The Tea Horse Road: for Exchange and Convergence

2024-12-03 15:17:00

The Tea Horse Road winds through the towering mountains of southwest China.

Since the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century, people from China’s inland regions and its southwestern border areas exchanged tea, horses, and other goods, carving out a mysterious trade route through the mountains with countless caravans and porters.

The barter trade on the Tea Horse Road feels familiar to David Couvidat from France. In his homeland, mule caravans carried salt from Camargue along the "Salt Road" to Rouergue (now in Aveyron), exchanging it for timber used in shipbuilding.

Having lived in China for six years, David has been actively promoting French language and culture. Moments of discovery often leave him marveling at the fascinating connections across time and space between China and France.

More often, he finds himself captivated by the unique charm of Chinese culture as he embarks on journeys across the country. This time, accompanied by Gong Liang, honorary director of Nanjing Museum, his destination is Pu’er City in Yunnan Province, where there are well-preserved remnants of the Tea Horse Road.

The mystery of the Tea Horse Road has long fascinated David. To him, tea, the primary commodity traded along the route, embodies the distinct flavor of China. The fact that this ancient pathway leads to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau—often called "the roof of the world"—adds an air of wonder.

The journey offered a rich tapestry of experiences, appealing to any foreign expat with its aromatic tea, diverse cultures, unique customs of various ethnic groups, and breathtaking landscapes.

Walking along the stone-paved path, David found the fresh mountain air invigorating, adding to the charm of the hike. Yet the uneven, slippery, and steep stones made progress challenging. He couldn't help but wonder: How did people undertake such long and arduous journeys? And what stories lay hidden behind their adventures?

It dawned on David that tea is more than just a beverage or a lifestyle. It represents a shared aspiration for a better life among different ethnic groups. Driven by this common goal, these ethnic groups have cooperated and supported each other for generations.

For thousands of years, it was their collective effort that gave rise to the Tea Horse Road and expanded it into a sprawling network of trade and cultural exchange routes. This enduring spirit of unity and collaboration, he realized, is the foundation that has sustained Chinese civilization for millennia.