Maritime Silk Road
Originating in the Qin (221-206 B.C.) and Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220) and thriving in the Tang (618-907) and Song Dynasty (960-1279), the Maritime Silk Road refers to the important sea routes linking China to the rest of the world. This mainly consists of two routes: the East China Sea Silk Route and the South China Sea Silk Route. The East China Sea Silk Route runs from China's Liaodong Peninsula and Jiaodong Peninsula to the Korean Peninsula, the Japanese Archipelago, and Southeast Asia. Alongside the continuous transportation of merchandise, Chinese culture was also transmitted overseas along the route, including elements like Confucianism, the legal system, Chinese characters, costumes, architecture, kung fu, and tea-drinking customs. The South China Sea Silk Route started from Guangzhou and Quanzhou and went to Southeast Asia and countries along the Indian Ocean. Beginning in the Han Dynasty, China expanded the Maritime Silk Road from east to west, while the Roman Empire sailed from west to east. The two finally met at the Indian Peninsula, thus extending the Maritime Silk Road to the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. This was the first sea route across the Indian Ocean in world history and the longest ocean route at that time.
Through the ages, countries along the routes engaged in extensive and profound exchange with each other including building oceangoing vessels, expanding sea routes, improving navigation technology, constructing trade ports, transporting cargo, regulating foreign trade, managing the flow of immigrants, exchanging official envoys, disseminating music and art, and spreading exotic species. The Maritime Silk Road linked China with other countries by sea, promoted trade and cultural exchange, and contributed to the common development of countries along the routes. In 2013, China proposed the important initiative of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, injecting vigor and vitality into the ancient Silk Road and elevating mutually beneficial cooperation with countries in Asia, Europe and Africa to new heights.
海上丝绸之路
海上丝绸之路是古代连接中国与世界其他地区的海上通道，它由“东海航线”和“南海航线”两大干线组成，形成于秦汉时期，兴盛于唐宋时期。海上丝绸之路东海航线从中国辽东半岛、胶东半岛通向朝鲜半岛、日本列岛直至东南亚，中国的商品被源源不断地输往这些地区，中国文化包括儒家思想、律令制度、汉字、服饰、建筑、武术、饮茶习俗等也得到大规模的海外传播。海上丝绸之路南海航线从中国广州、泉州通向东南亚、印度洋地区。从汉代开始，中国从东向西拓展海上丝绸之路，罗马帝国则自西而东航行，最后在印度半岛对接，从而使海上丝绸之路延伸到波斯湾、红海。这是世界历史上第一条跨越印度洋的海上航线，也是当时世界上最长的远洋航线。
自古以来，不同国家、不同文明沿着海上丝绸之路展开充分、深刻而广泛的交流，包括远洋船只的打造、海上航线的拓展、航海技术的演进、外贸港口的兴建、远洋货物的贩运、对外贸易的管理、外来侨民的流动、官方使节的往来、音乐艺术的传播、异域物种的扩散等。海上丝绸之路成为中国与外国贸易往来和文化交流的海上大通道，推动了沿线各国的共同发展。2013年，中国提出共建“21世纪海上丝绸之路”重大倡议，让古丝绸之路焕发新的生机活力，推动亚欧非各国互利合作迈向新的历史高度。
