A bridge made of salt? No, this is not a fairytale: In the vast Qaidam Basin in Western China, there is a 32-kilometer-long bridge made entirely of salt. It is renowned as the wan zhang yan qiao ("10,000-meter salt bridge") since its length is roughly about 10,000 zhang (a unit of measure in China equivalent to about 3.33 meters).

The bridge looks like a normal asphalt road although it is much easier to repair: It only takes some water diluted with a large amount of salt to fill small holes or smooth out bumps.

The bridge has no guardrails, no abutments and no water beneath it. So, why is it called a bridge? This is due to the unique geological and climatic conditions and salt lakes in western China's Qaidam Basin.

  A Natural Wonder: the Salt Lake

One of China's most unique natural wonders -- salt lakes -- are dispersed on the vast Qaidam Basin in an approximate area of 200,000 square kilometers. The numerous lakes vary greatly in shape: Some are located at the foot of the snow-capped mountains; some lie silently in the desolate wilderness, with a silver salt band encircling them; and the surface of some has been solidified, forming a hard cover on top of the lake.

The lakes' salt is not only known for its huge reserves but also for its high quality and diverse appearance. Like the color of salt, which can be red, white, cyan, black and blue, its shape is also varied. Different types of salts have special names to reflect their shape and color, such as pearl salt, snowflake salt, grape salt, vermicelli salt, mushroom salt, stalactite salt, glass salt and crystal salt, to name a few. Uniquely shaped and colored salts are a special product of the Qaidam Basin.

Cha'erhan Salt Lake, where the famous "Salt Bridge" is located, lies in the middle and southern parts of the Qaidam Basin. With an altitude of 2,670 meters, the lake is 40 kilometers wide from south to north, and more than 140 kilometers long from east to west. Occupying an overall 5,800 square kilometers, the Cha'erhan Lake is the largest of its kind in China, with the most salt reserves. It is the second-largest salt lake in the world.

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