How the historic Tea Horse Road connected India to China?

Tea Horse Road was an ancient trade route connecting China, Tibet, and South Asia, facilitating the exchange of tea, horses, and culture. Explore its history, significance, and impact on trade and cultural interactions.

Table of Contents

Context: Recently China’s Ambassador to India Xu Feihong posted on X about the historic Tea Horse Road.

About Tea Horse Road

The Tea Horse Road was a significant ancient trade route that connected China, Tibet, and the Indian subcontinent.
It spanned over 2,000 km, facilitating the exchange of tea, horses, and other goods.
The Tea Horse Road was not a single pathway but a network of multiple trade routes. The main routes were:
- Southwestern China to Tibet (via Yunnan and Sichuan provinces).
- Tibet to the Indian subcontinent (branching into present-day India, Nepal, and Bangladesh).
The journey was dangerous due to:
- Difficult terrain, including mountains reaching 10,000 feet.
- Unpredictable weather and harsh conditions.

Historical Background

Origins (Tang Dynasty: 618–907 CE)

The Tea Horse Road emerged during the Tang Dynasty when China began trading with Tibet and India.
Buddhist monk Yijing (635-713 CE) recorded that Chinese traders transported:
- Sugar, textiles and rice noodles to Tibet and India.
- Horses, leather, gold, saffron and medicinal herbs from Tibet to China.