Hohhot's historic ties to ancient tea road: A legacy of trade, culture

A picture shows the Dashengkui of the ancient tea road. Dashengkui refers to the historical trading company along the ancient tea road. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

Hohhot – capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – was historically known as Guihua city and it played a significant role along a centuries-old tea road, an ancient trade route that connected China, Mongolia and Russia.

This 13,000-kilometer route, originating in the Wuyi Mountains of East China's Fujian province, stretched to St. Petersburg in Russia – facilitating trade from the 17th century until the early 20th century.

As a key hub, Hohhot city thrived with bustling trade, especially during major temple fairs when merchants and herders gathered to exchange goods.

Today, Hohhot's connection to this historic route remains vital, as the city continues to celebrate its cultural significance and the bonds fostered between nations.

The English version of Tea Road, written by Deng Jiugang. [Photo/WeChat account of Wenlyu Qingcheng]

Deng Jiugang, a local author who has extensively researched the tea road, reflects on how this route shaped Hohhot's history and its way of life. His father, a caravan leader, guided camels across Xinjiang, inspiring Deng's passion for documenting these stories.

Though modern transportation has replaced the old camel caravans, the spirit of the tea road endures through initiatives like China's Belt and Road – enhancing cultural and economic ties between China, Mongolia and Russia. The ancient tea road's legacy is still alive, promoting tourism, trade and cultural exchanges in the 21st century.