Three Rivers Confluence - A Symphony of Nature and Humanity - Walking in China

Author: Wang Qinghua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Three Parallel Rivers, as one of the world's natural heritage sites, has always been a place people yearn to visit. Through the author's visits and experiences in the Three Parallel Rivers region, this book tells readers about the geological structure, geographical environment, and ethnic cultures of the Three Parallel Rivers area. The book is divided into five major sections: the spectacular and perilous geography of the Three Parallel Rivers, the rich and diverse species of the Three Parallel Rivers, the early-developed Jinsha River Basin, the multi-ethnic integrated Lancang River Basin, and the Nujiang River Basin that preserves primitive culture. The content is authentic and touching, with beautiful illustrations that complement the text, allowing readers to experience a soul-stirring journey through the Three Parallel Rivers while reading.
The Lijiang horse and the "Tama Road" traders: the horses traded and used on the "Tama Road" were actually not from Tibet but were bred in Lijiang and Kunming. It is said that in ancient Yunnan, the horse caravans preferred to use Lijiang horses. Many trading companies doing business in India mostly bought horses in Lijiang, organized caravans, and employed Tibetans to manage them. The mountain paths leading to Tibet were steep, high, and rugged, with narrow and winding trails. Many horses could not navigate the snowy mountain roads to Tibet, but Lijiang horses moved through them with ease. The northern caravans heading to Tibet did not use saddle frames to carry goods, a method known as "soft loading," which made it easier to travel through narrow and steep snow-capped canyons. The caravans heading to Tibet were usually large, with two to three hundred horses per group, primarily carrying tea. They were mostly the Bai ethnic group from Dali, the Naxi ethnic group from Lijiang, and the "Guzong" group from the Tibetan region, also known as the Tibetan group.
The term "Zangke" refers to the Naxi merchants on the "Tama Road." They raised their own horse caravans, hired horse drivers, and specialized in the Yunnan-Tibet trade. The Zangke organized caravans to travel along the northern route of the "Tama Road," from Lijiang to Lhasa, once a year, summering in Tibet and returning to Lijiang in winter. When heading to Tibet, the caravans carried bricks of tea, sugar, and daily necessities. On their return to Lijiang, they transported Tibetan cashmere, blankets, furs, and mountain goods and medicinal herbs. In the spring, the Zangke would travel south to Simao to buy tea. The caravans heading south from Lijiang generally used "hard loading," which meant the horses had shelves to carry goods. The main goods they transported were furs, mountain goods, and salt. The southern route of the "Tama Road" was relatively flat and had a milder climate. The Zangke traveled along the southern route with ease, singing and riding horses along the way. When they returned, they were strong, healthy, and full of vigor, full of spirit and enthusiasm. This is a long-standing, relatively primitive trade method of the Naxi people with Tibet. The Yunnan-Tibet trade of the Zangke was stable and profitable, with consistent gains, which is why it thrived for a long time.
P165-166