Zhixin

Between 1900-1901, 1906-1908, and 1913-1916, Aurel Stein, a Hungarian national of British citizenship, conducted archaeological explorations in Xinjiang and the Hexi Corridor region of China. He subsequently published three detailed reports on these expeditions: Ancient Khotan: Detailed Reports of Archaeological Excavations in Chinese Turkestan, Serindia: Detailed Report of Explorations in Central Asia and Westernmost China, and Innermost Asia. These three works, which represent Stein's magnum opus, comprehensively document the relics and artifacts from the Han and Tang dynasties in Xinjiang, as well as the treasures of the Dunhuang Grottoes and the Buddhist art of the Thousand Buddha Caves, unveiling the mysteries of ancient civilizations in this region and the fusion of Chinese and Western civilizations. The "e;Travels in Western Regions Series"e; compiles Stein's archaeological data from these three expeditions in western China, integrating and revising the aforementioned archaeological reports to provide the public with a more accessible understanding of the processes and achievements. The series consists of 15 volumes, and this particular volume is extracted from Innermost Asia: In February 1914 , Stein explored the ruins of the ancient kingdom of Gaochang, and excavated the sites of Tuyugou, Mutougou, and the ancient tombs at Astana. The colorful Silk Road culture, especially the Central Plains-style burial objects, reflects the deep historical ties between the vast Tianshan region and the Central Plains civilization since the Han and Tang dynasties.