The Palette of the Lancang River: The 1300-Year-Old Living Fossil of Hand-Crafted Salt at Mangkang Ancient Salt Fields

A Colored Wonder on the Banks of the Lancang River

Hidden deep within the褶 folds of the Hengduan Mountains, where the Lancang River (Mekong) carves through deep red canyons, lies a spectacle of human ingenuity and natural beauty: the Mangkang Ancient Salt Fields (Yanjing). Located in the Naxi Ethnic Township of Mangkang County, Chamdo, Tibet, this site sits at an altitude of approximately 2,300 meters,. It is not merely a production site but a breathtaking landscape where over 3,000 salt fields are suspended on wooden stilts along the steep cliffs on both sides of the turbulent river. From a distance, these terraced fields look like crystal boxes reflecting the sky, shimmering with colors of red, white, and blue under the plateau sun,. This area represents the only surviving example of primitive manual salt production in China, often described as a "living fossil" of the ancient salt industry.

A Legacy of 1300 Years

The history of salt production here dates back over 1,300 years to the Tang Dynasty,. According to local legend, the salt springs were discovered by a sacred deer, leading the ancestors to settle and harvest this "white gold" from the earth. Historically, this area was a crucial node on the Tea Horse Road (specifically the Salt-Tea Ancient Road). Caravans would transport the salt produced here to neighboring regions in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet, trading it for tea, grain, and other necessities. The salt fields are a testament to the resilience and wisdom of the local people—primarily the Naxi and Tibetan ethnic groups—who have maintained these traditions through centuries of change.

The Tale of Two Colors: Red and White

1.One of the most fascinating features of the: Mangkang Salt Fields is the distinct color difference between the two banks of the river. The river serves as a natural divide:

• 2.West Bank (Jiada Village): Here, the salt fields are constructed using local red clay. Due to the mineral content of the soil, the salt produced here takes on a reddish hue, known as "Red Salt" (Hongyan). This salt is typically used for livestock or making butter tea. The red fields against the green mountains and blue water create a striking visual contrast, often compared to a massive palette spilled by nature.
• 3.East Bank (Yanjing Village): On this side, the fields are built with white sand and clay. The resulting salt is pure white, known as "White Salt" (Baiyan), which is of higher quality and used primarily for human consumption. The white crystalline fields sparkle in the sunlight, offering a pristine and delicate beauty.

The Art of Wind and Sun

The production process here is entirely natural and relies on the elements. Salt farmers, mostly women, collect brine from ancient wells located by the riverbank. They carry the heavy brine up narrow paths to their family's salt fields, which are supported by wooden pillars driven into the cliffs. The brine is poured into the shallow clay pans, where the strong canyon winds and intense sunlight evaporate the water, leaving behind the salt crystals,. The most prized product is the "Peach Blossom Salt" (Taohua Yan), harvested between March and May. During this season, the weather is mild, and the sun is gentle, producing salt that is translucent, white, and pure, resembling peach blossoms in its delicate quality.

A Living Cultural Heritage

Visiting Mangkang is not just about seeing the landscape; it is an immersion into a unique cultural blend. The area is the only Naxi autonomous township in Tibet, where Naxi traditions have blended with Tibetan culture over generations. Visitors can walk along the ancient plank roads, peer into the deep salt wells, and watch the salt farmers at work, witnessing a lifestyle that has remained largely unchanged for a millennium. The site also features the rare Salt Well Catholic Church nearby, the only Catholic church in the Tibet Autonomous Region, adding another layer of cultural diversity to this remote valley.