Salt is nothing special to people in modern times.   It can be purchased at any supermarket.  However, in ancient times, salt was a precious commodity, and most of the wealthiest businessmen accumulated their wealth from salt trading.

In the novel “Dream of the Red Chamber,” author Cao Xue Qin wrote about the prosperity and adversity of the Rong and the Ning Families.  It is alleged that Cao Xue Qin himself was a descendant of the Rong and the Ning Families.

Cao Xue Qin's ancestors were government officials who had authority and control over the salt business in the southern region of the Yangtze River.  At that time, salt was equivalent to platinum.  It is no wonder that the Rong and the Ning Families were so wealthy.

This is true not only in China, but also in the West.  Jesus Christ said:  "I am the Salt of the earth, a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path."  So you can see how precious salt was!

Austria is an inland country in Central Europe.  To the Austrians, salt was an invaluable resource which they extracted from salt mines.

According to legend, rock salt is present in the world’s highest peaks, in the Himalayas, as well as in the Alps.  Due to tectonic movement on the Earth’s surface, mountain became ocean and ocean became mountain.  Therefore, the existence of rock salt in mountains is not unusual.

I have seen rock salt in pink crystal form, which is supposedly the best quality salt in the world.  Approximately 2,500 years ago, the Austrians began mining rock salt as deep as 200 meters into the mountains.

I had three unforgettable experiences from my visit to the Salzwelten Salt Mine:

First, on a pit railway, I rode into the mine.  It was the first time in my life that I had ridden on such a small single-track train.

Next, on a wooden rod,  I slid down a 20-meter chute and then another 45-meter chute.  It was thrilling! 

Lastly, in a boat, I traveled across an underground lake.

(These were all new experiences to me.)

Everybody had a great time! 

But my strongest impression from this visit came from the rock salt crystals, some were pink and others brown.  While observing the rock salt crystals with my naked eyes, I submerged into the mesmerizing world of salt.  It was a glittering and charming realm with brilliant lights of different colors:  white, pink, and magenta.  I found the world of salt to be awe-inspiring.  It was like a glamorous empire extending in all directions.

A deity appeared in front of me.

The deity said:  “This is a temple.”

I said:  “I know of the four temples belonging to the Four Deva Kings, they are gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal.  But I did not know there is salt temple too.”

The deity said:  “Salt may seem ordinary, yet it is not ordinary.  You can live without gold, silver, lapis lazuli, or crystal, but you cannot live without salt.  Therefore, salt has a salt deity.”

The deity said:  “The world should pay homage to salt.  Instead, they take it for granted"

I said:  “To expect people to pay homage to salt would be difficult!”

The deity said:  “However, you must still spread the gospel of salt.”  

This left me speechless!