What was the main means of transportation on the ancient Silk Road?

The main means of transportation on the ancient Silk Road was the camel.

The Silk Road was an ancient trade route connecting China and the West, generally referred to as the Land Silk Road, and broadly divided into the Land Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road. Land Silk Road originated in the Western Han Dynasty (202-8 years ago), Han Wu Di sent Zhang Qian to the Western Regions to open up the capital of Chang'an (today's Xi'an) as a starting point, and connected to the Mediterranean countries of the land passage. The Maritime Silk Road was a sea route for transportation, trade and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries in ancient times.

Route Map:

The Desert Oasis Silk Road is the main route of the Northern Silk Road, which is more than 7,000 kilometers long and divided into three sections: the eastern, central and western sections. The eastern section from Chang'an to Dunhuang, relatively stable compared to the middle and western sections, but west of Chang'an and divided into 3 lines:

①North line from Chang'an, along the Weihe River to Guoxian (today's Baoji), through the Zhanxian (today's Longxian), over the Liupan Mountains Guyuan and Haiyuan, along the Zu Li River, in Jingyuan across the Yellow River to Guzang (today's Wuwei), the distance is shorter, along the way the supply conditions are poor, it is the early route.

②The southern route was from Chang'an, along the Wei River through Longguan, Shangji (today's water), Didao (today's Lintao), Quercus (today's Linxia), crossing the Yellow River at Yongjing, going through Xining, and crossing the Doudoupai Valley (today's Yidu Kou) to Zhangye.

③The center line and the south line split at Shangji, crossed the Longshan Mountains, went to Jincheng County (present-day Lanzhou), crossed the Yellow River, traced the Zhuanglang River, and went over the Wusheng Mountain to Guzang. Although the supply conditions of the southern line are good, but the detour is longer, so the central line later became the main trunk line.