Imagine a world without trains, planes, or cars. You're strolling through the bazaar in Rome when you're struck by the delicate china on display in one of the stalls. Upon further inquiry, you discover that the china actually came from China, thousands of miles away! How was this possible? How did Chinese silk, tea, and ceramics find their way to European aristocratic wardrobes, cups, and dinner tables? A web of maritime and land trade routes connecting China to the Arab world and Europe made this possible. These routes were collectively known as the Silk Road. Since the Western Han Dynasty, when the Hexi corridor became part of China, trade has flourished along the route from the ancient capital of China, now a metropolis in China's west called Chang'an (now Xi'an), through Xinjiang, Central Asia, and into Europe. Chinese silk, china, and tea flowed from China, while European and Central Asian commodities flowed in. More importantly, the Silk Road promoted the exchange of cultures and religions. Xinjiang's oases became flourishing multicultural cities with Han settlers, Arabic and European traders, and locals living in harmony. Fast forward to the present, the Belt and Road initiative began in 2012 to promote trade along the ancient route and has expanded to 145 countries and regions, covering developing countries from Central Asia, Northern Africa, and Europe, where the original road passed through, to Latin America and Caribbean countries.