Antigua ruta del té y los caballos de Lashihai

The Lashihai Ancient Tea Horse Road refers to a preserved section of the historic Tea Horse Road trade network near Lashi Lake, not far from Lijiang's old town. The Tea Horse Road was a sprawling system of caravan routes across southwestern China that, for centuries, moved tea, salt, and other goods on the backs of horses and mules between Yunnan, Tibet, and beyond, functioning as a vital corridor of trade and cultural exchange in the region.

At the Lashihai section, visitors can experience a stretch of this historic route much as caravans once did, often by horseback, following paths that wind through the grasslands and hills around Lashi Lake. The experience emphasizes the atmosphere of the old trade route, with opportunities to see the kind of terrain that muleteers and traders would have crossed, set against the pastoral backdrop of the lake and surrounding mountains. It offers a tangible connection to a trade network long regarded as one of the most historically and culturally significant in southwestern China.

Because this attraction is closely tied to the Lashi Lake area, visitors typically combine it with other activities there, such as horseback excursions or wetland walks, rather than treating it as a separate destination. Riding tours along the old road are commonly offered locally, and comfortable outdoor clothing is recommended given the rural, open-air setting.

Located just outside Lijiang, the Lashihai Ancient Tea Horse Road makes for an evocative half-day addition to a visit to the Lashi Lake area, giving travelers a sense of the region's historic trade heritage alongside its natural scenery.