What was the first important trade route from Europe to China?

Answer 1

There was a route during the Middle Ages called the Silk Road, which went from China, across Central Asia to Eastern Europe. There was transportation through the area before the Silk Road opened, also, but it was less important.

Some ancient transportation went through Persia, but it did not distribute much between China and Europe, tending more to distribute between Persia and both destinations. This meant that the Chinese goods and European goods stopped in Persia and did not go farther.

Trade routes connected China with India by land and sea. From India, there were sea routes to the Middle East.

Answer 2

If not mistaken, Europeans took ships to the Arabian Peninsula. From there they travels through the Pamir Mountains and the Taklamakan Desert. The Gobi Desert was then passed until they entered larger cities in the Chinese Empire.