中英双语讲中国故事《张骞的故事》 思仪

张骞是中国汉代杰出的外交家、旅行家、探险家，丝绸之路的开拓者。司马迁称赞张骞出使西域为“凿空”，意思是“开通大道”。

张骞不畏艰险，先后两次出使西域，打开了中国与中亚、西亚、南亚以至通往欧洲的陆路交通，沟通了中国同西亚和欧洲的通商关系，中国的丝和丝织品，从长安往西，经河西走廊，今新疆境内，运到安息（今伊朗高原和两河流域），再从安息转运到西亚和欧洲的大秦（罗马），开拓了历史上著名的“丝绸之路”。从此中国人通过这条通道向西域和中亚等国出售丝绸、茶叶、漆器和其他产品，同时从欧洲、西亚和中亚引进宝石、玻璃器等产品。因此，张骞被誉为“丝绸之路的开拓者”、“第一个睁开眼睛看世界的中国人”。

Zhang Qian is one of the pioneers of the Silk Road. In the Western Han dynasty, the emperor ordered Zhang Qian to contact the Yuezhi people who lived in Central Asia, so in 139 BC Zhang Qian set off from Chang’an. During the trip, he met with a lot of problems and dangers. He was even caught by the enemy of the Han, but he always had a strong belief that he would find the Yuezhi people and return to his motherland. In 126 BC, Zhang Qian managed to go back to Chang’an. The emperor was very satisfied with his work, and sent him to visit another country later.

Zhang Qian’s visit promoted the trade and cultural exchange between China and Central Asia, West Asia, South Asia. From then on, the Chinese sold silk, tea and other products to other countries, while products like glassware were introduced to China from Europe, West Asia and Central Asia.