The Silk Road was a trade route that, since the Han Dynasty (1st century BC), connected China through Central Asia to South Asia, West Asia, Europe, and North Africa. The name originates from the silk and silk products transported westward along this route. The successful international proposal for the project titled "The Silk Roads: Initial Section and Network of the Tian-Shan Corridor" – jointly submitted by China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan – has become one of the largest objects on the UNESCO list in terms of geographical scope. The main route of the Silk Road was used from the 2nd century BC until the 16th century. At its peak, this route extended more than 7,000 kilometers. The World Heritage Silk Road includes a total of 33 archaeological sites and buildings. Of these, 22 are in China, located in the provinces of Shaanxi, Henan, Gansu, and the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Kazakhstan has eight relics, and Kyrgyzstan has three that have now received the coveted UNESCO status.
