Ancient Tea Horse Road
The
term cha ma dao or Tea Horse Road originated during the period of Tang dynasty.
It connected the southwest part of China to Northern India as well as China. At
present, it is normally known by the name chama gudao or Ancient Tea Horse
Road. Another name is Southern Silk Road. It was a significant network or web
of paths which wind around the hills and mountains in Yunnan province. These
paths were especially for the mule caravans. Nearly one thousand years back,
this route was a very important link for trade from major tea producing spots
of Yunnan to Bengal via Burma. It also linked to central China and Tibet too.
No Silk but only
Salt and Sugar:
Apart
from the trading of tea, salt was also carried by mule caravans. Horses as well
as people had carried loads that were very heavy. Most tea porters were found
to carry tea of sixty to ninety kilograms. It was via this network of trade
that tea bricks were initially spread across Asia and China from its native
place known as Pu’er County in Yunnan. The term Tea Horse Road was introduced
because there was trade of the Tibetan ponies for tea produced in China. This
ancient route actually stretched south to north as well as east to west across
the southwest portion of China, which included the Tibet to today, into India
and Nepal. Being renowned for major commodities – horse and tea, it gained this
special name. This name has made it very popular across the globe. No silk was
traded along Ancient Tea Horse Road, but salt and sugar!
This
route spans nearly five thousand kilometers in length. Lot of travelers from
different parts of the world visits this place as a curious explorer. It helps
in broadening the knowledge on Himalayas as well as tea incredibly. Ancient Tea
Horse Road is also known as Gyalam to Tibetans which meant Wide Road. Some
people call it ‘The Eternal Road’. For old uninterrupted days, migrants,
warriors, laden caravans, and villains considered this huge path in mountains
as that one that has capacity to give and take their lives. Now, this road is
rated as a very incredible and daunting path across the globe.
Invention
of Shoucha:
An
attractive side note linked to Ancient tea Horse Road is discovery of Pu’er Tea
that is post fermented. It is also called Shoucha. It is said that post
fermented Pu’er tea which is appreciated within India and across the globe was
in a way, byproduct of Ancient Tea Horse Road itself.
Tourism
elements:
At
present, the Ancient Tea Horse road calls up romantic pictures of tea traders,
amazing scenery and mule caravans. The tourism along this route is having a
great revival and is being supported by several authorities of Chinese tourism.
Therefore, one can visit the very old trade towns located in this mule caravan
routes. The two major towns, namely Dali and Xizhou situated in Yunnan were one
important halts along this old route.
Travel
Tips:
It
is easy to reach Yunnan. Kunming Chanshui International Airport, railways and
bus services are available. Regular bus services are there which can take you
to the Ancient Tea Horse road.
0 评论: