The Significance and Geography of the Tea Horse Road
The Silk Road is probably one of the most well-known and signifi- cant trade routes in all of history. Tucked in the verdant landscape of southwestern China, however, is a lesser-known route that parallels the Silk Road in cultural and historical importance. This other ancient route spans a not unimpressive 2, 350 kilometers, traversing some of the most diverse and mutable terrains in the world. For thousands of years, trav- elers have been lured across its snow-capped mountains, precipitous canyons and lively streaming rivers to discover some of the most beau- tiful landscapes in all of China.
As its name literally translated as “the ancient tea horse road”, it was a central trade route for exchanging Tibetan horses and Chinese tea in the past.
The corridor came to play a crucial role in the communication and exchange between the cultures of present-day Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet, with the route passing through, among a number of important posts, the volcanic ranges of Tengchong , the colorful culture and dwellings of the Khamba people in Changdu , the breathtaking gorges of Lijiang , through Tibet as far as Burma and India.
The Origin and Development of the Tea - Horse Trade
The tea horse trade was formalized by the Tubo regime and the Tang Dynasty court, but archaeological evidence suggests that ample migration and communication may have existed among ethnic groups from these parts even up to 5, 000 years ago. In fact, it is through the close communication of Tibetans with the Chinese imperial court and southwestern minority groups that the thirst for tea developed in Tibet. First introduced to the nobles, the delicacy very quickly became a staple part of the Tibetan meat-heavy diet, and the trade between the two began to blossom as the Chinese military possessed a dire need for strong horses to supply their forces.
The Routes and the Decline of the Tea Horse Road
The Tea Horse Road had two main routes stemming from different major points of tea production (Pu’er in Yunnan and Ya’an in Sichuan) which converged before continuing through the mountains into Tibet. These routes existed for over a century until World War II, when trade was blockaded, and the modern era replaced caravan travel with mod- ern roads and railways.
