科研之友
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摘要
Traditional trade routes that penetrate the natural barrier of the Himalayas are critical for connecting major Chinese and South Asian markets. Research on these trade routes can contribute significantly to facilitating the construction of the South Asia Channel and enhancing trans-Himalayan connectivity. Combining historical literature, field surveys, and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, this study examined the spatial distribution characteristics and dynamic mechanisms driving the formation, development, decline, and restoration of the routes, focusing on transverse valleys of the Himalayan arc. The key findings were as follows. First, there are 21 traditional trade routes traversing the Himalayan region: 6 Sino-Nepalese routes, 4 Sino-Bhutanese routes, and 11 Sino-Indian routes. The routes are arranged in a "one horizontal and multiple vertical" spatial pattern. Second, the evolution of the traditional trade routes has entailed five distinct phases: an incipient period (pre-7th century), formation (7th century-842 AD), development (842-1959), decline (1959-1962) and recovery (1962-present). Third, the incipient and formative developmental phases were prompted by the spread of Buddhism and the exchange of goods. The stability of local governments in Tibet and in the Central China Plains and favorable border trade policies along with Britain's colonial expansion and commercial interests stimulated further development of traditional trade routes. However, India's strategic miscalculation and "Forward Policy" instigated the decline phase, while China's strategic needs are currently the key driver of the restoration and construction phase. Finally, a lack of strategic mutual trust and existing border issues are the main obstacles impeding the restorative and construction phases. Future efforts to support the construction of the South Asia Channel and the stability and development of border regions should focus on strengthening multi-perspectival investigations and research on traditional trade routes, formulating strategies for corridor construction and control, and emphasizing the corridor's commerce, tourism, and cultural exchange functions.
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