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    Luoyang, a Hallmark along the Silk Road


    Posted on: March 02, 2017 | | 中文

    The Drum Tower in Luoyang Old Town District (source - Visit Our China)

    Luoyang was the capital city of several dynasties in ancient China for thousands of years. Over 13 dynasties made Luoyang their capital and 105 kings and emperors realized their ambitions here, respectively. In 2011, Luoyang was named as a “World Famous Cultural City” by the United Nations. 

    In June 2015, the Internet Interconnecting Silk Road fleet “China Dream & the Silk Road Dream” initiated its friendly exchange tour from Luoyang and crossed the Eurasian Continent, leaving its footprints in countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and going as far as Milan, Italy. It brings back the historical memory of Luoyang that has been asleep for over thousands of years. During the East Han Dynasty nearly 2,000 years ago, Ban Chao departed from here and led his team on their westward journey.

    Luoyang, a Hallmark along the Silk Road: Yongning Pagoda

    Yongning Pagoda (source - Realm of History)

    The age-old history of Luoyang has left numerous cultural relics, ranging from Yongning Pagoda, Bronze Camel Avenue of Wei Kingdom of the “Three-Kingdom Period and the Han Dynasty in the ancient city of Luoyang to the  Imperial Translation Training Agency of Regional Languages, from the footprint of the camels in front of the relics of Dingding Gate to the terraces and ancient trails at Hangu Pass in Xinan, from gold coins of the East Roman Empire and Persian silver coins to cultural relics such as tri-colored glazed pottery in the Tang Dynasty. The Longmen Grottoes 12 kilometers south of Luoyang is among the first national AAAAA scenic zones, as well as a World Cultural Heritage Site and one of the three national art treasures in China. They all witness the close connection between Luoyang and countries along the Silk Road. Along the traces of imperial courts spanning thousands of years, the city walls and gates, the precious remains of the Silk Road not only exhibit their historical accounts of the dynasties, but also retain the historical charms of the cities and roads in the past.              

    Luoyang possesses wonderful natural scenery. There are four rivers crossing the city and the 25-kilometer-long Luopu Park sits inside the city like a scroll of a water color painting. In the north there are the Yellow River scenic area and the Yellow River Wetland Nature Reserve whereas in the west are Daimeishan Mount World Geopark and Huoguoshan National Forest Park. In the south there are wonderful and delicate tourist destinations adding to the charm of Luoyang, such as Jiguandong Karst Cave, Baiyunshan National Forest Park, Longyuwan National Forest Park, Chongdugou, Muzhaling, Laojun Mount, Luhun Reservoir, and Funiushan Ski Resort. At the 2005 Sino-Europe Travel Forum held in Switzerland, Luoyang was entitled the “Europeans’ most favored tourist destination” in China. Moreover, Luoyang is known as a national forest city, a well-known world cultural city, a city of Peony in China and a “capital of poetry and fu” (an intricate literary form combining elements of poetry and prose or “prose poem” in ancient China)      

    Luoyang, a Hallmark along the Silk Road: Luopu Park

    Luopu Park (source - Luoyang, a Beautiful City)

    Luoyang today enjoys boosting cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. In recent years, Luoyang has established contacts with many cities along the ancient Silk Road and strengthened connections with each other based on “the Internet”, so as to make it a platform incorporating historical, cultural and touring products along the Silk Road. Meanwhile, with the help of various forms of promotion, including sister-city relations, joint art festivals, cultural centers and the cultivation of exquisite tour routes, cultural exchanges and development of the enterprises are being enhanced.

    The Heluo Culture that has spanned 5,000 years is what makes Luoyang comparable with other famous cities around the world. It is also its most peculiar feature, biggest potential and advantage in the new round of competition among cities. Luoyang, which has been through many ups and downs over the years, is now taking its chance on development against the backdrop of the “One Belt One Road” Initiative. It has established investment cooperation with more than 40 countries and regions, and Luoyang machinery has started to function along the Silk Road.     

    Luoyang, a Hallmark along the Silk Road: Ding Ding Men was the front gate of Luoyang in the Tang dynasty

    Ding Ding Men was the front gate of Luoyang in the Tang dynasty (source - People's Daily)

    Tractors made in Luoyang have been exported to the five countries in Central Asia along the Silk Road. Since 2005, tractors and related agricultural facilities have been exported to Central Asia. Assembly factories have been set up in countries such as Kirgizstan and Kazakhstan. Tractors made in Luoyang have taken up 90% of the market share in Kirgizstan. 

     Meanwhile, being a long-established national key industrial base, Luoyang is on the advanced level around the country in high-tech fields, such as new material, electronics, aeronautics and astronautics. A number of national key projects are related to Luoyang machinery, such as high speed rail, manned spaceflight and submersible. In other words, Luoyang is actively engaged in the operation of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

    Now, Luoyang is no longer a core area of the “One Belt One Road” Initiative. However, its legacy along the Silk Road continues as it marches forward to join the current of “One Belt One Road” construction and exerts its unique charm and glamour on the region.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021