Source: Jinyun
Authors: Zhu Zhigang

Photography: Ma Cheng, Pu Yonghe, Liu Naiwen

Some images courtesy of: Tianjin Release, Tianjin Daily, Binhai Release, etc.

Editor: Shi Xiaoxiao

 

By the shores of the Bohai Sea, along the banks of the Jiyun River,

Thousands of acres of salt fields stretch into boundless grandeur.

The dazzlingly colorful salt ponds stand in striking contrast with the towering salt mounds.

Tens of thousands of migratory birds either rest upon the waters or soar through the sky.

Reed catkins dance in the wind as far as the eye can see,

Like snow that has never melted for a thousand years,

Painting a natural tableau of strength and grace at Hangu Saltern.

TIANJIN, Dec. 29, 2025 -- Along the coast of the Bohai Sea, the vast salt fields of Hangu Saltern stretch for thousands of acres. Colorful salt ponds stand beside towering salt mounds, while tens of thousands of migratory birds rest or soar overhead. Reed catkins dance in the wind like snow that has never melted for a thousand years.

This landscape is the ecological hallmark of Hangu Saltern, which traces its roots back 1,100 years, and the birthplace of the renowned “Luhua” brand of salt.

Today, Hangu Saltern has evolved far beyond traditional salt production. It now integrates salt manufacturing, salt chemistry, ecological aquaculture, cultural tourism, and new energy development—a transformation that has turned it into a popular destination for visitors.

While preserving traditional salt-making techniques, the saltern has embraced ecological and intelligent upgrades. Its 300,000-ton edible salt production line uses advanced brine evaporation systems that retain natural trace elements from seawater, ensuring both high quality and eco-friendly processes.

As one of the first batch of “China Time-Honored Brands” recognized by China’s Ministry of Commerce, the Luhua brand has also received “Eco-Origin Product Protection” certification in China’s edible salt industry, setting a benchmark for quality.

The saltern has creatively integrated its deep salt culture into daily operations. Salt crystallization ponds become a “rainbow salt field” in summer; salt mounds are shaped into scenic formations. The “Salt Knowledge Academy” uses immersive 9D technology to take young visitors on a journey through 1,000 years of salt history. The salt-themed restaurant serves seafood baked in salt, locking in freshness and delivering a distinctive local flavor.

Hangu Saltern has since become Tianjin’s first “National Industrial Tourism Demonstration Site,” a National Marine Science Education Base, and a National 4A Tourist Attraction, attracting over 320,000 visitors annually.

Committed to green development, the saltern has implemented ecological restoration projects to restore biodiversity and build a healthy wetland ecosystem. It has also developed a distributed wind power project—the first of its kind in China’s salt industry. The project supplies 32 percent of the saltern’s electricity from green sources, reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions by 145,000 tons.

Looking back over 1,100 years, Hangu Saltern represents more than a continuous legacy of salt-making. It stands as an answer to how a traditional industry can evolve in response to the changing times—a story of rootedness, reinvention, and enduring relevance.

The salt ponds are like mirrors,

Reflecting drifting clouds and visitors’ smiling faces,

And even more, reflecting the unwavering commitment of the saltern’s people

To the principle that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”

The flavor of salt never fades, time moves forward.

Where reed catkins drift in the air,

The millennium-old salt ern, in a new guise,

Preserves the “taste of Tianjin,”

Carries forward the culture of Tianjin,

And writes a new chapter for “Luh ua” in this new era.