Is Miyaro okay after the earthquake?

After the Wenchuan Earthquake, we saw various scenes in the disaster area through the media - collapsed buildings with various pieces of clothing hanging, collapsed mountains with large areas of exposed rock, and turbid areas with various types of building debris floating there. The barrier lake... If it weren't for the remaining green mixed with patches of off-white, earthy yellow and dark red, we would almost forget that in the areas of Wenchuan, Li County, Maoxian and Wolong that were hardest hit this time, it was once the past. The famous tourist prime area in northwest Sichuan.

Especially the Miyaluo area in Li County (more than 260 kilometers away from Chengdu), located in the middle of the Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong world-class scenic tourist route. The green peaks of the past, the mountain flowers that change throughout the seasons, the red leaves in autumn and the white snow in winter make up its unique and charming scenery.

It is said that the red leaves in Xiangshan Mountain in Beijing are beautiful, but the red leaf scenic area in Miyaluo is more than 180 times larger than that in Xiangshan Mountain in Beijing. In late autumn, on both sides of the winding National Highway 317, on the undulating mountains, against the blue sky and white clouds, red, yellow, purple and green patches of color all over the mountains and plains come into view. In the distance, you can vaguely see towering snow-capped mountains with white hats on their heads. Surrounded by the gurgling Zagunao River at your feet, a container truck full of goods drives by on the road from time to time. In a trance, you really feel like you have entered a fairyland.

In late October 2006, I was fortunate enough to visit this wonderland. I remember that our group set off from Chengdu in the morning and stopped at the famous Taoping Qiang Village at noon. There, it was the first time for many of us to see the Qiangzhai watchtowers standing under the blue sky, with the cracks in the stones emitting a sense of desolation. It is said that in this major earthquake, this national key cultural relics protection site was severely damaged and some houses collapsed. The Qiang sister-in-law who stood in front of her home and invited tourists to visit the filming location of "The Dust Has Settled" and "whether those beautiful and enthusiastic Qiang girls are okay now" became one of the centers of discussion among colleagues after the earthquake. In my memory, they all sat leisurely in front of their homes, embroidering and soliciting tourists to do small business. A sunhat woven on an earthen loom costs 10 yuan, a pair of embroidered letter bags cost 12 yuan, a copper bracelet costs 8 yuan, and various small ornaments cost 3 to 5 yuan, each of which exudes a strong local style. . Girls and boys running from the concrete jungle of big cities, holding cameras and wallets, can't take enough photos or buy enough. After laughing and comparing all the way, we arrived at Gurgou Town, our campsite for the night.

Gulgou is said to be a town, but it is actually a canyon between two mountains and is part of the Miyaluo Scenic Area. At that time, the highway passed through the town, and both sides of the road were lined with hotels and guesthouses of various sizes. It is said that there were more than 1,000 beds in the city. Because there are not only red leaves but also hot springs here, the hotel's business is particularly good. Although it is located in a remote mountainous area, it is still full of neon lights and busy traffic.

After dinner, a group of people walked freely on the street. Because the town is not big, the few shops are not attractive to young people from big cities. It was the singing and drumming not far away that attracted everyone's attention. Walking to the entrance of the town, in a large yard, a bonfire was burning "crackingly", and the bonfire reflected the smiling faces of the surrounding people. Tibetan girls were throwing up their long sleeves, singing and dancing. Some tourists couldn't resist the girl's invitation and danced to the music. Joyous emotions rose in this small town deep in the mountains.

In the early morning of the next day, facing the cool mountain wind, our station wagon continued to drive along the Zagunao River. The mountains were one after another, and the mountains were covered with maple trees, maples, birches, and goosefoots. Pines and larches, after being stained by the wind and frost in late autumn, gradually reveal the colorful colors of golden, orange, golden red, scarlet, fiery red, deep purple and rich green. Some people say that autumn without red leaves is lonely. If this statement is applied to Miyaluo, then the Three Thousand Miles Canyon with surging red waves will probably be the most lively autumn stage in the world. The young companions shouted, ran, and laughed. Suddenly, I don't know who made the suggestion, and more than a dozen people lined up in a row. Everyone stretched out their arms and shouted: "Thousand-Hand Guanyin-" The mountains of Miyaro echoed with our laughter for a long time.

At 14:28 on May 12, 2008, the Miyaro who was fixed in our photos no longer exists. A few coughs of Mother Earth disfigured the mountains and rivers of the past and changed the color of the earth. However, Miyaro is destined to be reborn. Whether it is an earthquake or a landslide, whether it is a flood or a mudslide, the vigorous life of all things will remain unchanged in response to all changes. The "Thousand-Hand Guanyin" composed of 1.3 billion compatriots across the country will surely enlighten that fairyland on earth again.

By the time the red scenery of Miyaluo is restored, I believe that both sides of National Highway 317 will already be full of tourists again.