Xiyu
The historical term Xiyu ( Chinese 西域 , Pinyin Xiyu - "Western Regions / Western Areas") traditionally refers to those areas which during the Han period to the west of Yumen Pass ( 玉門關 / 玉门关 , Yumenguan , English Jade Gate ) and yang Passes ( 陽 關 / 阳 关 , Yángguān ), including what is now Xinjiang and part of Central Asia . In this area lay the thirty-six empires of the Western Regions .
The term has nothing to do with today's new understanding of East and West.