Chaantang Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Relics in Ninger County, Puer

Chaantang Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Relics in Ninger County, Puer
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Chinese Name: 宁洱县茶庵塘段茶马古道
English Name: Chaantang Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Relics in Ninger County, Puer

The Pu’er Tea Horse Road, originating from the administrative center of Pu’er (now Ning’er County), was a crucial ancient transportation route primarily used for the trade of Pu’er tea, connecting both domestic and international markets. In 2013, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit by the State Council. This road served as a vital corridor for economic and cultural exchanges among ethnic groups in southwest China and played a significant role in promoting unity among border ethnicities and consolidating national cohesion.Chaantang Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Relics in Ninger County, Puer

Tea An Tang Segment

Among the various sections of the Tea Horse Road, the Tea An Tang segment is one of the best-preserved parts of the official horse road from Ning’er to Kunming. Constructed during the Qing Dynasty between the 17th year of the Jiaqing reign and the 3rd year of the Daoguang reign (1812–1824), Tea An Tang was historically a relay station on the ancient route from Pu’er to Kunming. It featured facilities such as an official reception hall, a reception courtyard, tea houses, temples, and horse stables (with the reception hall and courtyard having been restored). The name “Tea An” reflects its importance as a checkpoint during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Due to its steep slopes and dangerous peaks, it was described as a path only passable by birds, hence the nickname “Tea An Bird Path.”Chaantang Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Relics in Ninger County, PuerChaantang Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Relics in Ninger County, Puer

Preservation and Experience

This section of the Tea Horse Road is well-preserved, with vegetation intact and the rocks on the path bearing numerous deep hoof prints from long-term mule and horse traffic. Walking along this ancient path evokes the feeling of “narrow paths full of sorrowful returns, dangerous peaks evoking fear.” The segment spans approximately 12 kilometers, extending from Tea An Tang to the north, passing through Mohei Banchang, Laojiezi, and Sitang Temple, and connecting to the Peacock Screen section.

Chaantang Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Relics in Ninger County, Puer

Chaantang Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Relics in Ninger County, Puer

Cha’antang section of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road

This part of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road is 8 km north from Ning’er county seat. Cha’antang was historically the first stop from Pu’er to Kunming and then northwards Beijing; its name originates from a temple called Cha’an and a checkpoint (called Xuntang in Chinese in the Qing Dynasty).

The well preserved Cha’antang section of the Road was a government funded project that was completed during 1812-1824 in order to facilitate the transportation of Puerh tea offered as tribute to the imperial court. The Qing court once arranged 5 soldiers to station here and set up a lunge (to accommodate officials), Puji Temple, Heshang Temple, Nunnery, tea house and caravansary, etc.

2 metres wide and about 5 km long, the section of Road stretches on the steep Cha’an slope on the high mountain with towering ancient trees. It is said that only birds can fly over the road so the section of the road is also called “Cha’an Birds Way”.

The road is paved with slab stones along the hills and valleys where one can see verdant vegetation, captivating sceneries and hear the chirps of birds and insects.  Therefore, Cha’antang section of the ancient tea horse road was listed as one of the great eights in ancient times in Puyang (nowadays Ning’er).

Tea An Tang Tea Horse Ancient Road

Tea An Tang segment of the Tea Horse Ancient Road is located 8 kilometers north of Ning’er County. It served as the first relay station from Puer Prefecture to Kunming, and onward to Beijing, known as the provincial capital. Named after the Tea An Temple and a crucial floodgate, it became known as “Tea An Tang.” This section of the Tea Horse Ancient Road was constructed between the 17th year of Emperor Jiaqing’s reign and the 3rd year of Emperor Daoguang’s reign in the Qing Dynasty (1812-1824 AD), funded by the government to facilitate the tribute transport of Pu’er tea to Beijing. Today, it stands as one of the better-preserved segments of the official horse road.

Features and Historical Significance

During the Qing Dynasty, Tea An Tang had five soldiers stationed there and featured administrative offices, temples such as the Puji Temple, monasteries for monks and nuns, tea houses, and horse stables. The road itself is approximately 2 meters wide, spanning intermittently for about 5 kilometers. Due to its steep slopes, high mountains, perilous paths, and towering ancient trees, folklore suggests that only birds could traverse these paths, earning it the nickname “Tea An Bird Path.”

Scenic Beauty and Cultural Importance

The road is paved with large and rectangular stones, winding through dense forests where the melodious sounds of birds and insects blend with the lush scenery. It is renowned as one of the “Eight Ancient Sceneries of Puyang” for its unique landscapes. During the Qing Dynasty, Pu’er tribute student Shu Xisheng wrote a poem titled “Tea An Bird Path,” vividly describing the majestic and perilous journey along Tea An Tang: “The rugged bird path locks the heroic border, straight to the sky. Leaves flutter lightly in the wind outside the ape cave, vine flowers and fine rain ahead of the horse’s hooves. As dawn breaks over the mountain slopes, the stone stack holds the wild villa’s smoke in spring. Pointing to the Central Plains, from here, the warbler’s song urges the ancestral whip.”

This verse vividly depicts the Tea An Tang relay station’s majestic and perilous scenery, illustrating scenes of tea horse caravans passing through the Tea An Bird Path.