During the Han Dynasty 漢 the realm of Ailao occupied the territory west of the upper course of the Yangtse River; the name is derived from the name of a chieftain. Ailao was famous for its natural products like minerals, and for its metal tools. At the begin of Eastern Han, the chieftain Xianli 賢栗 was officially installed as king, i.e. royal subject of the Han empire. The later kings like Liumao 柳貌 acted as governors of the commandery Yongchang 永昌郡. In the following two centuries until the Three Kingdoms period 三國 the inhabitants of Ailao immigrated into Chinese territory.