The silk trade in Tang Dynasty was prospering and reached an unprecedented level. At that time, the major trading centers were Chang'an, Luoyang, the Hexi Corridor, Yutian, Kizil, Shule, Shanshan and Turpan. In order to guarantee the peaceful trade along the Silk Road and strengthen the supervision over the West Regions,Tang Dynasty established courier stations along the main roads from Chang'an to major cities of thc Western Regions. The courier stations provided food and shelter for traveling traders and messengers.

Tang Dynasty also implemented a registration system. All travelers had to register their names, ages and belongings and they would be issued a pass, without which they were not allowed to travel. The traders had to pay a certain amount of taxes for the privilege of the road pass.At major towns and strategic points were stationed army to guarantee the safety and security of passage on the Silk Road.

The government officials were allowed to use gold and silk to swap the Western Regions' horses, mules, camels, hides, woolen products,gems, jades, corals, colored glazes, medkaments and spices. Private merchants also could do business under the authorization of the government. According to the estimates of scholars in the west, in the heyday of Tang Dynasty, the volumes of Sino foreign trade through the Silk Road amounted to one million pounds. The Chinese products exported were silk fabrics, lacquerworks, ironware, bullion and medicinal materials.

Camel, the so-called "boat in the desert," was the pillar for trade caravans. Camel is meek and docile in nature, able to endure hardships under every dry condition. It has a special sense ro source water. Wherever is water, it will find it and always stops where there is potential of water under desert. People would dig where camel stops and get water supply Camel has a weak point, and it can't endure very hot weather.That is why camel trade caravan always stops by day and travels by night.

Major trade caravan needs clever and valiant leadership. In ancient times, there were special guides and caravan heads, responsible for each section of the route from Kabul to Hotan or from Hotan to Dunhuang or Jiuquan. Some times they also acted as diplomatic envoys.

The procedures involving the trade caravans passing the toll gates were an interesting story to read. The merchants handed relevant documents and tax certificates to the officers for examination and approval.After signing the certificate, they waved go-ahead to the merchants.

When they came across important guests or maior trade caravans, they

had to report to the Hexi Administration fi~r approval. The procedures

were more complicated. Chinese guvernments of many dynasties often

restricted the number of foreign traders. That was the reason why some

of thenl tried to settle in China and becanle focal residents.

Xiniiang was the e~ly area to make contact and trade with the coun-

tries westwards and was an important transit station for Sino-foreign

trade in ancient times. Merchants bought Chinese silk products in

Xiniiang and resold them to other countries. After Zhang Qian's travel

co thc V{'cscern Region, s, the silk Fabrics ~owed in an endless stream

from China's hinterland to these remote areas. Chinese traders devel