The Tang Empire, after defeating its strong northern rival, the Turks, and subjugated the minority nationality states in the Western Regions, set up the Anxi General-Protector's Prefecture and guaranteed the subsequent booming of communications on the Silk Road. According to the Zi Zhi Tong Jian (Historical Lessons for Government), "the Silk Road, during the Tang ties, starting from the Kaiyuan Gate of Chang'an ran six thousand kilometres to the west. Along the section east of Gansu was a scene of prosperity incomparable in the country: villages and towns lining the Road with plantations of hemp and mulberry stretching on both sides." By then, in addition to the two routes opened during the Han Dynasty south of the Tianshan Mountain, a new route was opened running along the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains to Suiye Town ( today's Tokmak in U.S.S.R.) on the western border of the Anxi General protector's Prefecture.

It was along this road that Zhang Qian and his men brought back from the Western Regions the seeds of foreign plants including grape, walnut, broad bean, sesame, pomegranate, cucumber, garlic and Lucerne, which were first grown around Chang'an. Later envoys and merchants from the Western Regions brought finely-bred horses, spices, ivory, hawk-bill turtle, asbestos cloth, ostrich eggs and some rare birds and animals. The Han emperor appreciated the Western Pole Horse from the Kingdom of Wusun and the Heavenly Horse from the Kingdom of Dyuan, so-much-so that he specially composed poems in their praise and specially ordered a farm to be built for raising the horses for fine breeding. With the introduction of these horses, China's horse breeds were much improved. During the Sui and Tang times, pearls, lions, Persian horses, ostrich, etc. were imported into China.

During Tang Dynasty, Chang'an had two markets: the East Market and the West Market. These markets were much larger and far better planned than the Han Chang'an markets. Closer to the Silk Road terminal, the West Market was more prosperous than the East Market. The Tang markets did business more freely with foreigners. Foreign merchants bought goods from Chang'an markets, loaded them on camels' backs, went out of the Kaiyuan Gate and took the Silk Road back to their homelands. There were also many merchants from the Western Regions who settled in the city and engaged in various trades. But silk was only part of the trade exchange boosted by the Silk Road. Along with trade, the road has also enlivened cultural exchanges and the spread of religion across the continent.