A herder leads a sheep from the flock to prepare it for transporting salt in Yanhu Township in Ngari Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region on July 20, 2025.
/VCGA herder leads a sheep from the flock to prepare it for transporting salt in Yanhu Township in Ngari Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region on July 20, 2025.
/VCGIn Yanhu Township (literally "Salt Lake Township") in Ngari, Xizang, a community once reliant on herding and the salt trade is finding new ways to thrive.Locals harvest coarse salt from the Salt Lake in Yanhu Township in Ngari Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region on July 20, 2025.
/VCGLocals harvest coarse salt from the Salt Lake in Yanhu Township in Ngari Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region on July 20, 2025.
/VCGOver a thousand years ago, more than 50 salt caravans operated in the Ngari area.
Herders transported natural salt on the backs of sheep, making their way to Purang, Shigatse, India, and Nepal.
In return, they bartered for highland barley, tea bricks, cloth, and other daily necessities – giving rise to the legendary "Salt-and-Sheep Route."The Rock Art Heritage Park, one of the attractions along the "Salt-and-Sheep Route," is seen in Yanhu Township in Ngari Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region on July 20, 2025.
/VCGThe Rock Art Heritage Park, one of the attractions along the "Salt-and-Sheep Route," is seen in Yanhu Township in Ngari Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region on July 20, 2025.
/VCGToday, the ancient trade route is being revitalized through the establishment of coarse salt processing facilities and the promotion of cultural tourism, injecting new vitality into this time-honored tradition.