Chuan Chang River Scenic Belt

Chuan Chang River Scenic Belt

The Chuan Chang River is the mother river, iconic river, and economic river that runs through Yancheng’s urban area. Leveraging its natural spatial and cultural advantages, the Chuan Chang River Scenic Belt project integrates Yancheng’s culture and stories, carrying the city’s memories. This culturally rich river also helps enhance Yancheng’s image. The scenic belt stretches from Xinyang Port in the north to Wuyou Subdistrict in the south, featuring seven major scenic areas: “Salt Character Square,” “Tang Dynasty Salt Administration,” “Song Dynasty Salt Administration,” “Ming and Qing Dynasty Salt Administration,” “Boiling the Sea to Honor Ancestors,” “Soaking Brine and Boiling Salt,” and “Bagua Salt Fields.” These artistic displays vividly recreate the historical and cultural landscape of the sea salt industry along the Chuan Chang River. The entire scenic belt is divided into three functional zones: “Waterfront & Slow Life,” “Leisure & Joyful Living,” and “Charm & New Urbanism.”

◆ The Historical Significance of the Chuan Chang River

Why did rulers throughout ancient dynasties place such importance on constructing and maintaining waterways, ensuring the Chuan Chang River remained unobstructed at all times? It was because this ancient river carried the economic lifeline of the Huai Salt, upon which successive government offices depended for survival. The main production area of Huai Salt lay along the northern and southern Fan Gong Dikes and the Chuan Chang River. Without the bountiful yields from these salt fields, the tax revenue from Huai Salt could not support the government. As the ancients said, “The annual tax revenue from the Two Huais equals half of the nation’s land taxes and corvée labor.” For example, in the 10th year of the Shunzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty, the national tax revenue collected was 2.128 million taels, while the Two Huai salt tax alone accounted for 1.197 million taels, making up 56.3% of the national salt tax. By the 3rd year of the Kangxi reign, the Two Huai salt tax made up 64.5% of the national tax revenue, and even by the 8th year of the Jiaqing reign, the Huai Salt tax still accounted for 40.8% of the national total. This shows just how important the Huai Salt production areas along the Chuan Chang River were to the nation. No wonder local officials and salt administration personnel throughout the dynasties, in order to keep their official hats and honors, continuously strived for achievements, always prioritizing the dredging and maintenance of the Chuan Chang River and the salt transport canals as their foremost governance task. Romantic artists have praised the Chuan Chang River as a mother river, whose waters nourish the fertile fields and crops along its banks like a mother’s sweet milk. Merchants who traveled far and wide have lauded the Chuan Chang River as the “water corridor” of the Subei Li Xiahe region. In times when overland transport was underdeveloped, it indeed served a special function as a navigable waterway for transport.

Source: Yancheng Haian Historical and Cultural Scenic Area

Yancheng Salt Town Water Street

Yancheng Haian Historical and Cultural Scenic Area

China Haian Salt Museum

Yandu Park

Dongjin Road Food Street