The Influence of the Silk Road on Dunhuang's Economic Development

Abstract

Major cities are often located near water as coastlines allow for trade and transportation to be effective, assisting the economic growth of that city and its nearby region. It is commonly believed that cities and/or areas far from a major water source, like lakes, rivers, or oceans, are not adequate enough to allow for significant developments. Yet, there is an inland city in northwestern China that seems to defy this supposition: Dunhuang. Being at the intersection of what was an important Silk Road trade route that was established in 130 B.C. and remained in use until 1453 A.D. when trade shifted from land to water has helped this city thrive in the arid desert region. Therefore, a question is raised: how does the legacy of this ancient trade route shape a modern regional economy? Through analyzing past research done by experts, conducting surveys and field experiments to obtain first-hand data, and compiling lists of data traced both online and from books in Dunhuang Academy's libraries, this paper aims to explore the economic development of Dunhuang through Trade, Cultural Exchange, and Tourism. Of which, trade and cultural exchange focus solely on the past, while tourism focuses on the trend of the number of visitors before and after a milestone. Survey findings show that Dunhuang’s visitors are mostly Mainland Chinese adults over 22, and its economy relies heavily on domestic tourism. In response to Dunhuang's growing popularity, digital exhibitions should be used to preserve and promote Dunhuang’s cultural heritage for future generations.