The
Western Regions or
Xiyu (
Hsi-yu; ) was a historical name specified in the Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to the 8th century AD that referred to the regions west of
Yumen Pass, most often
Central Asia or sometimes more specifically the easternmost portion of it (e.g.
Altishahr or the
Tarim Basin in southern
Xinjiang), though it was sometimes used more generally to refer to other regions to the west of China as well, such as the
Indian subcontinent (as in the novel
Journey to the West).