茶马古道古镇驿站

茶马古镇烙印着源远流长的历史文化和马帮文化。古镇驿站属于茶马古道的衍生物或附属品，是茶马古道上必不可少的站点。古镇驿站专门为马帮和行人提供服务设施，让疲劳运作的人们得到短暂的休息，休息之后再次踏上漫长的道路，以便物资的继续前进和贸易的正常交往。以下是几个较著名的茶马古镇。

（一）易武古镇

易武在清朝时期归普洱府管辖，唐代就因产茶被赐为“利润城”。100多年前的易武可谓是普洱府六大茶山中最大的制茶中心和出口基地。普洱府一半的茶税都来自易武。易武古街正中，有建于清代的几栋赫赫有名的大茶庄老宅，分别是同庆号、同兴号、车顺号、福元昌号和宋聘号等，都是仿效石屏汉式的四合院格局，硬山式的四脊顶，一些老宅的内外墙壁及门窗上还绘有清代壁画多幅。而朝里的院子又是另一种风貌，这些老宅都有宽宽的院子和走廊，只为方便远道而来的马帮。这些老宅除了在做着、凉着堆放的七子饼外还种有花木。院里弥漫着茶香和花香，把来自易武古街这些老宅的历史都款款地摇碎，溶成澄清的茶水，使各色游客和来访者都陶冶如醉。这就是真正茶乡的味道，再深奥的理义和烦躁的心，都可以随茶香飘散。

图2-6　易武古镇

3.Connecting to Overseas Roads in Southeast Asia

The Ancient Tea-horse Road of Yunnan has many branches, all of which constitute the transportation network of Pu’er tea with the trunk line.Major branches of the Ancient Tea-horse Road are: Xishuang banna→Pu’er→Laos→Vietnam→Hong Kong or countries in southeast Asia; Xishuangbanna→Pu’e r→Jiangcheng→Tỉnh Lai Châu, Vietnam→Hong Kong or countries in southeast Asia; Xishuangbann a→Pu’er→Jiangcheng→Mojiang (intersecting with Official Horse Road); Xishuangbanna→Yangon,Myanmar→countries in in southeast Asia; Xishuangbanna→Yangon, Myanmar→India→Xizang, etc.

During the Republican Period, with the rise of tea industry in Menghai, the transportation by the Ancient Tea-horse Road gradually took Menghai as the center, with four routes in the east,south, west and north.The east route was from Menghai Town eastward to Pu’er via Jinghong;The south route was from Menghai Town down south to Kengtung of Myanmar via Daluo; The west route was from Menghai Town westward to Myanmar via Lancang and Menglian; The north route was from Menghai Town to Pu’er via Menga and Mengwang.

Nowadays, the trade and freight properties of the Ancient Tea-horse Road gradually fade away, but the rich historical sites and national cultures along the way are shining more brightly.In 2013, the Ancient Tea-horse Road was listed as the seventh batch of major historical and cultural sites protected at the national level by the State Council.Tourism, cultural industry and the construction of characteristic towns based on the Tea-horse culture developed vigorously, and the ancient road courier stations in those years showed new vitality and energy.As an important branch of“Southern Silk Road”, the Ancient Tea-horse Road, along with the proposal of“the Belt and Road Initiative”, has aroused widespread concern.