During the second century B.C.E., the Silk Road was the longest road on earth, at over five thousand miles. It connected the Chinese city of Lu-oyang with the city of Rome in Western Europe and branched off to locations as far as India and Afghanistan. The journey from east to west started at Yumen, the Jade Gate, located at the western end of the Great Wall of China. Goods would have exchanged hands many times before reaching the furthest points along the road. The Road allowed ancient Romans access to painted Chinese silk, and other luxury items such as ivory, gold, gems, and spices.