Hello ocean lovers! 🌊 Did you know that every September 25 marks World Maritime Day? The 2025 theme "Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity" reminds us that the sea is not just pretty views—it is key to our life, jobs, and economy. Plus, looking after it sparks cool innovations and teamwork across countries.
Over on the coast of the Chinese mainland, in Xiangshan County (Ningbo, Zhejiang Province), history meets the horizon. On Hua’ao Island, you will find Dafotou Mountain—a natural lighthouse that once guided ships through the East China Sea. At its base lies a salt field with more than 1,300 years of stories. ⛵️
Here is the best part: locals still use the age-old method of sun-drying sea salt. They fill shallow pans with seawater, let the sun do its magic, and harvest pure, crunchy salt crystals. It is a simple but genius way to turn water into flavor. In 2008, this Xiangshan sea-salt sun-drying technique earned a coveted spot on the Chinese mainland's national intangible cultural heritage list. 🏅
Today, Hua’ao Salt Field is Zhejiang's only active site keeping this craft alive. You will see seasoned workers and young apprentices carefully tending evaporation pans, raking out the salt, and passing down skills one sun-soaked season at a time. This tradition is not just about making salt—it is a living link to coastal life, community roots, and our shared duty to protect marine culture. 🧂☀️
Next time you sprinkle a pinch of salt on your samosa or stir it into your laksa, spare a thought for the guardians of this blue planet, working under the sun to keep an ancient craft—and our ocean’s heritage—thriving. 💙
Reference(s):
Guardians of the blue planet: Zhejiang sea salt sun-drying heritage
cgtn.com
