Yan Chi

Yan Chi

Also known as Salt Lake or Silver Lake. Located at the foot of the Zhongtiao Mountains south of Yuncheng City and by the Sushui River, it consists of Duck Pond, Salt Pond, and Niter Pond, covering a total area of 130 square kilometers. The salt produced here is made by sun-drying brine under sunlight, resulting in snow-white crystals with pure flavor and rich in various sodium and calcium compounds. It is one of the country’s renowned salt production areas. The development of Yan Chi dates back approximately 4,000 years, making it one of the oldest salt ponds in China. Legend has it that during the reign of Emperor Shun, people began harvesting naturally crystallized salt from the ponds in summer. By the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the basin had already gained fame. Liu Zongyuan described the scene of creating salt pans, diverting water, and sun-drying salt in his work "Questions of Jin": “Ditches and ridges, fields and plots, crisscrossing in an endless cycle, resembling cultivated land or gardens, with fish-scale-like patterns stretching out limitlessly.” Today’s Yuncheng Salt Pond is a key source of various important chemical raw materials in Shanxi Province. According to surveys, the pond holds 14.47 million tons of salt, 1.62 million tons of blödite, and 0.98 million tons of magnesium sulfate, bringing the total salt-type reserves to 83.94 million tons. Currently, six products including table salt, sodium sulfide, and thenardite have an annual output of 360,000 tons. These products are exported to 24 provinces and cities across China, as well as to more than 10 countries and regions such as Sudan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Singapore, and Malaysia. Among them, thenardite and sodium sulfide account for 60% of China’s total exports of similar products.

1.62 million tons, 0.98 million tons, totaling 83.94 million tons. The current annual output of six products such as table salt, sodium sulfide, and thenardite is 360,000 tons. The products are exported to 24 provinces and cities across China and more than 10 countries and regions including Sudan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Singapore, and Malaysia. Among them, the export volume of thenardite and sodium sulfide accounts for 60% of the national total for similar products.