Faces of an epic journey and of time

Updated: 2015-10-30 ( China Daily Europe )

Winding across hills and rivers, through forests and mountains is a mysterious, ancient road. For thousands of years, numerous caravans have trundled across this path, in many places smooth and tranquil, and in many others rough and life threatening.

However, with the rapid development of modern transport, this road, which links the southwestern province of Yunnan to Beijing, has been abandoned and replaced by expressways.

In 2005 a mabang, a caravan that consisted of about 120 horses and mules and 43 drivers from 11 ethnic groups carrying 4 tons of Pu'er tea, set off on an epic journey using the ancient route. They left from Pu'er county in Yunnan and traveled the 4,000 kilometers or so to Beijing, taking about five and a half months. It was a replay of history, reflecting the days when Yunnan sent tea as a tribute to the emperor during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Of course, in the 10 years since that re-enactment, the pace of change has been unrelenting, and time and age have exacted changes on those from Yunnan who took part in it. While some continue to drive horses to make a living, others make a living by growing and selling tea, and others have become farmers.

Above: Li Wenzhong, of the Yi ethnic group, in 2005. Below: Li died of pancreatic cancer in 2010. His wife holds a photo of him that was taken 10 years ago.

Tian Shihua, of the Hani ethnic group, in 2005. Photos by Zhang Wei / For China Daily

Tian, 63, established the tea brand Laoganma and now runs a tea house in Simao, Yunnan province.

Above: Yang Jinrong, of the Moso ethnic group, in 2005. Below: Yang, 53, tended to horses in Ninglang, Yunnan, before embarking on the epic journey. After that he took up animal husbandry.

Above: Xiong Xiaotong, of the Pumi ethnic group, in 2005. Below: After the 4,000 km odyssey, Xiong, now 63, fixed his tractor in Ninglang and became a farmer.

Zhu Xingjin, of Han ethnicity, in 2005.

Since completing the 4,000 km journey, Zhu, now 32, has worked on construction sites in various cities.