Chang Ch'ien

Zhang Qian, also called Chang Ch'ien, was a Chinese explorer who traveled to Central Asia during the Han dynasty in 140 BC. He was the first person to bring information about this area to China.

Emperor Wudi sent Chang Ch’ien to visit a tribe of central Asia in order to trade with them. On his way with about 100 men, he was captured by the Huns for 10 years. He escaped and made his way to the tribe. This journey was over 2,000 miles long. He returned to China 3 years after that. When he returned, the emperor made him supreme counselor of the palace.

Many years later, the Emperor sent him to visit the Wu-sun people to the northwest of China, another tribe living in what is now Russia. His travels, and travels of his assistants (who visited Uzbekistan and Afghanistan) helped to create a very important trade route called the Silk Road.