Zhang Qian
Sent west by Emperor Wu, twice held captive by the Xiongnu, he reached Ferghana and Bactria and is regarded as the pioneer of the Silk Road.
| Lived | c. 164 BC – 113 BC |
| Known as | Envoy and explorer |
| Birthplace or main place | Xi'an |
| Places on the map | Xi'an, Dunhuang, Kashgar |
Xi'anSee the world of Zhang Qian in the interactive map
Who ruled these places in his lifetime
| Place | At birth (map of 200 BC) | At death (map of 200 BC) |
|---|---|---|
| Xi'an | Han Empire | same |
| Dunhuang | Yuezhi | same |
| Kashgar | Bactria | same |
From the border maps nearest to each date; borders are approximate.
Events in his lifetime
| Year | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 138 BC | Zhang Qian sets out from Chang'an for the Western Regions | Xi'an |
Further reading
Contemporaries
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| 156 BC – 87 BC | Emperor Wu of Han | Han emperor |
| c. 145 BC – 86 BC | Sima Qian | Historian |
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.