Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t2.157

v2.c13.s3.t2.157

Assam lies on what has been called the Southwest Silk Road (*Xi'nan sichou zhilu*). This route is also known by names such as Southern Silk Road (*Nanfang sichou zhilu*) and the *Dianmianyin gudao* (ancient road connecting Yunnan, Burma and India). Traders, pilgrims, missionaries and commodities of various kinds moved along these routes connecting the southwestern part of China and northern India. According to noted Indian sinologist P. C. Bagchi, the Assam-Burma route to China followed three main paths - one was from the Brahmaputra Valley through the Patkai hills to Upper Burma the second was through Manipur to the Chindwin valley in Burma and the third passed through Arakan and proceeded up the Irrawady valley. All the three paths met at Bhamo in Burma from where they followed the route to Kunming.