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When did sea routes begin to replace the Silk Road routes near the Takla Makan Desert?

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Map of Asia highlighting the location of the Takla Makan Desert in northwestern China, with the desert area shaded in orange. Surrounding regions, including parts of Europe, Africa, and the Pacific Ocean, are shown for geographic context. An inset in the top right corner provides a global view with the desert's location marked. — Takla Makan Desert The Takla Makan Desert is flanked by high mountain ranges: the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west.

Sea routes began to replace the old overland Silk Road routes, which skirted the Takla Makan Desert, by the 15th and 16th centuries.1