The Silk Road is a trade route in ancient China. It started from the ancient capital Chang'an that was the center of politics, economy and culture in ancient China, and stretched all the way to Central Asia, North Africa and Europe. Its original function was to export the silk produced in China. As time went by, the Silk Road gradually became a main road connecting the East and the West, promoting the economic and cultural exchanges between the two parties. Later, some experts call all the trade routes between China and the West "the Silk Road ".