TIANJIN, Dec. 29, 2025 – On October 9, CCTV’s documentary show "Home in the Distance" broadcast a special episode featuring Changlu Hangu Saltern, titled "A Millennium of Salt Heritage, A New Colorful Chapter."

The program spotlighted the saltern’s thousand-year-old salt-making legacy, cutting-edge modern production technologies and stunning ecological scenery, inviting audiences to explore this ancient salt field and experience the unique charm of tradition blended with innovation.

The program opened with an aerial view. The production team took a helicopter to capture the salt fields from above—the colorful salt fields resembled a palette tipped over by nature, with hues of red, yellow, blue, and green interwoven into a stunning picture, where salt ponds mirrored the blue sky in a magnificent display. The episode gradually unfolded the 1,100-year history of Changlu Hangu Saltern. In the exhibition hall, yellowed historical documents and precious artifacts silently told the story of the saltern's thousand-year salt-making heritage. In the ancient salt-making experience area, Li Wei, the inheritor of this traditional craft, demonstrated the techniques and personally guided the reporter in hands-on salt making.

Beyond tradition, the modern industrial strength of the saltern also captured viewers' attention. At China's certified table salt factory, an automated warehouse featured precise sorting systems, and QR code traceability systems displayed product information in real time. Inside the smart salt field control room, technicians remotely operated automated water flow through the system, bringing modern vitality to this ancient salt field.

The program also featured a scene at the saltern's restaurant, where locally produced sea salt is used to make salt-baked seafood. As the sea salt heats up, it slowly releases its savory aroma, locking in the juices of the seafood while removing any fishy taste. The result is tender, springy meat with a perfectly balanced salty freshness—a distinctive flavor unique to the saltern. At the Bagua Salt Flat Cultural Plaza, the salt worker flying cymbal team performed with resounding energy. Over a dozen members moved in perfect synchronization, the sound of their copper cymbals reflecting the cultural vibrancy of Hangu Saltern.

Additionally, the bustling scenes at the salt field cultural tourism area were captured on camera: children playing near salt piles, their laughter intertwined with the sound of salt crystals; visitors climbing salt mountains, sliding down salt slides, riding trains through the salt fields, and tasting sea salt coffee. Hangu Saltern has long ceased to be merely a "salt production site"—it has become a popular destination integrating culture, leisure, and education.

From its thousand-year heritage to its modern transformation, Changlu Hangu Saltern stands as a vivid example of how a traditional industry can embrace innovation while staying true to its roots. As the program showed viewers across the country, this ancient salt field is not only preserving a rich cultural legacy but also creating new possibilities for the future.