Traveling Through China’s Tea-Horse Road
Author: allenfav | Posted: 15.03.2012Tea has been a favorite Chinese drink since ages. Chinese people use to offer drinks to their guests as a symbol of warmth. Tea has originated from the tropical land of Xishuangbanna. Xishuangbanna lies at the foothills of Tibetan plateau. Province of Yunnan forms the link between the Chinese drinkers and tea growers.
In olden days, traders and growers use to meet at the tea market, which came to be known as Tea horse road. Today, China visa travelers can find traces of that market. The old shelters for horses, paved roads and the shops can be easily noticed by China visa travelers. This road was considered as the silk route between Tibet and Xishuangbanna.
Beginning from one end of the road in southern Yunnan, china visa travelers can see the beautiful tea plantations until they reach the other end of the road in northwest Shangri La or Zhongdian. The Tibetan territory starts approximately 10,000 feet above Xishuangbanna. A large part of the area is dominated by tea planters and tea traders. Chinese visa holders can recognize the tea planters very easily in their regional dresses.
On the way to Tea horse market china visa travelers can notice some of the following hamlets and villages.
Xishuangbanna
Xishuangbanna is a small district under the governance of the tropical low lands of Yunnan. The green vegetation on the slops of Xishuangbanna Mountain is a perfect panoramic view. China visa travelers can experience the lovely smell of tea all around the area. Tea is transported in form of pancakes in this region.
Dali
The vertical peaks, approximately 4,000 feet above Dali give the feeling of guards at duty. China visa travelers can notice the city of Dali in a different look with white color houses and flowers on the borders of the wall. The people of Dali work as brokers between tea planters and traders of Xishuangbanna.
Shaxi
The next station after Dali is Shaxi. This station has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. China visa travelers can notice the old ancient markets with paved corridor, horse stables, motels that were once and even today are used by traders. The market crossing features sculptures of tea planters. It was the meeting points of traders and local peoples in the evening. China visa travelers can enjoy the folk dance at the crossing in the evening.
Lijiang
Lijiang lies next to shaxi on the way to Tea horse road market. This place is all together different from other places. It features a weekly market along the road side. China visa travelers may not find traders in the market on a regular basis. UNESCO has put the place in the list of World heritage site because of different style of market. The river passing through the middle of the city carrying chilled water from snow covered mountain peaks gives a beautiful and stunning look. The pictorial look of the town is so beautiful that no china visa traveler will avoid visiting the place.
Shangri-La/Zhongdian
Until 2001, Shangri-La was commonly known as Zhongdian. Located at a height of 10,000 feet, Shangri-La emits sweet smell of raw wood with coal smoke laden over moist air. This place has mix architecture because of city being situated at the border of Tibet Province. The cold climate in the region helps in nourishing the tea properly. China visa travelers are offered tea blended with yak butter, which helps in increasing the calorific value of the tea.
About Author:
Rapid Visas is located in London, and highly experienced in obtaining China visa, be it for short term or long term visits to China.
Rapid Visas is located in London, and highly experienced in obtaining China visa, be it for short term or long term visits to China.
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