This Schematic Map shows the entire "Journey to the West" as made by the Chinese Monk Xuanzang in the years 629 AD to 645 AD.
The Path of the Journey to India led though China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The Return Journey led through Pakistan and Afghanistan to reach Kashgar in current day Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Because the (Han) Chinese Cultural Zone during the Tang Dynasty Era only reached as far as Dunhuang, where the Great Wall began, Xuanzang had to travel south-east from Kashgar via Yarkant and Hotien (Khotan) along the South Route around the Taklamakan Desert to finally return to his native China in 645 AD.
Map - Travel Route of Xuanzang 629 - 645 AD - Journey to the West
Pilgrimmage on the Silk Road to India
Most notable locations on Faxian's Route :
This Schematic Map shows the entire "Journey to the West" as made by the Chinese Monk Faxian, who traveled on the Silk Road between China and India in the years 399 AD to 412 AD.
The Path of the Journey to led from the Chinese Capital in Shaanxi Province of China via Lanzhou across the Yellow River to the Hexi Corridor or the Neck of China. At the end of the Hexi Corridor Faxian is supposed to have passed through Dunhuang before traversing the barren Lop Nor Desert and making his way to Shanshan (currently a county of Turpan). From there the route becomes sort of erratic; leading to Karashar (today; Yanqi, Yanqi County in Baiyin Gholin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture), then across what today is the barren Taklamakan desert (via one of the river and oasis trails) to Khotan. From Khotan (Hetian) Faxian made his way westward to end up at Tashkurgan (TaxKorgan) Town (in Taxkorgan County, Kashgar Prefecture) from where he seems to have made his way into Pakistan and finally India via the route today followed by the the Karakoram Highway (See Below for more details !).
The China Report
This page was last updated on: October 7, 2017
Schematic Map of the Travels of Monk Faxian (399 AD - 412 AD)
Most notable locations visible on this Map are Many.
The listing begins with the Capital of the -by then- fallen Han Dynasty Empire (206 BC - 221 AD), Chang' An, at the Time alreadyone of the largest Cities in the World.
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In 399 AD, Faxian reportedly - No information available (at this time).
