[3][4] Evidence of Han dynasty influences are apparent in artifacts excavated in the Baiyue tombs of modern southern China.

This sphere of influence eventually extended to various ancient Southeast Asian kingdoms, where contact led to the spread of Han Chinese culture, trade and political diplomacy.

[9] Zhao was born in the city of Zhending in Central China, and the ruling class of the new kingdom was composed of Chinese officials from the former Qin dynasty.

Battles between the Yue tribes occurred frequently, and Tian believed that protecting them was not a responsibility of the Han court.

[14]The Minyue surrendered after a Han naval force led by Zhuang Zhu was dispatched from Shaoxing in northern Zhejiang,[13] and withdrew from Eastern Ou.

[13] As general Yang Pu returned north with his soldiers after the Han–Nanyue War in 111 BC, he requested the emperor's permission to annex Dongyue.

[14] The revolt was repressed and the Han annexed Dongyue in the last months of 111 BC, conquering the remaining territory of the former Minyue.

This proposal was met with resistance in the Nanyue nobility which, although nominally tributary to the Han, had not paid tribute in years.

[21] Emperor Wu sent a military campaign consisting of 2,000 soldiers led by General Han Qianqiu to quell the revolt.

[22] The second campaign, led by the generals Lu Bode and Yang Pu, was dispatched by sea with 100,000 soldiers in the fall of 112 BC.

[23] In 135 BC, Tang Meng led the earliest Han expedition against Dian, establishing the Jianwei commandery in southwestern China.

The Dian tribes were involved in the trade of livestock, horses, fruit, and slaves, and was attractive to the Han because of their resources and metalworking expertise.

[25] Due to the Han–Xiongnu War on the north, the rising cost of administration in the distant state led to the Han abandoning the commandery.

They were part of an expedition traveling southwards to establish an alternative trade route for the goods reported in Central Asian markets in 122 BC.

[26] Dian was conquered during a military campaign launched by Emperor Wu of Han in 109 BC,[27] and the Yizhou commandery was established in the former kingdom.

Under Wang Mang's reign as usurper of the Han throne between 9–23 AD, hostilities in southwestern China persisted.

The Dian tribes west of Yuexi/Yuesui Commandery (越巂, modern Xichang in southern Sichuan) submitted to Han rule in 114 AD.

Excavations from the period have uncovered bronze mirrors, stoves, wells, incense burners, tripods, and lanterns manufactured in the style of the Han Chinese.

As in Guangdong, a number of Han-style mirrors, coins, ceramics, bronze, iron, and lacquerware were discovered in the region's tombs.

[34] Modern Yunnan in southwestern China was annexed into the Han Empire after the establishment of a Chinese prefecture in 109 BC.

[37] Remnants of Chinese pottery from the Han dynasty have been excavated in Sumatra, Borneo, and Java that date from the 1st century.

[37] Han dynasty emperors and their successors maintained commercial and diplomatic ties with various South and Southeast Asian kingdoms.

Han dynasty ships traveled as far as India, expanding the horizon for new foreign markets for Chinese goods and services through maritime trade within the orbit of the Indian Ocean.