Editing Mithridates II of Parthia (section)

== Diplomatic activity with China ==
[[File:Silk from Mawangdui 2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Han dynasty|Han-dynasty]] Chinese [[silk]] from [[Mawangdui]], 2nd century BC, silk from [[History of China|China]] was perhaps the most lucrative luxury item the Parthians traded at the western end of the [[Silk Road]]{{sfn|Garthwaite|2005|p=78}}]]
In 121 BC the Chinese under [[Emperor Wu of Han]] had defeated the [[Xiongnu]] in the east and were expanding westwards in force. In [[Ferghana]] the Chinese encountered the sphere of influence of the Parthians. A Chinese delegation to the Parthian court is attested for the year 120 BC. In the following year the [[Silk Road]] was opened up to trade.{{sfn|Schippmann|1986|pp=525–536}} The strength and welfare of the empire under Mithridates II has been described by one Chinese traveler as the following:

{{quote box|width=750px|align=center|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|quote="Anxi [Parthia] is situated several thousand ''[[Li (unit)|li]]'' west of the region of the Great Yuezhi. The people are settled on the land, cultivating the fields and growing rices and wheat. They also make wine out of grapes. They have walled cities like the people of Dayuan [Farghana], the region containing several hundred cities of various sizes. The kingdom, which borders the Gui [Oxus River], is very large, measuring several thousand ''li'' square. Some of the inhabitants are merchants who travel by cart or boats to neighbouring countries, sometimes journeying several thousand ''li''. The coins of the country are made of silver and bear the face of the king. When the king dies, the currency is immediately changed and new coins issued with the face of his successor. The people keep records by writing horizontally on strips of leather. To the west lies Tiaozhi [Mesopotamia] and to the north Yancai and Lixuan [Hyrcania]. Tiaozhi [Mesopotamia] is situated several thousand ''li'' west of Anxi [Parthia] and borders the western sea [the Persian Gulf]. It is hot and damp, and the people live by cultivating the fields and planting rice. In this region live great birds which lay eggs as large as pots. The people are very numerous and are ruled by many petty chiefs. The ruler of Anxi [Parthia] gives orders to these chiefs and regards them as his vassals. The people are very skillful at performing tricks that amaze the eye."|source=Sima Qian: 234–235{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=186–187}}}}