清代的私鹽，在數量上十分龐大，在地理上分佈極廣。繳過稅的官鹽與未繳稅的私鹽，兩者數量大致相等。鹽稅很重，販運私鹽，十分有利。由於地理的差異，各地有不同形式的私鹽。私鹽的販運一方面治正常的商道運輸，另一方面也跨鹽區界線，從一個鹽區私運到他區。私鹽的運輸路線同時受地理位置和自然狀況的制約。私鹽的販運是一個全國性的普遍現象，因爲地理位置和有利市場，准南的私鹽問題特別嚴重。私鹽的存在，具有抗衡政府重稅和減輕人民負擔的作用。所以，非法的私鹽貿易，與腐敗的官鹽貿易同時存在整個清代。
Salt smugg1ing in Ch'ing China involved a great amount of salt and was geographical1y widespread. The quantities of taxed and untaxed salt were about equa1. As salt was heavily taxed, it was very profitable if one could avoid paying the tax. Because of geographical differences, distinct types of salt smuggling existed in various areas. The movement of smugglers followed the normal trade routes and crossed the market boundaries as well. The pattern of routes of smuggling was shaped by geographical location and by physical conditions. Salt smuggling was a nationwide phenomenon, but it posed a more serious problem in Huainan because of its geographical location and lucrative market. The existence of the illicit salt trade tended to counter-balance the heavy tax levied by the government and to lessen the burden upon the consumer. Therefore, an illegal trade, paralleling an often corrupt legal one, existed throughout the Ch'ing dynasty.
