On October 13, 2021, under the leadership of Manager Zhu Yin, The Gansu Cultural Tourism Industry Delegation composed of 50 people from the Gansu Modern Photography Society, some travel agencies and news media in Gansu Province walked into the south of the Tianshan Mountains, the hinterland of Hami, the most mysterious section of the ancient Silk Road - Hami Yadan Haidao Scenic Area.
Hami Yadan Sea Road Scenic Area is composed of two parts, the Devil's Town area and the Sea Road area, and has been rated as the National Pterodactyl Yadan Geopark.
The name "DahaiDao" is derived from the fragments of the Tang Dynasty Xizhou Tujing in Dunhuang documents.
In the Xizhou Tujing, it is recorded: "The Great Sea Road. The right road was bounded by Liuzhong County (present-day Lukeqin) and southeast to Shazhou (present-day Dunhuang) for 1,360 miles. Often quicksand, pedestrian confusion, there are springs and wells salty and bitter, no grass. Traveling carries water and grain, tramples sand and gravel, and travels to and from hardships.
Historian Cen Zhongmian believes that the "r" of "Deghar" (Dikan'er Village), about 70 miles southeast of present-day Lukeqin, is the end of the word, and "Degha" is actually the Tang Dynasty pronunciation "sea" (that is, the abbreviation of Dashahai).
The Sui Shu GaoChang Biography Yun: "From the northwest of Wuwei there is a shortcut road, more than a thousand miles of sand moraine, dazed on all sides, there is no way, and those who want to go look for human and animal skeletons go away." In the middle of the road or hear the sound of bitterness, pedestrians seek it, more deaths and losses, cover the charm of the stingray also. Therefore, merchants and merchants come and go, and take more Iwu Road. "The northwest of Wuwei should be a mistake of the northwest of Dunhuang.
The opening and use of the "Great Sea Road" began in the Han Dynasty, and after the Tang Dynasty, the official use tended to stop, and the Great Sea Road gradually faded out of people's vision and became an ancient Silk Road that stayed in historical memory.
As a passageway between Chinese and Western civilizations in ancient times, the Silk Road has always attracted the attention of the academic community because of its huge role in the history of human civilization exchanges.
With the deepening of academic research, most of the sections of the Silk Road have been gradually unveiled in history, but the specific route of the Sea Road is still lost in the dust of history.
The "Great Sea Road" is the link between the Western Regions and the motherland in certain periods of the history of the Han and Tang Dynasties, and its important historical role is self-evident. Therefore, the exploration of the "Sea Road" will certainly promote the revelation of the mystery of historical events related to this and promote the progress of the study of the history of the Western Regions. At the same time, the exploration of the "Sea Road" also has important practical significance.
From Dunhuang to Turpan or Loulan, it looks like a straight line on the map, and the direct distance is only about 500 kilometers, which is a full 500 kilometers closer than the detour of Yiwu Road. If you take Yiwu Road from Dunhuang to Turpan, the distance is 1000 kilometers, and you can save half the distance from the Sea Road.
Although the road of the Great Sea Road is extremely dangerous, and even the extremely tough life of the mustard grass and red willow is difficult to find, but there are unwilling armies, preaching monks, caravans to pass by. Although the sea road is arduous and less used, it is still an important passage after all, the distance is shorter.
With its geographical advantages and rich mineral resources, the Great Sea Road has potential strategic value for the development of transportation and economy between Turpan and Dunhuang (as well as the hinterland of Xinjiang and the Hexi Corridor) under the situation of large-scale development of the western region.
After on-site investigation, it was confirmed that the straight-line distance from Dikan'er to the Dunhuang Yumenguan site was only about 400 kilometers, and the road surface could pass cars, as long as the corresponding preparations were made, there was no hunger and thirst on the way.
Under modern conditions, the "Sea Road" is not only far less terrible than the ancients said, but also a unique natural landscape and ecological environment along the road that is full of irritation, and the wild animals that appear from time to time can also feast their eyes, view the scenery and educate, and have a lot of fun.
Therefore, the "Sea Road" is undoubtedly a good place for future adventure tourism. Therefore, it will promote the comprehensive development and utilization of the "Sea Road", promote the development of the surrounding areas, and make the "Sea Road" a new Silk Road that benefits the people.
The Great Sea Road is the closest road between ancient Dunhuang-Hami-Turpan, passing through Hami to Turpan in the west of Dunhuang for 500 kilometers, bringing together ancient castles, beacons, post stations, prehistoric human settlement sites, fossil mountains, mirages, desert camel herds and many rare geographical landforms along the way.
With a total area of about 2,000 square kilometers, the scenic spot is by far the world's largest, most mature geological morphology and the most ornamental Value Ofdan landform, the only Yadan landform community found on the ancient Silk Road with human habitation sites, and also the discovery site of the world's largest new species of pterosaur - Tianshan Pterodactyl, which has been listed as one of the nine representative landscapes in Xinjiang.
Located in the "Baili Wind Zone" of Xinjiang and the second in the country, the Dahaidao area has a unique yadan natural landscape in the world.
The core area of the Great Sea Road has remained in its original state of no signal, uninhabited and undeveloped. It is famous for its vast desert, empty, boundless, and sea-like characteristics, hence the name "Great Sea Road".
The Great Avenue Scenic Area will be the best choice for adventure tours, self-driving tours, motorhome tours and photography tours.
Photo: Lu Gang