Hexi
Hexi is a term with multiple uses in Chinese geography and toponymy. The most historically prominent is the Hexi Corridor (河西走廊), a geographic region in north-central China that runs through present-day Gansu Province. The corridor forms a natural route between the Tibetan Plateau to the south and the Mongolian steppes to the north, bounded by the Qilian Mountains and the Gobi Desert. It includes a sequence of oases and settlements along the Wei and Yellow River valleys, such as Zhangye, Wuwei, and Dunhuang. From ancient times, the Hexi Corridor served as a principal route of the Silk Road, facilitating trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange between Central Asia and the Chinese heartland. Control of the corridor was a strategic objective for various empires and dynasties due to its military and economic importance.
In contemporary use, Hexi (河西) means "west of the river" and is a common toponym in China. It