丝绸之路河南段崤函古道

丝绸之路河南段崤函古道

丝绸之路是西汉时期开辟的中国通往中亚、西亚、地中海各国的陆上通道。它最初的作用是运输丝绸，在明朝时期成为综合贸易之路。

丝绸之路河南段崤函古道是陕西潼关至河南省新安县、宜阳县之间的一段古代丝绸之路遗址，其主体部分位于河南省三门峡市。据古书记载，崤函古道有东西两段，在今三门峡境内，就长达400华里（200千米）。

崤函古道中的“崤”和“函”分别指古崤山和函谷关。崤函古道是丝绸之路上的锁钥要塞。一方面，其独特的地理地貌形成了一条天然的交通通道，成为古代中原地区通往关中地区的要道，战略意义重大。另一方面，其东端是河洛平原，西端是关中平原，北面是晋南平原。这个地区是中华文明发源的核心地区。

在世界史上，丝绸之路崤函古道是中原通往西域的唯一通道，推动了中原与西域、亚欧的经贸往来与人文交流。2014年6月，联合国教科文组织正式将包括崤函古道在内的丝绸之路列入“世界遗产名录”。

Xiaohan Ancient Path of the Silk Road

The Silk Road is a land route opened in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) to link China with Central Asia, West Asia, and the Mediterranean area. Initially serving to transport silk, the Silk Road became a busy trade route in the Ming Dynasty.

The Xiaohan Ancient Path is the Henan section of the Silk Road. The "Xiao" refers to the Xiaoshan Mountain and the "Han," the Hangu Pass. Through the deep valley between them there is a narrow passage that stretches from Xin'an and Yiyang counties of Henan Province in the east to the Tongguan Pass of Shaanxi Province in the west, with the main part running through Sanmenxia of Henan for about 200 kilometers.

The Xiaohan Ancient Path was a vital passage on the Silk Road. Given the unique geography, this natural strategic traffic route connected the Central Plains in the east with the Guanzhong region in the west. With the Heluo Plain in the east, the Guanzhong Plain in the west, and the Jinnan Plain in the north, the area nearby was at the very center of the origin of the Chinese civilization.

The Xiaohan Path was once the only route for the Central Plains people to travel to the Western Regions, which thus significantly boosted the economic, trade and cultural ties between Asia and Europe. In June 2014, the Silk Road, including the Xiaohan Ancient Path, was included in the UNESCO's World Heritage List.