Gadana's Tea Trail
A caravan of 120 horses makes an extraordinary
seven months journey from Yunnan to Beijing
carrying tea across China. Gadana has been transporting
tea already fourteen years. This is the longest
journey of her life.
Money they'll raise is for building a new school in Gadana's home
town. There are no bridges on Yunnan River. Livestock and people
have just one way to cross the river-the rope.
They started their journey on May 1st,2005. On the begining of
their journey Gadana was excited and happy. A few days later the
first accident, one of the horses became ill.
Everybody was in shock when the horse died. Gadana had to
sell all her horses in Beijing because the horses could not
return home. When she thought about that, she couldn't stop crying.
Gadana and horsemen chose to travel a lot at night. Gadana
had to go with horse caravan around the mountains if they
wanted to avoid accidents .
Caravans were connected with radios, but that day they lost their
contact with people carrying food. People and horses were so hungry
and tired. About seven hours later they finally found their way out.
First break of a day, chance to take a look at their tea leaves and
then another problem; horses saw a train and dreadfully run away.
When the horses calmed down they continued the journey. They had
three days vacation in the city. Gadana became celebrity, everyone in
city knew her.
One day on the road happened another tragedy, a bus driver hit a
horseman and a horse, but horseman died on the way to hospital.
When they came in Beijing they got big welcome.They raised more
than 4 million juans. The horse caravan was a huge success. They
were very proud of themselves.
Marina Radić 7.a