For thousands of years, only humans and horses treaded the mountains of Southwest China as they followed an ancient pathway through the Chinese hinterlands and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Along the unpaved and rugged pathway that was formed, commodities like tea, salt and sugar flowed into Tibet. Meanwhile, horses, cows, furs, musk and other local products made their way to the outside world. The road was called the tea-horse ancient road, and it stretched across more than 4,000 kilometers, mainly through Southwest China’s Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
The ancient commercial passage first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It also experienced the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties - or a period of more than 1,200 years. The road promoted exchanges in culture and religion, and saw ethnic migration that closely resembled what was experienced on the well-known Silk Road.
Along the ancient road lived more than 20 minorities. Concentrations of beautiful and mysterious natural landscapes and traditional cultures developed in various sites, including Dali old city, Lijiang old city, Shangrila, Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon, Potala Palace. The road features temples, rock paintings, post houses, ancient bridges and plank roads. It is also home to many national minorities and their dances and folk customs.
Two major routes
Roughly speak- ing, there were two main routes:
Route One: Begins in Ya’an in Sichuan Province to Qamdo via Luding, Kangd- ing, Litang and Batang before mer- ging with Route One into Lhasa.
Route Two: Begins in Xishuangbanna and Simao, home of Pu’er tea (via Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian, Benzilan and Deqeng) in Yunnan Province to Zugong, Bamda, Rewoqe, Zayu or Qamdo, Lholung, Benba, Jiali, Gongbogyangda, Lhasa, Gyangze and Yadong in Tibet, before continuing into Myanmar, Nepal and India.
Tens of thousands of traveling horses and yaks created a definite pathway with their hooves on the once-indiscernible road. Today, although even such traces of the ancient road are fading away, its cultural and historic values remain.
The Eternal Road
No matter what is happening in the world, three types of things in the tea-horse ancient road will continue to exist: the beautiful and rustic nature scene, inviolable religion and simple Tibetan people.
This ancient road features the imposing scenery and a soul-stirring quiet. Some- times, things seem static and the sur- rounding mountains stand silent. There is a kind of beauty in the desolation that may easily lead people to believe they are experienced a prehistoric place when they visit.
The distant mountains reveal strong and exquisite ridges while rain and snow melt together, rushing down from the mountains and rapidly gathering before flowing into innumerable rivers.
If the mountains could form a skeleton of Tibet, the resulting rivers and streams might form their vessels, which pour vigor and vitality into the plateau.
Besides mountain and rivers, there are also many peculiar stones, incomparably marvelous clouds, as well as unusual light illuminating the sky as one travels the road.
Walking the tea-horse ancient road might allow one to see reverent pilgrims heading to holy city Lhasa. They walk slowly along the rugged road, some of them even crawling, butting heads as they move toward their sacred destination. Their arms and legs fester - foreheads dripping blood - but with eyes still full of light, granted comfort from their beliefs.
When you walk the road of Tibet in a cloudless dawn or under the glow of a sunset, the sights can stir the senses and seem an awakening experience.
Caravans on the Way
From ancient times, mabang (caravans) have been the main vehicles used for transportation.
Year after year, thousands of cara- vans traveled the rough road while the hoof beats and the sounds of clear bells broke the tranquility of the canyon. The road opened a vital pathway for economics and trade with the outside world.
In World War II, the tea-horse ancient road became the only transportation line for the southwest of China. Caravans trans- ported large quantities of international as- sistance from India, which greatly supported China’s Sino-Japanese War.
After the accomplishment of the Dian- Zang Highway and the Chengdu-Lhasa Highway, automobiles replaced the cara- vans, and the tea-horse ancient road be- came a part of history. But in the outlying mountainous area of Yunnan Province, caravans remain the main source of trans- portation today.
The tea-horse ancient road - from ancient times through its present history - contributes greatly to the national spirit of the Chinese people. It represents continuity as an eternal monument in the history of China.
Culture Treaded by Feet
文化的脚迹
The tea- horse ancient road is hard and dange- rous, yet the natural land- scape along it stimulates people’s un- derlying courage, strength and endurance while helping to provide meaning to life.
In addition, Tibetan Buddhism has provided widespread doctrine on the tea-horse ancient road, further promoting economic dialogue, cultural exchanges, along with unity and friendship between the nationalities of Naxi, Bai, Tibetan and other ethnic groups.
Some reverent artists have drawn and carved massive images of Buddha, Bodhisattva, eminent monks, God animals, conch, and other heavenly bodies on rocks along the roadside. These have increased a kind of sacred dignity for the ancient roadway.
With thousands of years of history behind it, the tea-horse ancient road - like a big corridor connecting various nationa- lities - has developed the local economy, stimulated the commodity markets in co- mmunities, and promoted the develop- ment of border trade as well. It has pro- moted agriculture and the raising of animals while at the same time providing a source of enjoyment for local art, religion, culture, and ideologies. It has helped many in the nation obtain unprecedented prosperity and development.
译文:
茶马古道
几千年来,在中国内地和青海，西藏高原之间,只有人和马循着一条古道穿梭于中国西南部的崇山峻岭之间. 沿着崎岖的古道,茶,盐,糖等商品流进了西藏,同时马,奶牛,皮毛,麝香等地方特产传到了外面的世界.这条被称为茶麻古道的路全程延绵4000多公里,从四川最西南到云南省,一直到西藏自治区.
这条古代贸易通道首先出现在唐代(618-907年),经历宋,元,明,清朝,共1200多年.该通道促进了文化和宗教的交流,和著名的丝绸之路一样促进了种族大迁移.
沿着古道居住着20多个少数民族。美丽神秘的自然景观和传统文化的汇合促进了一些地方的发展，包括大理古城，漓江古城，亚鲁藏布江，布达拉宫。一路上有很多寺庙，岩画，驿站，古桥，木板路。同时也是许多少数民族，少数民族舞蹈和民俗的发源地。
两条主道
大体说来，有两条主道。
第一条：从四川雅安出发到昌都，然后途经泸定、康定、理塘和巴塘，最后到达拉萨
第二条：从西双版纳和盛产普洱茶的思茅出发，途经云南大理、丽江、中甸、奔子栏和德钦，然后到达西藏Zugong，Bamda，Rewoqe，Zayu or Qamdo，Lholung，Benba，Jiali, Gong- bogyangda，拉萨，Gyangze 和Yadong，之后到达缅甸、尼泊尔和印度。
上万的马和牦牛用它们的蹄子踩出一条清晰可见的道路。时至今日,即使这条古道的踪迹消失了，但其文化和历史意义依然存在。
永恒的路
不论世界发生了什么，茶马古道上的三件东西将一直存在：美丽,原始的自然风景，神圣的宗教，和淳朴的藏族人民。
古道景色迷人,宁静僻远。有时，万物皆静，四周群山寂静无语。这种与世隔绝的美容易把人带到一个空灵的远古地带。
雪雨融化到一起，远山显现出刚劲而精致的山脊，雨雪从山上冲下来，很快汇合在一起，而后流入千万条河流中。
如果说山脉形成了西藏的骨架的话，那么河流和溪流就是它们的血管，给这个高原注入无限的活力和生机。 除了山脉和河流外，古道沿途还有许多其形怪状的石头，无与伦比的云彩，有时行人在路上还会看到闪电照亮了整个天空的奇观。
古道沿途还能看到许多虔诚的朝圣者前往圣城拉萨。他们在这崎岖到路上漫漫走着，有的甚至曲膝爬行，一路扣头前往圣地。他们的手臂和腿都化脓了，前额流着血，但双眼依然炯炯有神，是信仰给了他们安慰。
在一个云淡风清的黎明或夕阳余辉下，走在去西藏的路上，你会感受到震撼心灵的景色和振奋精神的经历。
途中的大篷车
自古，马帮就是古道上主要的交通方式
一年又一年，上千的大篷车穿过这条崎岖的山路，马蹄声和驼铃声打破了峡谷的宁静。这条古道开辟了一条重要的对外经贸的道路。
第二次世界大战中，茶马古道成为中国西南唯一的运输通道。大棚车从印度运进很多资助品，大大地支持了中国的抗日战争。
在滇藏高速公路和川藏高速完工后，机动车取代了大棚车，茶麻古道也就成了历史。但在云南偏僻山区，至今，大棚车仍然是主要的运输工具。
从古至今，茶马古道极大地影响着中国人民的民族精神，它仍将是中国历史上永恒的纪念碑。
文化的脚迹
茶马古道艰难险峻，然而沿途的自然景观激发了人们潜在的勇气，力量和耐力，帮助人们追寻生命的意义。
另外，茶马古道还促进了藏传佛教的广泛传播，促进了经济对话，文化交流，推进了纳西族，白族，藏族和其他民族之间的大融合和友谊。
沿路岩石上有许多佛像，菩萨像，著名僧侣，神圣动物的画像或雕塑，这些都出自一些虔诚的艺术家之手。它们更增加了古道的神圣色彩。
一些虔诚的艺术家在沿路的岩石上刻了或画了许多佛像，菩萨像，僧侣像，以及贝壳和天体像，这些画像更增加了古道的神圣色彩，使人们更加地崇敬这个地方。
几千年来，茶马古道就像连接各民族的巨大长廊一样，发展了当地经济，激发了民族间商品市场的发展，推动了边界贸易的发展。它促进了农业和畜牧业的发展，同时形成了特别受欢迎的地方艺术，宗教，文化和意识形态，促进个各个民族在各领域内史无前例的繁荣和发展。