October is the harvest season at Hangu Salt Field. [Photo by Yan Dongjie/chinadaily.com.cn]
Tianjin's Changlu Hangu Salt Field marked its 1,100th anniversary on Thursday. The area has undergone a transformation from an ancient saltwork into a model of green and high-quality development.
Founded in 925, the Hangu Salt Field is a key production base along the Bohai coast in eastern China, with an annual output of about one million tons. Over the centuries, it has evolved from the ancient method of "boiling seawater for salt" to intelligent production systems that integrate industrial operations with cultural tourism.
"We are not only preserving a millennium-old salt field, but also protecting a cultural heritage passed down through generations," said Yan Haibin, head of the publicity department at the Hangu Salt Field.
Hangu Salt Field has developed tourism facilities, including a sea salt-themed amusement park. [Photo by Yan Dongjie/chinadaily.com.cn]
In 2006, the field was named among the first group of "China Time-honored Brands" by the Ministry of Commerce.
In 2022, it collaborated with Goldwind Science & Technology to build a 12.9 megawatt decentralized wind power project. It was the first decentralized wind power project in China's salt industry and is the largest such project in Tianjin.
Wind turbines now dot the ancient salt pans, generating clean energy that supplies about one-third of the site's annual electricity needs.
Foreign partners and others take photos during the 1100th anniversary celebration. [Photo by Liu Wenchao/For chinadaily.com.cn]
"Last year's annual power generation reached 33 million kWh, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 23,990 tons annually and saving the enterprise over 3.3 million yuan ($463,400) in electricity costs," said Liu Qing, the project leader.
Looking ahead, Zhang Shiyong, deputy Party secretary and chairman of the trade union of the Hangu Salt Field, said the company will continue to expand across sectors.
"Our primary sector — sea salt production — remains the foundation," Zhang said. "The secondary sector, developing high-value salt chemical and biological products, is the engine, while the tertiary sector, covering aquaculture and cultural tourism, gives us wings."
Liu Wenchao and Wu Meng contributed to this story.
The automated factory at Hangu Salt Field. [Photo by Liu Wenchao/For chinadaily.com.cn]
