Tianshui China, Silk Road

Tianshui's history stretches back over 3,000 years, starting in the early days of the Zhou dynasty, one of the longest-ruling dynasties in Chinese history, lasting more than 790 years (1046–256 BCE). This makes Tianshui one of the oldest settlements in the area. 

The Zhou dynasty was known for its philosophy, agriculture, and technological advancements. However, the land was not peaceful. Nomadic invaders, skilled on horseback from the north and west, attacked the region. In addition, internal instability due to political conflict, weak leadership, and the rise of the powerful Qin state led to the dynasty's collapse. 

As the Qin state grew stronger during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), it eventually conquered all other states, paving the way for the Qin dynasty and the ascension of Qin Shi Huang as the first emperor of China, who is credited with unifying the country.

Reclaiming places like Tianshui helped the dynasty expand its lands, as evidenced by the archaeological discoveries of ancient Qin tombs in nearby Fangmatan. Two tombs were excavated in 1986. One contained ancient texts written on bamboo slips and seven maps drawn on pine wood in black ink illustrating the Jialing River systems. The other tomb contained a paper map fragment depicting topographical features such as mountains, waterways, and roads. The highlight of this map is that it was drawn on the oldest existing piece of paper, which is more than 2,000 years old.

When the Qin Dynasty was replaced by the Han Dynasty in 206 BCE, Tianshui became part of a much larger empire, leading to increased trade and exploration. Its location along the Wei River valley, which led to Xi'an, made it a crucial military stronghold and an important stop along the Silk Road for merchants, troops, and officials. Tianshui played a key role in protecting the western approach to the capital and China's central plains, making it a frequent site of conflict. As a central hub, it helped maintain communication and control across the empire, becoming vital to the Han Dynasty's administration and military operations.