Guardians of the blue planet: Zhejiang sea salt sun-drying heritage

Facing the East China Sea, Xiangshan county in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has long been shaped by its maritime setting. On the county's Hua'ao Island, Dafotou Mountain once guided passing ships as a natural beacon, while at its foot stretches a salt field with more than 1,300 years of history.

Here, the traditional craft of sun-dried sea salt has been passed down through generations. In 2008, the Xiangshan sea-salt sun-drying technique was inscribed on China's list of national intangible cultural heritage. Today, Hua'ao Salt Field is recognized as Zhejiang's only remaining active site preserving this living craft, where workers continue to tend evaporation pans, keeping alive a tradition that reflects both coastal livelihood and maritime culture.