Today, fresh tea from a thousand miles away can be delivered the next day. However, about thirteen centuries ago, to accomplish this, it required couriers to travel for about half a year along the Ancient Tea Horse Road – a testament to how commerce persisted even across the most challenging terrain and geographical obstacles.

With three main arteries-- the Sichuan-Xizang route, the Yunnan-Xizang route, and the Qinghai-Xizang route, as well as many branches, the Ancient Tea Horse Road stretched beyond China into South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Legends of brave and adventurous travelers persisted along the Ancient Tea Horse Road, which played a crucial role in facilitating the significant exchange of goods and ideas between different cultures. The trade routes also facilitated interaction and interdependence among over 20 ethnic groups.

Today, the ancient routes have largely been supplanted by highways and railways. Drone-based laser surveying is used to explore the ancient road.

While the ancient Tea Horse Road has taken on a new look, Chinese people of different ethnic groups have continued their collaborative efforts to promote trade and cultural exchange.