What nomadic people were there in Xinjiang during the Qin and Han Dynasties?

During the pre-Qin and Han dynasties, nomadic tribes active in Xinjiang generally included Qiang, Sai, Yue, Wusun and Gushi.

As early as 1000 BC, the footprints of ancient teachers (also called drivers) appeared in Turpan as the center and as far away as Urumqi, Jimsar and Ji Tai. They are the aborigines of this area.

Qiang people mainly live in Ruoqiang-centered areas, and there are still many places around Kunlun Mountain called "A Qiang", all of which are historical sites of the ancient Qiang people.

Serbs, Wusun people and Dayue people once lived in Hexi and Longyou areas of Gansu. When Da Yue became powerful, he drove away the Serbs and Wusun. The Serbs moved westward to the Ili Valley, and Wusun took refuge in the Xiongnu in the north. Later, the Huns became powerful, expanding their power to the west and south, and driving away the Dayue people in the Hexi Corridor. The westward Yue family caught up with the Serbs on the Pamirs, and occupied the Ili River Valley with abundant aquatic plants.

Then, Wusun, supported by Xiongnu, defeated Dayue, forcing them to move to "Middle Earth" between Amu Darya River and Syr Darya River in Central Asia (mainly in present-day Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan). After Wusun occupied the Ili Valley, his strength increased greatly, and he turned against the Huns and got rid of their control.