Central Asia thumb|Chinese Embassy, carrying silk and a string of silkworm cocoons, 7th century CE, Afrasiyab, Sogdia The 7th century CE murals of Afrasiyab in Samarkand, Sogdiana, show a Chinese Embassy carrying silk and a string of silkworm cocoons to the local Sogdian ruler.
cEntrAl aSia Thumb|chiNEse emBassy, carRyIng Silk AnD A stRiNg of siLkWOrm coCooNs, 7tH Century ce, aFrAsIyaB, sogDIa The 7th ceNtUry cE MurAls of afraSiYAb in samarKand, SOGdiaNa, shoW a CHinESE EmbasSy carryiNg Silk and a strIng OF siLkwORm CoCoOnS to the LOcal SoGdian rULeR.