Source: Indian Express

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Context

Xu Feihong, China’s Ambassador to India, highlighted the historic significance of the Tea Horse Road and its role in strengthening India-China ties through history on February 25, 2025

About Tea horse road                                                                

• This Tea Horse Road is an ancient trade network which acts as a connector among India, Tibet, and China, played an instrumental role in commerce and cultural exchange for centuries.
• This route is useful for the movement of valuable commodities like tea, horses across some of the world's most challenging terrains.
• The Tea Horse Road traces its origins to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE).
• Buddhist monk Yijing (635-713 CE) documented early trade exchanges. He mentioned the movement of goods such as sugar, textiles, and rice noodles from China. And also horses, Tibetan gold, saffron, and medicinal herbs were exported.
• The length spans over 2,000 km
• Passed through Dali, Lijiang of Yunnan Province, Lhasa of Tibet
• Elevation up to 10,000 feet in the Himalayas
• Challenges include harsh terrain, extreme weather, and high altitudes
• After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong’s reforms related to land significantly changed the trade patterns that used to exist earlier and also with the advancement of modern transportation, the historic trade route lost its relevance.
• However, few remnants of this route still remain intact, in regions like Lijiang, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 due to its historical significance in trade.
• The renewed focus on this route serves as a reminder of the deep historic ties between India and China.

Source:

INDIAN EXPRESS