“Dried by wind, baked by sun, the salt gains its taste; the tide is channeled in, transformed to brine.”

So wrote Liu Yong, a poet of the Song Dynasty, in his  Song of Boiling Salt , depicting how seawater is transformed into sea salt.

But how is sea salt actually made?

Join CGTN’s cameras as we explore Tianjin Changlu Hangu Saltern.

On October 21, 2021, the production team of CGTN's  China's Coastline  Season 3 visited Tianjin Changlu Hangu Saltern to document the making of "Lutai Jade Sand" (sea salt). With live broadcasts in Chinese, English, and French, the team presented the history and modern development of Tianjin's salt industry.

Live on location

Launched by CGTN in 2021,  China’s Coastline  is a major multimedia series offering a panoramic view of the natural environment, cultural heritage, and socio-economic development of China’s coastal areas. Recently, the series filmed and broadcast live its third season episode— Bohai and Yellow Sea: Tianjin Episode —in Tianjin.

"Tianjin is a crossroads of maritime and canal transport. The city's marine economy and ecological development are deeply reflected in its salt industry. Salt is essential to every household, but few people know how it's made—especially sea salt. So we're here today with a three-hour live broadcast to show the complete process of extracting salt from seawater," said Xia Ruixue, chief correspondent with CGTN.

Live on location

Tianjin Changlu Hangu Saltern, designated as China's No. 001 state-certified edible salt producer, has a history of more than a millennium and a deep cultural legacy. During the live broadcast, the  China's Coastline  team used aerial footage to reveal the stunning, multi-colored salt fields of Hangu Saltern. The naturally vibrant salt pans, like a giant eyeshadow palette, created a truly breathtaking scene.

Live camera

A representative  from Hangu Saltern introduced viewers to the formation of the colorful salt fields and the entire process of making salt from seawater. At the Hangu Salt Industry Exhibition Hall, images, artifacts, and expert explanations brought to light the history of salt industry development and the rich culture surrounding salt.

The  China's Coastline  crew was deeply impressed by the spectacular autumn harvest and the rich sea salt culture at Hangu Saltern.

"We had heard it was incredibly beautiful here, but seeing it in person was breathtaking. I never imagined salt fields could have so many colors. Through our aerial shots, it looked just like nature's palette—like an eyeshadow palette, full of vibrant colors. We hope our coverage brings that experience to our viewers," said Xia Ruixue.

Live on location

The live broadcast was carried >(China Media Group's streaming app), the CCTV News app, and Jinyun (Tianjin Media Group's news app).