Source: CCTV.com

07-13-2007 13:20

There's a well-known old poem that translates something like: "A hundred thousand strings of coins around my waist, I would ride a crane down to Yangzhou." It's a reference to the prosperity Yangzhou has enjoyed down through the centuries. Now, that prosperity is due in large part to the city's location, at the point where three major waterways meet – the Yangtze, the Grand Canal and the Huaihe River. Despite its relatively small size, Yangzhou was a leading centre of commerce and culture as early as the Tang Dynasty. But it wasn't until the 19th century that Yangzhou really came into its own, when it became a major exchange centre for a highly lucrative government-regulated commodity – namely, salt. The salt trade would produce a group of extremely wealthy merchants who would leave a lasting impression on Yangzhou. New Frontiers takes you to the home of the salt merchants of Yangzhou, to discover a special business success story. Only on CCTV International

 

Editor:Zhang Yongheng