辽朝建立后,占据了中国的北方。当时,北宋王朝无暇也无力经略西域,与西方贸易主要走海上丝绸之路,契丹则在陆路,通过草原丝路与西方进行交流。据史料记载,在辽太祖建国之初,和州回鹘便从西域来贡,进行贸易交往。天赞初年,波斯、大食等国先后朝贡于辽,到圣宗时,这种交往更加频繁。辽朝的统治者也非常重视同西域地区的联系,辽太祖耶律阿保机先后两次率军从东部草原西征,将辽朝西部的疆界扩展到河西走廊,并且征服了分布在丝绸之路咽喉地带的诸回鹘政权,使通往辽朝上京城的两条 After the establishment of the Liao Dynasty, occupy the north of China. At that time, the Northern Song dynasty had no time nor power to go through the western region, and the western trade mainly took the maritime Silk Road. Khitan was on land and exchanges with the West through the grassland Silk Road. According to historical records, at the beginning of the founding of the Liao Taizu, Hezhou returned to tribute from the Western Regions for trade exchanges. Tianzhao early years, Persia, food and other countries have tributaries of tribute in Liao, to Shengzong, such contacts more frequently. The Liao dynasty rulers also attached great importance to their ties with the Western Regions. The Liao Taizu Yelv-Ahl Baoji led the army twice from the western grasslands to extend the western boundary of the Liao Dynasty to the Hexi Corridor and conquered the Silk Road The Thian Hui regime in the throat strip enabled the two leading to the capital on the Liao Dynasty