胡商
中国古代将域外和西北少数民族商人称为“胡商”，来往于丝路进行贸易的胡商以中亚的粟特人居多。唐代敦煌县从化乡就是居住在敦煌的粟特人建立起来的，沙州城东还有祆神庙。在唐、五代、宋初的敦煌商业经济活动中，粟特人非常活跃，他们经营酒店、贩卖胡粉，往往获利颇丰。
莫高窟北周第296窟《福田经变》中，在描绘利益众生的公益事业之一的“安设桥梁”时，绘制了胡汉商队过桥相遇的画面。画中桥梁平坦，两侧有栏杆，桥上有两头毛驴驮货前行，后面跟随正要上桥的骑马的汉人商队。桥的另一侧，一胡商牵着骆驼等待过桥，后有一商人赶着两头毛驴。这幅画面，应是当时丝绸之路上商队的真实写照。
莫高窟盛唐第45窟《观音经变》中还绘有胡商遇盗图。画中商人显现出高鼻深目、络腮满面的面部特征，是典型的西域胡商形象。这队胡商在山谷行进过程中，遭遇了三个强盗。强盗们手持长刀，欲行劫盗。六位商人背后跟着驮负货物的毛驴，地上放着一捆白色丝绸和一个红色包袱。此时胡商均双手合十，口诵观音名号求救。这幅图像既描绘了丝绸之路上可能遇到的危险，又反映出丝绸是当时丝路贸易的主要商品，也说明了毛驴曾是丝绸之路上进行运输的主要畜力。
Hu Merchants
In ancient China, foreign merchants and Northwest ethnic minority traders were referred to as "Hu merchants". Among those who traded along the Silk Road, the Sogdian people from Central Asia made up a significant group. In the Tang Dynasty, the village of Conghua in Dunhuang County was established by these Sogdian people, and to the east of Shazhou City, a temple was dedicated to a Zoroastrian deity. From the Tang and Five Dynasties through the early Song Dynasty, or approximately from the 7th to the 10th centuries, the Sogdians were highly active in Dunhuang, running hotels and selling goods such as "Hu powder" (primarily lead carbonate, used in cosmetics or as a pigment), often reaping substantial profits.
A mural found in Cave 296 of the Northern Zhou period at the Mogao Caves themed at bridges there is a scene depicting a meeting between Hu and Han merchant caravans on a bridge, an illustration of a Buddhist text about public welfare projects such as building bridges, aimed at benefiting sentient beings. The bridge in the painting is flat and features railings on both sides. Two donkeys loaded with goods are crossing the bridge, followed by a Han merchant caravan on horseback, preparing to ascend. On the other side of the bridge, a Hu merchant is leading a camel, while another merchant drives two donkeys behind him. This scene is likely a true representation of the merchant caravans that traveled along the Silk Road at that time.
Murals depicting the merits of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva in Cave 45 of the Mogao Caves from the High Tang period also features a scene of Hu merchants encountering bandits. The merchants portrayed in the painting exhibit prominent facial features typical of Sogdian, characterized by high noses, deep- set eyes, and full beards. While traveling through a valley, they are confronted by three robbers. The bandits are armed with long knives, ready to attack. Behind the six merchants are donkeys laden with goods, with a bundle of white silk and a red package placed on the ground. The Hu merchants are clasping their hands together and reciting the name of Avalokiteshvara to pray for help. This image not only depicts the dangers that could be encountered along the Silk Road but also indicates that silk was a primary commodity in Silk Road trade at the time, and that donkeys were a significant mode of transport along this route.
