This lake, with its salty flavor that has lasted for three thousand years, now paints summer into a palette of colors.
Hidden in Shanxi is a "palette of earthly eyeshadow," where the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou once fought.
While the salt sculptures of Chaka Salt Lake are still basking in the sun, the brine of Jiexiu Salt Lake has already turned summer into a palette of colors. This ancient salt lake, nestled at the foot of Zhongtiao Mountain, is bathed in sunlight, bubbling with pink, with emerald algae weaving a net in the water, and golden salt flats resembling freshly opened candied fruit—but even wilder than its colors is its story: 5,000 years ago, the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou fought here for three years over the salt ponds, ultimately using the crystallization of salt to add a flavorful touch to Chinese civilization.
The Salt Lake's Dual Temporal Code
① Summer's Color Magic: The "Seven-Colored Viewing Platform" in July is like looking at God's dressing table. The moment the drone took off, the lake surface suddenly transformed into an overturned eyeshadow palette: the brine in the northeast corner was strawberry pink, due to the rampant proliferation of Dunaliella salina under high temperatures; the "salt fields" in the southwest were mint green, with the perfect ratio of algae to brine; while the "nitrate piles" on the shore resembled scattered gold dust, formed from crystallized sodium sulfate. Old salt worker Lao Li said, "The color changes every day. A pink spot in the morning might turn orange by noon; it all depends on the sun's mood." The most wonderful sight is after a rain shower, when a layer of white salt frost floats on the surface of the brine, making the colors appear as if they've been edged, and the shadow of the Zhongtiao Mountains reflected in the lake becomes a natural dividing line.
② Civilization's Markers in Salt Grains: On the remaining stele of the "Pond God Temple," the relief of "The Yellow Emperor Fighting Chiyou" is still clearly visible. Archaeological teams have unearthed pottery dating back 4,000 years along the salt lake, its inner walls completely covered in salt stains, proving this was "China's First Salt Depot." Grandpa Li's generation still used the "five-step salt production method": first, the brine was diverted to an "evaporation pond," then to a "crystallization pond," where the salt was filtered using reed mats, and finally piled up to form "salt mountains." The museum still displays the wooden rakes from that era; the salt grains between the teeth are as hard as stones, supposedly capable of tasting like bronze.
Aerial Photography Guide (with a personal touch)
- Must-see spots: At the Seven-Colored Viewing Platform, take a panoramic aerial view at midday. The lake surface is divided into geometric blocks of pink, green, and gold, with the outline of the Zhongtiao Mountains as a backdrop. The white embankments of the salt fields resemble lines drawn by a paintbrush. Grandpa Li, wearing a straw hat, works on the salt flats, his figure appearing as a tiny black dot. At dusk, the ruins of the Chishen Temple stand alongside the modern salt fields, the setting sun turning the brine amber, and distant chimneys emitting white smoke—the salt smells of the past and present mingling together.
- Hidden Activities: Follow Lao Li to the "Old Salt Workshop" to see the crystallization process. The brine slowly forms "salt flowers" in the earthenware jars, resembling transparent coral (advance reservation required, 20 yuan/person); experience "traditional salt filtration" at the Salt Lake Museum, filtering brine with reed mats and taking your own filtered salt blocks home (30 yuan/portion); in the evening, head to the "Wanghu Pavilion" in Zhongtiao Mountain to watch the colors of the salt ponds fade with the sunset, eventually melting into a rose-gold hue, with the mountain breeze carrying a salty aroma.
- Avoidance Tips: Summer midday UV radiation is extremely strong; use protective equipment for drone photography. The salt flats are highly corrosive; avoid walking barefoot, wear old shoes (wash them immediately if they get wet with brine); the "salt sculpture souvenirs" at the scenic area entrance are mostly made of plaster; it's better to buy real salt blocks (5 yuan/bag).
Food and the Secrets of Taste
Salty Flavors by the Salt Lake:
① "Lao Ma's Lamb Stew" in Yuncheng City: The broth is made with water from the salt lake, resulting in incredibly tender lamb that falls off the bone. Chili oil floats on the surface, and when paired with crescent-shaped flatbread, it's so savory you'll want to swallow your tongue. 25 yuan/bowl;
② "Salt-Baked Eggs" near the Salt Lake: These eggs are baked in sand with salt crystals, resulting in a white salt frost on the shell and a pudding-like egg white. 3 yuan/each.
Accommodation: "Salt Lake Hotel" in the city center (180 yuan/night). High-floor rooms offer panoramic views of the salt lake; opening the curtains in the morning will wake you to the colorful lake.
Transportation Tips
By Car: From Yuncheng city center, take Jiefang South Road and turn onto Salt Lake Avenue. It's a 30-minute drive to the Qicai (Seven Colors) viewing platform. Parking is free.
Public Transportation: Take bus No. 33 from the city center to "Salt Lake Scenic Area" station (2 yuan, 40 minutes), then walk 10 minutes to the viewing platform.
As the last rays of sunlight bathed the salt lake in a honey-colored hue, Old Li packed up his wooden rake and headed home, the salt grains crunching under his heels. This salt lake has never been a "trendy tourist spot," but rather a seasoning jar of Chinese civilization—the Yellow Emperor used it to orchestrate battles, the ancients used it to preserve the passage of time, and now it paints summer in vibrant colors, waiting for those who understand to savor a taste of its salty history.
This summer, why not come to Yuncheng and, in the eyeshadow palette of the earth, read a story seasoned by salt? What other natural wonders with hidden historical secrets have you witnessed? Share them in the comments!