gansu includes Jialing River, and its water resource is abundant. The water
alternation of four seasons is stable and won’t get frozen during the winter.
Because of its steep slope and numerous canyons, the abundant water system
can be used in the future development.
Relying on the melting water from snow and ice on Qilian Mountains, the
Hosi corridor is relatively rich in natural resources compared with the dessert
and Gobi around.
Besides, Gansu Province's wind power resources are mainly distributed
along the Hosi Corridor.
Figure 4.40 Wind Power
When it comes to tourism resource, Gansu province is famous for its rich
and varied resources for tourism development-with all kinds of topography
resources except oceans and reefs.
Beautiful scenery can be found in Gansu, especially along Hosi corridor,
including gobi desert, glaciers, snow mountains, Danxia landform, canyons
and Karst caves. In Gansu, there are 1 World Biosphere Reserve, 3 National
5As Tourist Attractions, 3 National Parks, 23 National Forest Parks, 4 National
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Geological Parks, 9 National Water Parks and 16 National Nature Reserves.
Figure 4.41 Map of National forest parks and Natural reserve areas
Gansu enjoys rich culture heritage. Diverse cultures add radiance and
beauty to each other here—Silk Road Culture, Yellow River Culture, the Great
Wall Culture, and Ancestral Culture. Both the symbol of China Tourism—the
Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow, and the symbol of the
earliest postal service of China—the Painting of Postal Messenger were
unearthed in Gansu. Now, there are 8 World Cultural Heritages, 8 Excellent
Tourism Cities, 18 National Intangible Cultural Heritages, 8 National Historical
and Cultural Cities and Towns，as well as 72 Major Historical and Cultural Sites
Protected at the National Level in Gansu.
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Figure 4.42 Map of Historic and Cultural Heritage Sites
4.7.3 Current economic index and industrial
In recent years, through seizing the historical opportunity of the
large-scale development of the western China and implementing the strategy
of invigorating Gansu through industry and the strategy of opening up wider to
the outside world, Gansu has promoted the development of agriculture and the
rural economy, facilitated infrastructure development, and given high priority to
the development of social programs. The economy has maintained good
development momentum. The general strength is boosted up effective and the
industrial structure became reasonable, at the same time, people's living
conditions have bettered a great deal.
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Figure 4.43 Histogram of the change of Gansu GDP from 2010 to 2014 27
Gansu Province achieved a gross regional domestic product of 683.53
billion RMB, increased 7.97% over the previous year. The added value
generated by the primary industry achieved 90.08 billion RMB increased by
6.64%; that of the secondary industry achieved 292.486 billion RMB,
increased by 6.54%; and that of the tertiary industry reached 300.961 billion
RMB, an increase of 9.81%. The structure ratio of the primary, secondary and
tertiary industries is 13.18:42.79:44.03. Compared with the previous year, the
proportion of primary and secondary industry dropped by 0.16% and 0.58%,
tertiary industry rose by 0.74% respectively.
27
From National Bureau of statistics of China
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Figure 4.44 Industry proportion in Gansu
Figure 4.45 Histogram of the change of Gansu’s total volume of imports and exports
from 2010 to 2014 28
28
From National Bureau of statistics of China
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Figure 4.46 Tourist Receptin in each city (2013)
Figure 4.47 Tourist from overseas (2013)
Figure 4.48 International tourism in 2013 29
29
From National Bureau of statistics of China
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4.8
Problems
4.8.1 Ecological crisis
Once-prosperous Hosi corridor, the golden section of the Silk Road, is
suffering from serious ecological problems.
Along the Hosi corridor, gobi or desert extend to everywhere. Water
resources scarcity, lower water use efficiency (WUE) and soil desertification
are the main factors restricting the sustainable development of agriculture in
irrigated oasis of Hosi corridor.
Desertification caused by droughts or unsustainable land management
practices such as deforestation, overgrazing, and poorly managed irrigation, is
the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub humid areas (known as
drylands). The end result of desertification is barren and unproductive land that
cannot be used for crop and food production or other agricultural purposes,
and has little biodiversity value.
Figure 4.49 Desertification
The combination of high variability in ecosystem conditions in drylands
and high levels of poverty leads to a situation where societies are vulnerable to
a further decline in human well-being.
Because of the influence of sandstorm, the overall level of air
environmental background value of dust-fall is increasing in Gansu province in
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the last 15 years.
Figure 4.50 Sandstorm
Pollution by heavy metals, such as cadmium in irrigation water, has
resulted in poisoning of many acres of agricultural land.
4.8.2 Less-developed economy and Poverty
According the diagram below, it demonstrates that urban population in
Gansu is relatively small in China, which means its urbanization level is not
high.
Figure 4.51 Urban population in each province in 2014 30
30
From National Bureau of statistics of China
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Gansu is one of China's poorest province and the poorest regions of
China.
Figure 4.52 Reginal GDP and PGDP in 2014 31
4.8.3 Destructions of heritage
First of all, Hosi Corridor is in the northwest inland, with less rain, wind and
large temperature difference between day and night. Due to the factors of
natural weathering and disasters, the heritages such as ancient castles and
sculptures that were made by sediment and the clod were damaged severely
by the erosion of wind and desert animal activity.
Besides, in the Qilian Mountains seismic belt where Hosi corridor locates,
earthquakes often happened. These ancient cities would not survive. The
Tengger Desert and Badain Jaran Desert are on the north of the corridor. With
the further deepening of desertification, many ancient cities were engulfed in
the sand.
31
From National Bureau of statistics of China
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Thirdly, because Hosi Corridor had vast natural pasture for grazing, many
nomads lived here. However, due to the rising temperature, large amount of
grassland degraded. The over exploitation of the region severely damaged the
ecological environment. Large numbers of garrison and reclamation resulted in
substantial reduction in vegetation area, ecological unbalance, population
migration, abandonment of ancient towns.
Hosi Corridor was famous as the key of traffic in History. However, with
the opening of the marine Silk Road and the further increase of exchange, the
land Silk Road was no longer the only lifeline from the west to China. The
corridor, lack of business dealings, withered and shrank gradually.
For instance, most of ancient castles along the Hosi Corridor were set up
according to political, military and economic needs during different historical
periods. With the integration of the nations and the barrier of the war, castles
lost their importance. The fragile ancient cities depressed gradually under the
continuous natural erosion and man-made destruction.
Figure 4.53 Remains of Hecang city
In spite of natural weathering and degrading, the heritage "constructive
destruction" is also alarming. Following the city's construction and
development, the cultural heritage are impacted and destroyed to different
degree, and it is shown as constructive destruction mainly.
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With the prosperity of heritage development and heritage tourism, the
heritage resources are facing an unprecedented threat of over development,
continuous loss and rapid destruction nowadays.
Take Dunhuang Moago Grottos as an example. In 2014, Mogao Grottoes
hosted nearly 800000 tourists. In warm season, the amount of tourists can
reach as high as 7000~8000 in only one day. But according to scientific
calculations, the Mogao Grottoes has an upper limit of capability to
accommodate tourists of 3000 every day. The amount of tourists beyond the
limit may cause damage to the cave murals and sculptures.
Figure 4.54 Repair site in Mogao Grotto 32
Due to the factors of natural weathering and man-made damage, the great
“repositories” of mankind's historical artifacts and achievements are in badly
need of protection and maintenance.
4.9
Potentials under belt and road initiative
4.9.1 High-speed Railway
In the Belt and Road initiative, the New Eurasian Continental Bridge,
which connects the Asia-Pacific region and Eurasian countries, goes through
32
Dunhuang research academy
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the whole province, making Gansu the only province that enjoys such a
desirable position in West China.
Hosi corridor is not only in the center part of Eurasia Land Bridge, but also
the center of Western Longhai-Lanxin Railway economic belt, where the
High-speed railway G30 and G312 pass.
Figure 4.55 China railway system
Lanxin second line (the second Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway) is the second
double-track railway between Lanzhou and Xinjiang. It is a connection
between Lanzhou and Urumqi, playing an important role in the transportation
system of Xinjiang Province and Gansu Province. It started constructing since
November 2009, passing through Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang. After 5-year
construction, the Lanxin second line was opened in December, 2014. It is the
first fast speed railway building in the high altitude area, with a total length of
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1776 kilometers.
The second Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway is approximately parallel with the
ancient Silk Road, whose opening up have brought new opportunity for the
development of cultural industries in the northwest.
China is in negotiations to build a high-speed rail network to India and
Europe with trains that capable of running at over 200mph within the next ten
years. In the future, the Lanxin third line (the third Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway) is
the real high-speed railway, which will become the important part of Eurasia
Land Bridge.
4.9.2 Traditional Industry vison
Gansu has a solid industry foundation and has taken the lead in science
and technology among provinces in West China. It is considered a major
chemical, energy and raw materials base and a core area for industries in
West China, with an industrial structure focusing on petrochemicals,
non-ferrous metallurgy, machinery and electronics, construction materials,
food, medicine, textiles and light industry.
Along with its vast deposits of coal and rare earths Gansu is also home to
China's largest nickel deposits located around Jinchang city. Proven reserves
of Nickel in Jinchang are in the neighborhood of 5.5 million tones which is 90%
of China's nickel reserves and the third largest in the world.
As a result, with the development of the new Eurasian Continental Bridge,
Gansu’s traditional industrial can strive for further improvement, and the
economy will take a turn for the better.
4.9.3 Science and technology
The province has 33 colleges and universities, more than 1,500 research
institutions and a number of national State Key Laboratories. With such strong
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research and development advantages, the province holds a lead in a variety
of fields, including space technology, biological products, electronic
information and desertification control. The province is also a center of China's
nuclear industry.
4.9.4 Free trade areas
Investment and trade cooperation is a major task in building the Belt and
Road. We should strive to improve investment and trade facilitation, and
remove investment and trade barriers for the creation of a sound business
environment within the region and in all related countries. We will discuss with
countries and regions along the Belt and Road on opening free trade areas so
as to unleash the potential for expanded cooperation.
4.9.5 Cultural development and tourism
Tourism has been a bright spot in contributing to Gansu's overall economy.
As mentioned below, Gansu offers a wide variety of choices for national and
international tourists.
Gansu province is famous for its rich and varied resources for tourism
development -- with all kinds of topography resources except oceans and reefs.
Gansu is known as the birthplace of Chinese civilization, the museum of
natural wonders, the garden of folk customs as well as the favorable
destination of leisure tourism.
Hosi corridor is a scenery passage in the Silk Road where you can learn
about the history, taste the culture, travel the mountains and rivers as well as
experience the special folk customs.
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CHAPTER 5. Proposals on the culture and heritage
of Hosi Corridor
The Belt and Road initiatives, has brought opportunities to Hosi corridor,
and will bring more in the future. As economy getting better, with enough finally
support and political support, the precious culture and heritage should be well
preserved. The Silk Road economic belt is the Silk Road culture development
belt as well.
In this chapter, I will have some proposals on the heritage and culture, to
have better preservation and promotion, which in return can help with the
economy to some extent.
My proposals on the culture and heritage consist of 3 parts, including
Cultural corridor, Digital corridor, and Cultural tourism.
5.1
Cultural corridor
Hosi corridor is a scenery passage on the Silk Road, but it is also a culture
corridor with splendid and diverse culture.
5.1.1 Environmental protection
Sandstorm and land desertification probably are the most urgent and
severe environmental problems in the Hosi corridor region. We cannot stop the
sandstorm, but we can prevent desertification, which would reduce sandstorm
in return.
After exploring the ecological transition and climate change in the Hosi
corridor region, we can prevent, stop or reverse desertification. Prevention is a
lot more cost-effective than rehabilitation.
Integrated land and water management are key methods of desertification
prevention. All measures that protect soils from erosion, salinization, and other
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forms of soil degradation effectively prevent desertification. Sustainable land
use can address human activities such as overgrazing, overexploitation of
plants, trampling of soils, and unsustainable irrigation practices that
exacerbate dryland vulnerability. Improved water management practices can
enhance water-related services. These may include use of traditional
water-harvesting techniques, water storage, and water conservation resource
measures.
Protection of vegetative cover can be a major instrument for prevention of
desertification. Maintaining vegetative cover to protect soil from wind and
water erosion is a key preventive measure against desertification. Properly
maintained vegetative cover also prevents loss of ecosystem services during
drought episodes. Reduced rainfall may be induced if vegetation cover is lost
due to over-cultivation, overgrazing, overharvesting of medicinal plants,
woodcutting, or mining activities.
Figure 5.1 Protection Forest 33
In the Hosi Corridor, a strategic 1,600-kilometre chain of oases that
separates the Badain Jaran Desert from the Tengger Desert, sand is claiming
8 to 10 meters of land a year.
33
State Forestry Administration
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Besides the protecting measures above, in order to maintain ecological
balance, environmental protection of Hosi corridor also needs association
cooperation, the public environmental education and training volunteer etc.
5.1.2 Historical and cultural heritage preservation
5.1.2.1 Conservation
Conservation of cultural heritage involves protection and restoration using
"any methods that prove effective in keeping that property in as close to its
original condition as possible for as long as possible." 34 It focuses on
protection and care of tangible cultural heritage.
For some heritage sites that have been extended or rebuilt on the original
foundations with a relatively short history, we should make rational use of them,
and at the same time strengthen the protection of it to avoid man-made
destruction.
Besides, other ancient heritages that have been man-made destroyed,
should be carefully managed to prevent damage and restored in a proper way.
Figure 5.2 Restoration
When restoring cultural heritage, in order to respect the original structures
of the monuments, we should develop the best methods of preservation and
34
Walston, S. "The Preservation and Conservation of Aboriginal and Pacific Cultural Material in
Australian Museums", 1978
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restoration to have minimal intervention, appropriate materials and reversible
methods.
5.1.2.2 Professional study and research
Those culture heritages which have important archaeological value,
should be placed under special protection with regular inspections and repair.
At the same time, more professional studies of the remnants of the relics
should be taken in detail.
Figure 5.3 Research of Mogao Grottos35
For the sake of carrying forward the national culture, we should continue
the professional explorations of the ancient civilization of Hosi corridor,
cooperated with local government and museums.
5.1.2.3 Conservation-oriented development
There are large amounts of heritage sites along Hosi Corridor, which have
still not been fully developed and utilized. In the fact of such favorable
conditions
35
and
opportunities,
these
hidden
resources
should
be
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conservation-oriented explored and developed, under academic research and
professional guide to ensure properly effective protection, rational utilization
and sustainable development.
5.1.3 Modern culture
5.1.3.1 Combination of the historic and the brand-new culture
Culture of Hosi corridor is not dead and buried, but only in deep-sleep. We
need to rouse its culture, and bring the corridor back to life. Hosi corridor
cannot be only the past, cannot indulge in the glory of its past ancient Silk
Road
In spite of its brilliant and splendid culture, the corridor needs to get an
infusion of fresh blood. Ancient culture need to combine with modern art, music,
sculptures, and so on, like collisions generate sparks, to create something
new.
5.1.3.2 Modern art on Gobi dessert
Take art as an example.
Modern art prominently embodies the subject of human life and shows the
reasonable consciousness of it.
On account of the fact that, when moving on Hosi corridor and looking into
the distance, the only thing we could see is vast, endless and boring gobi
dessert. As a consequence, on both side of the Silk Road, on the Gobi or in the
dessert, my proposal is to have some art installations to show the beauty of
nature and harmony.
Here come three cases of modern art installation I choose for Hosi
corridor, as well as another installation designed by myself. All of them use
reflection to show the relationship between mysterious nature and human.
Reflections are the primary physical means through which we perceive
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the world around us. We are able to see only as a result of the diffuse
reflections produced by whatever person, place or object we observe. Light
energy, from any source, is partly absorbed and reflected by whatever it
strikes.
5.1.3.3 A Moment's Reflection 36
“A Moment's Reflection” is an installation by Cody Willam Smith.
It is possible that you catch a glimpse regarding this kind of landscape
photos processed with a mirror effect on a geometric shape. American
photographer Cody William Smith did the job straight-shooting and made 4
very beautiful series called “A Moment of Reflection”.
His intention is to draw new connections between familiar forms by
introducing specular reflections to environments where none would typically
exist. The mirrors serve as a focal point within a given scene and also function
as a window to provide an entirely unique perspective on the same location.
He took pictures of impressive landscapes seen through mirrors: the sea,
a sunset, the desert or mountains. What I have put below is the mirrors in the
dessert
36
by Cody Willam Smith, Lonel Pascu, 2014
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Figure 5.4 “A Moment's Reflection”in the dessert
5.1.3.4 Lucid Stead37
“Lucid Stead” is an installation by American artist Phillip K Smith III.
Mirrored panels alternated with weather-beaten timber siding panels to
create horizontal stripes around the outer walls, allowing narrow sections of
the building to seemingly disappear into the vast desert landscape.
The door and windows of the building are also infilled with mirrors, but
after dark they transform into brightly colored rectangles that subtly change
hue, thanks to a system of LED lighting and an Arduino computer system.
Figure 5.5 Two elavations of the house
37
By American artist Phillip K Smith III, Dezeen, 2013
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Phillip outfitted the shack with mirrors and lights for his piece "Lucid
Stead." During the day, the shack "reflects and refracts the surrounding terrain
as if a mirage or a hallucination"; the desert looks like it's cutting right through
the old building. At night, as the sun goes down, "slowly shifting, geometric
color fields emerge until they hover in the desert darkness." The piece was
available to visitors the past two weekends and probably won't be shown again,
but watch a video of its creation and display down below.
Figure 5.6 during the day
Figure 5.7 at night
5.1.3.5 Winter lotus
“Winter Lotus” is an installation designed by myself.
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When moving forward along on the Hosi corridor with dessert around,
people must be eager for fresh and cool water. In order to bring water and
sense of humid into the dessert, I choose to use double-side stainless steel as
the material for my design. What is more, I want to bring the beauty of lotus
into dessert, making the even bigger contradiction on the corridor.
After making analysis on the different space relationships between the
winter lotus and the surface of lake, I made a summary of four kinds of
relations as below.
Figure 5.8 Space relations analysis
Seven plates consist of five different kinds of mirror Stainless Steel. They
are made by modularization, so they can have different combinations.
According to different design ideas, just like "Seven-piece puzzle”, Winter
Lotus is an application and innovation of modeling thinking ways and is able to
form various images through combination of plates. Each one coming closer is
its designer.
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Figure 5.9 Five kinds of mirror Stainless Steel
Figure 5.10 Placed on the mirror stainless steel
Figure 5.11 Placed in loop, linear and on curved mirror stainless steel
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5.2
Digital corridor
5.2.1 Digitization
Digitization is the process of converting information into a digital format.
5.2.2 Digital research and preservation of cultural heritage
Digitizing information makes it easier to preserve, access, and share. For
example, an original historical document may only be accessible to people
who visit its physical location, but if the document content is digitized, it can be
made available to people worldwide.
There is a growing trend towards digitization of historically and culturally
significant data. And in the future, it may probably become the main method for
preservation of heritage in danger.
Digitization has made important breakthrough for Duhuang Mogao
Grottos.
Dunhuang Academy use digital technology to make the full range of
cultural heritage preservation. Lasting for more than ten years, the murals of
Mogao Grottoes have been precisely photographed and put into the archive.
Those fresco art from the Mogao Grottoes is able to make virtual combination
with mural art and paintings, codex, and early prints which scattered all over
the world. 38
38
Digital Dunhuang, Media Architect Harlan Wallach partners with Dunhuang Academy to create
virtual caves, The friends of Dunhuang, 2008
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Figure 5.12 Digitization the fresco in the cave 39
Scholars from all over the world will be able to participate in making
comments about digital image in detail, create virtual community for quick and
easy information exchange. Educators are able to design rich and interactive
art virtual roaming on the Hosi corridor, even on the whole Silk Road, for
school-age children.
5.2.3 3D hologram corridor hologram
For exhausted travelers in the desert, a mirage may appear to be a lake of
water in the distance. A mirage is a naturally occurring optical phenomenon in
which light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the
sky. The image usually is upside down, enhancing the illusion that the sky
image seen in the distance is really a water or oil puddle acting as a mirror.
However, images are not stable. Hot air rises, and cooler air (being more
dense) descends, so the layers will mix, giving rise to turbulence. The image
will be distorted accordingly. It may be vibrating; it may be vertically extended
39
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(towering) or horizontally extended (stooping).
Figure 5.13 An inferior mirage
Mirage shows us the mysterious dessert and its constantly changing
conditions. But how could we make it stay for long?
Based on the digitization and using imagination, my proposal is to make a
further use of digital technology in the future, to build up the digital navigation
system along Hosi corridor.
Three-dimensional (3D) holographic imaging is a technique to generate
cubic images with holography. With this technology, various images of culture
heritage would appear like mirages in the sky on both sides of the Hosi corridor.
But it is a stable mirage. By showing the name of heritages as well as its
direction, the intelligent system will help people to get to know about the
heritage sites, to choose their destination and find the right way.
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Figure 5.14 Mirage identification along the Hosi corridor
5.2.4 Digital tourism
When it comes to culture tourism, protection and display, there is
contradiction itself. We need to solve this contradiction, in good protection
under the major premise, allow more people to experience the history and
beauty of the heritage, which is beyond words.
For instance, "Digital Dunhuang" 40, using digital technology to let visitors
standing in front of a computer screen can all appreciate the Mogao Grottoes.
Mogao Grottoes visitor center will provide sorts of new services, such as a
virtual tour wat, 3 D experience. As long as by visiting the center, the visitors
are able to experience the beauty of the grotto art, so as to reduce the visit
pressure of the real caves.
40
Dunhuang Research Academy
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5.3
Tourism: a pilgrimage for culture
We should enhance cooperation in and expand the scale of tourism; hold
tourism promotion weeks and publicity months in each other's countries; jointly
create competitive international tourist routes and products with Silk Road
features; and make it more convenient to apply for tourist visa in countries
along the Belt and Road. 41
5.3.1 Rural tourism in ancient city
Only five cities go through Hosi corridor. Most of heritage on the Hosi
corridor are in rural area, for instance ancient castles and remains of Great
Wall. And most of the rural areas are undeveloped and poor. As a result, it is a
big opportunity for rural tourism.
Figure 5.15 Yongtai ancient city 42
Through the implementation of the rural tourism promotion, the
41
by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of
Commerce of the People's Republic of China, with State Council authorization, from China Daily
42
Photographed by Chen Xinyu, National Geographic, 2013
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development rural tourism will create a great many jobs for people, and give
them chances to start an undertaking.
Hotels, restaurants, offices, shopping precincts and revitalized urban
wastelands complement art galleries, museums and performance venues for
their re-use or revitalization of heritage places as creative and attractive
venues for tourists and local residents alike.
It is not only tourism development, but also a way of improving people's
livelihood to help them get rid of poverty and have a better life.
5.3.2 Urbanization
From the previous chapter, we could find that the low urbanization of Hosi
corridor is one of the problems for the development of Gansu.
The countryside is a vital but frequently overlooked category in the
contemporary discourse around spatial policy, and its role with respect to the
future of urbanism is more often than not neglected.
As rural area has developed by rural tourism, urbanization will indeed
begin. Towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin
living and working in central areas
Changes in overall economic and institutional settings that create new
opportunities for people to earn a living could help relieve current pressures
underlying the desertification processes. As urban growth, adequate planning
and provision of services, infrastructure, and facilities will emerge. What is
more, those facilities can be a major factor in relieving pressures that cause
desertification in drylands.
5.3.3 Cultural heritage tourism development
Cultural and heritage tourism represent a major area of growth in the
special interest tourism market. Along the Hosi corridor, cultural heritage sites
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and places represent a huge and varied collection of human creation across
the entire span of human history. With the enormous growth of knowledge,
increasing mobility and the increased accessibility of travel, there is
widespread curiosity about other places and a huge demand to visit and
personally experience other societies.
The relationship between culture and tourism is culture is the impetus for
tourism, while tourism is the driving force for the culture. Culture and tourism
go hand in hand and feed on each other. Hence, we should promote cultural
and tourism integration development.
Cultural and tourism integration development need to balance the heritage
preservation and economic benefit from tourism. It will push forward integrated
management, including urban economy, social, administrative and tourism
management and resource.
5.3.4 Great Wall theme park with bicycle lane
Nowadays, large amount of cycling enthusiasts go on their journey by
cycling along famous highway. Among them, Hosi corridor is one of the
popular choices. It is an environmental and interesting way for travel, but also
a really dangerous way, with cars and heavy trucks passing through. Even
though excising all the way, but the health may not improve, thinking about the
sand and car exhaust on the highway. Most of heritages are usually so far
away from the highway that it is really easy to miss.
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Figure 5.16 Cycling on the Hosi corridor
In order to solve the problem, my proposal is to open up Great Wall theme
park with a route especially for bicycling along the Great Wall. It is a green
bicycling route free of automobile exhaust, which is much safer than the
highway.
Figure 5.17 Great Wall remains and main transportation routes
By opening of the Great Wall theme park, the remains of the heritage site,
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such as dilapidated walls and bacon towers, could be well studied and
protected under professional care. Hence, we can do good preservation of the
Great Wall, as well as restoration and renovations if necessary.
By creating a bicycling route, visitors and vehicles can be separated,
which relieve traffic pressure and reduce the probability for traffic Accidents.
Visitors enjoy a quiet and natural environment for travelling, and can get closer
to cultural heritage.
Figure 5.18 Great Wall and other heritage sites
From the location of Great Wall and other heritage sites, we can realize
that most of the heritage sites are distributed along the Hosi corridor, and the
Great Wall is relatively far away from the main road. As the Great Wall is a
famous wonder in the world, the opening of Great Wall theme park will make it
a big tourism spot that covers huge area and have large capacity to receive
tourists. Thus, tourists may be separate and some hot heritages may reduce
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its pressure, for instance Dunhuang Mogao Grottos.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCE
Bibliography and Reference:
Cody Willam Smith, A Moment's Reflection, Lonel Pascu , 2014
Phillip K Smith III, Lucid Stead, Dezeen, 2013
Valerie Hansen, The Silk Road: A New History, Oxford University Press, 2012
Walston, S., The Preservation and Conservation of Aboriginal and Pacific Cultural
Material in Australian Museums, 1978
Xinru Liu, The Silk Road in World History, Oxford University Press, UAASA,
2010,ISBN: 9780195161748
Yingxing Song, Heavenly Creations, Song Dynasty
Yan Wenru, Xia Nai, the Mogao Grottoes: grottoes structure and its statue
UNESCO, Silk Roads _the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor_maps of
inscribed property, 2014
National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and
Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, with State Council authorization,
An Action Plan on the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, China Daily, 2015
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