Yanjing on the Tea-Horse Trade

Fetching salt water from wells, digging a saltwater pond, putting up salt shelters, and sun-drying the water to produce salt.

This is the traditional way of making salt still adopted by many people in Yanjin.

Yanjin in Mangkang County is so named to match the fact that the area is filled with yan (salt) jin (wells).
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a county was set up here to supervise salt production. According to Records of Yanjin County, there were some 50 salt wells in Yanjin at that time. they Produced some 1.5 million kg of salt a year, yielding an annual tax of 5,000 Tibetan dollars.

As salt was among the goods carried over tea-horse trade route, Yanjin was famous at that time.
Saltwater shelters were put up along the mountain slopes skirted by the Lancangjiang River. They provide a unique view from a distance.

Nowadays, the salt price is dropping as a result of improved transport facilities, a fact that leads to the import of more salt. But Yanjin salt still enjoys a good name. Local herders believe their animals grow healthier if they consume salt produced in Yanjin.

Scholars say Yanjin is highly likely to apply for entry as a World Cultural Heritage site.

Huts were set up along the mountain slopes in Yanjin Township for salt production.

Women carrying dozens of kg of salt water from the salt well to huts.

Salt water is poured into salt fields for salt production.

Salt fields built with sand and stone, that produce salt in a couple of days. As salt produced here contain much more clay and sand, that help cows and sheep digest, salt produced here are sold mostly to the live-stock breeding area.

Women in Yanjin fetching salt water from a well by the river.