Reminiscent of older and more affluent times, the old salt mining town of Heijing is enjoying popularity once again. With buildings dating back 2,000 years, the ancient architecture draws admiring crowds.
With its remote mountainside location and snaking flagstone lanes, it is surprising that this town created one of the wealthiest empires in Yunnan Province. However, an abundance of salt lies deep in the mountains and once this resource was realised, money began to flow as fast as the brine.
Miners used simple pumps to extract the salt; the shafts still stand today, as monuments to those whose hard work brought the town prosperity. Grand mansions featuring intricate stone carvings and imposing gates are a reminder of the wealth that the town was once steeped in.
The large Feilai Temple overlooking the town and the Confucian temple, which is now a primary school, were built by the salt merchant families. In total 51 temples of Buddhism and Taoism, four mosques and 92 cultural relics are dotted around the town. Salt is still produced in the town, but mainly for tourist consumption and to make traditional dishes such as the town’s signature ‘salty chicken’.
Getting There & Away
The most popular way to access Heijing is to fly from Beijing to Kunming; daily flights take 2 hours, 30 minutes. From Kunming, trains take around 3 hours to reach Heijing.