Toward the deadline of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, born of popular and noble backgrounds respectively, overthrew jointly the reign of the Qin and then contended for hegemony. A couple of years later , Liu Bang triumphed over Xiang Yu , and founded the mighty Han Dynasty, during which agriculture , crafts and commerce were immensely developed . 　

　　Liu Che, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (140 B.C. –87 B.C.), reigned through the most powerful and prosperous period of the dynasty. His troops defeated the Huns, and he commissioned Zhang Qian as his envoy to visit the “West Region” countries, thus opening the route from Chang’an (Xi’an in present Shaanxi Province) via Xinjiang and the mid-Asia to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, known as the Silk Route, by which the gorgeous , fine Chinese silk products were incessantly transported westward .
　　In 33 B.C. Wang Zhaojun , a maid of honor in the imperial court , was sent to be married to Chanyu (king) of the Huns with a view to strengthening the cordial relations among the nationalities , leaving a touching story of the Han-Hun marriage .