Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s1.10

v2.c13.s1.10

During the Sui period (589-618 CE), Emperor Yang sent an assistant minister Pei Ju to Zhangye to encourage merchants from the west to trade. The contemporary description — “The constant business of Hu merchants also makes counties around bustle” — could be read as proof of the prosperity of the Silk Road at that time. A large number of Hu merchants came to Chang’an, Luoyang and other major cities of the Tang dynasty, making them virtually international cities of that time.