Author: Xubbaliyeva, Maxpurat Xamzayevna

Annotation: This article analyzes the role of Chinese sources in the formation and development of historical ties between Central Asia and China. It highlights how the journeys of Chinese envoys and travelers to Central Asia—particularly the mission of Zhang Qian to the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty—laid the foundation for establishing political, economic, and cultural relations between the two regions. Furthermore, the article examines historical sources such as the *Shiji*, *Hanshu*, and *Hou Hanshu*, as well as the travelogues of the Buddhist monks Faxian and Xuanzang, elucidating their significance for the study of Central Asian history. Finally, the article substantiates the importance of these sources in conveying geographical, ethnographic, and cultural information and underscores their value as a foundational basis for modern research.

Keywords: Central Asia, China, historical sources, travelogues, Zhang Qian, Faxian, Xuanzang, Du Huan, *Shiji*, *Hanshu*, *Hou Hanshu*, Great Silk Road, Buddhism, cultural ties, diplomatic relations, source studies.

Pages in journal: 132 - 138