On the 16th, the 6th Yunnan Ancient Tea Horse Road Photography Journey Experience Camp kicked off in Kunming. From today until August 24th, 26 teachers and students from six universities in Yunnan and Taiwan will visit Kunming, Lijiang, and the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Deqen to explore and document the Ancient Tea Horse Road and its surrounding cultural landscapes, promoting exchange and cooperation between Yunnan and Taiwan.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Director Zhang Can of the Taiwan Affairs Office of Yunnan Province introduced Yunnan and the Ancient Tea Horse Road. He stated that the Ancient Tea Horse Road had promoted economic and social development along its route, integrated various cultures, and fostered ethnic harmony. He hopes that participants will become witnesses to the changes on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, jointly carry forward its pioneering spirit; share their wonderful experiences in Yunnan, inviting friends and relatives to visit and experience “a way of life called Yunnan”; and lead exchanges and cooperation between young people across the straits, upholding the consciousness of the Chinese nation as a large family and the community of shared destiny for the Chinese nation, as well as the concept of “blood ties across the straits.”

This photo shows students from Yunnan and Taiwan exchanging small gifts. Photo by Huang Xinghong.

Zhang Chenyu, a student from Chinese Culture University in Taiwan who majors in Chinese and enjoys photography, shared that she was attracted to Yunnan after seeing photos at the Ancient Tea Horse Road photography exhibition in Taipei in October 2025. She registered for this activity and looks forward to exchanging and learning with teachers and students from other schools, documenting the Ancient Tea Horse Road and its scenic and cultural landscapes through her lens, and sharing her experiences when she returns to Taiwan.

Huang Jingying, a student from Yunnan Normal University, is eager for the event. She expressed her interest in Taiwanese culture and cuisine and intends to actively engage with her Taiwanese counterparts during their time together. She hopes this extraordinary journey will bring their hearts closer and deepen their friendship, establishing an unbreakable bridge of friendship.

At the opening ceremony, students from Yunnan Normal University, Chinese Culture University, National Taiwan Normal University, and other six universities in Yunnan and Taiwan exchanged small gifts before visiting the Southwest Associated University Museum together.

The Ancient Tea Horse Road, since the Tang Dynasty, has been a trade route primarily dealing in tea, using horse caravans as the main means of transportation, including several main routes and numerous branch lines, to meet the needs of the people in southwestern China.

During the event, teachers and students will explore the Yunnan section of the Ancient Tea Horse Road in Yunnan-Tibet, visit Yunnan's national cultures and folk customs, and experience intangible cultural heritage skills. After the event, a Yunnan Ancient Tea Horse Road photography exhibition will be held in Taiwan.

This activity is guided by the Exchange Bureau of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the Taiwan Affairs Office of Yunnan Province, hosted by the Yunnan Strait Cross-Straits Exchange Association and the Chinese Competitiveness Exchange Association, and co-organized by Yunnan Normal University, the Taiwan Affairs Office of Lijiang City, and the Taiwan Affairs Office of Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Its aim is to continuously promote cultural exchange and cooperation across the straits and enhance the reputation of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.

Since its launch in 2025, the Yunnan Ancient Tea Horse Road Photography Journey Experience Camp has attracted over 100 teachers and students from universities in Yunnan and Taiwan.