Yunnan's ancient Tea Horse Road, crucial for trade between China and Tibet, remains vital in preserving cultural heritage. In the small hamlet of Niding, elder Qing Lao reminisces about the mule-drawn caravans of the 1960s and 70s that transported precious pu-erh tea and more. Locals shared their resources with weary travelers, highlighting a spirit of camaraderie and mutual respect. This trade route, over 1,200 years old, has shaped lifestyles in the region, facilitating exchanges of goods and traditions, yet shows signs of modern encroachment, diminishing the once-thriving trade.
"They'd come from there," said Qing Lao, pointing a leathery finger at the snow-cloaked mountains from where the caravans would appear.
"We're all Tibetans, mountain folk," said Lao, pouring me another cup. "We knew the hardships they'd been through."
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