The Yellow River Valley, like the Nile River Valley, the Indian River Valley, as well as the Euphrates River and the Tigris River Valley, is one of the important cradles of human civilization of prehistoric culture. The middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River Valley have been the places for our Chinese ancestors' living, reproducing and laboring for generations. Since the Old Stone Age, the ancient Chinese people had its own continuous social development and cultural traditions, which is perfectly proved by the articles found in Banpo Ruins Museum of Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province. Ancient China had its unique artistic styles and a tradition of independent technological development, from the Painted-pottery Culture of the late New Stone Age to the Bronze Culture of Xia and Shang dynasties (21st - 11th century BC). There was a brilliant development of ancient China's culture.

In 1921, the ruins of the late New Stone Age were found in Yangshao Village, Mianchi County, Henan Province, and stoneware, bone objects and pottery, as well as stone spindles and painted pottery were digged out The painted pottery had a red surface and polished body, with colored drawings of geometrical and rope lines. Therefore, it was called Painted-pottery Culture. Later, Yangshao Culture ruins were found in Gansu, Shaanxi and Shandong provinces. These sites proved that the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River Valley were cradles of ancient culture of China. From then on, the culture spread radiately, introduced to Xinjiang through Gansu and Ningxia in the west during the period between 5000BC and 1000BC. According to latest findings, Hetian, Pishan, Shaya and the Yili River valley in western Xinjiang were terminals of the westward radiation of Painted-pottery Culture.

The Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century BC) was the golden age of bronze-smelting technique, and commercial activities became more thriving than ever before. Therefore, culture spread widely around with the development of commerce. According to archaeological excavations, Bronze Culture of the Shang Dynasty spread widely to Kesh Keteng Banner of Inner Mongolia and Kelaqin Left Wing of Liaoning Province in the north, Chenggu of Shaanxi Province in the west, Ningxiang and Changning of Hunan Province, Qingkou of Jiangxi Province in the south, and Haiyang of Shandong Province in the east. Culture of the Shang Dynasty was ever spread to Yenisai River, Altai Mountains and the Turpan Basin by northern and northwestern nomads. Hence, the Shang Dynasty Culture kept in the earliest touch with Saima Culture of Europe and Namazijia Culture of the Central Asia along western Siberia; here was the story of the King Zhoumu touring to the west (1001-947BC). At that time, connection between the Zhou Dynasty (11th century-256BC) and northwestern parts was controlled by Rongdi Tribe, so King Zhoumu commanded his army to fight against the tribe and opened the grassland pathway to the northwest. There were related records in Shiji (Historical Records). This pathway led to the west from Guanzhong -- one way via the Hexi Corridor north of Qilian Mountains, and the other via Caidam Basin north of Qilian Mountains, all established connections with Xinjiang. The grassland on the north of Tianshan Mountain and oasis on the south of Tianshan Mountain became the main pathway between ancient China and the west, which was the contribution of grassland hordes in this area such as Qiang, Sai and Rouzhi tribes. Thus, peoples in Central Asia and those in Northwest China had more economic and cultural exchanges. According to Biography of King Zhoumu, he always presented silk, copper articles and shell-coins to the chieftains of all tribes wherever he went, and returned with many horses, cattle, sheep and sacred wines presented by those chieftains. An important content of exchanges between China and the Western Regions during this period was Xinjiang bowlder transporting outside in large quantities, as well as silk and copper from Central Plains (ancient China) introduced westwards. Goods from Central Plains were transported far beyond Congling Mountains, reaching the Ural Mountains and Iran Tableland.

China was the first country that raised silkworms and made silk in the world. As early as 2800 BC, Chinese people began to raise silkworms and made silk. The techniques made great progress in the Shang Dynasty, and the silk industry developed much greater in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC) and the Warring States Period (475-221BC). Chinese wove various jacquard weaves, and used colorful silk to weave multicolored brocade. Such fine cloth attracted northwestern nomads, by whom it was then introduced to Asian and European peoples. In the seventh and eighth century, many craftsmen who mastered astronomy and weaving moved into northwest minority areas. Thus, astronomy, calendar and weaving techniques in Central Plains were passed to far west via the northwestern areas. For example, transparent clothes on famous statuaries of ancient Greece were made of soft silk from China.