My beautiful encounter in Lijiang

After returning from hiking, I couldn’t calm down in my heart; I made a cup of hot tea, stood in front of the window, and looked into the distance. My thoughts returned to the Tea Horse Road a few days ago...

01) Camp registration

On October 3, 2019, at about three o'clock in the afternoon, according to the instructions of the organizing committee, we arrived at the Guanfang Hotel at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to sign in. As soon as we got off the taxi, we saw What catches the eye is a very large poster: "2019 Tea Horse Road Hiking Challenge" 72 kilometers in three days and four nights. Looking at these words, people's hearts are racing. The undulating mountains in the background of the poster contrast with the blue sky and white clouds in the distance, creating a picturesque scene.

I was looking left and right, looking for someone to take pictures. At this time, a woman walked under the arch bridge, carrying luggage, like a disciple who came from afar. Her thin body seemed thin, and the autumn sunshine outlined her. The silhouette has a perseverance. After exchanging pleasantries, she helped me take my first photo related to the Tea Horse Trail hike. The redness on my face in the photo is actually due to drinking too much plum wine at the Huajianzui Inn in Lijiang Old Town.

When I walked to the hotel lobby, the staff had been waiting for a long time. I received the sleeping bag, climbing gear, jacket and cross-country backpack prepared by the organizing committee for mountaineering and camping. The huge sign-in wall is filled with the names of the disciples. The dragons and phoenixes are dancing and powerful, symbolizing the determination to challenge the Tea Horse Road.

The woman who took the photo for me was calm and collected. She jumped in the air in front of the sign-in wall and took an amazingly beautiful photo. She hit it off with the artistic conception of "We are all dream chasers" and had a bright smile on her face. Like the warm sunshine in autumn in the ancient city of Lijiang.

Dragging heavy luggage and equipment, with the help of the hotel tour bus, I returned to the room. The moment I opened the door, I was touched by the attentive service of the hotel and the organizing committee. The bedding was clean and tidy. There is a small sign on the white pillow to remind you of the purpose of this trip. There is a color-printed piece of paper "We are all dream chasers" on the bed sheet, with lyrics written on it:

Every figure runs with the sunshine

We shed sweat and look back with a smile

Let’s work together to be the pride of spring

Understand that the more you pursue your dreams, the more flavorful they become

p>

......

The unfamiliar teammates who live in the same room have not yet arrived. After a brief wash, I walked out of the balcony to preview the beautiful scenery of the hotel, a small courtyard with Naxi architectural style. Either in a row or in a separate courtyard, they are unique and have the feel of a small building in a water town in the south of the Yangtze River. The breeze is not dry and the sun is just right. Every time you take a photo, it is a beautiful scenery.

The teammates arrived belatedly, and the Juxiantang expedition ceremony had already begun. The young and handsome Dalong, who cultivates the outdoors, presided over the expedition ceremony. He was humorous and interesting. When talking about the weather changes in Lijiang in recent days, he used the words light rain - be careful of rain; medium rain - rain at noon; heavy rain - it may rain in Lijiang. The changeable weather was explained incisively and vividly. Everyone laughed in unison after listening to it, applauded Dalong's wonderful comments, and no longer felt confused about the upcoming weather in Lijiang.

The upcoming hiking route and precautions are played on the big screen. The Ancient Tea Horse Road, a passage that, like the Silk Road, once played an important role in the development of the Chinese nation, has evolved with the development of modern civilization. It is washed away and gradually submerged in the dust of history, but its history and value will always shine. Looking at the three-day and four-night trip on the screen, the road was bumpy and the mountain roads were rugged. Although I was a little scared, I was still very yearning in my heart.

On the occasion of the National Day, the organizing committee arranged a ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the motherland. Everyone stood up and played and sang the national anthem. The five bright red flags rose slowly from the big screen and the familiar melody slowly It sounded slowly, and I sang along with the melody, feeling extremely proud in my heart.

Next is the flag-giving ceremony. The flag represents the direction, the flag is power, and has extraordinary significance. This is the organizing committee’s encouragement to everyone and every participating team. Each team received a team flag.

The six participating teams are as follows:

1. Tea Horse Jingtu Team?

2. Walkers Without Borders Team?

3 . Tea Horse Lightning Team

4. Tea Horse Kyushu Team?

5. Tea Horse Eagles

?6. Tea Horse Fighting Wolves

The disciples who received the team flag were in high spirits, waving the blue and white team flag, and were ready to challenge the Ancient Tea Horse Road under the blue sky and white clouds.

With everyone's recommendation, we chose Teacher Miao Miao as the team leader. Teacher Miao Miao is an athlete and a veteran 100-day running team member. She also ran on October 1st before coming. The running group of the organization started a 70-kilometer relay race at 4 a.m., and was full of positive energy. We used the slogan "Tea-Horse Beijingers, Never Surrender", but the time was tight and the team song was not adapted successfully.

Looking at the Walkers Without Borders team next to me, under the leadership of team leader Liu Qingtao, they went on stage to report with slogans, which was quite impressive.

Dalong patiently explained the three-day and four-night itinerary and was about to go on an expedition. His expectant eyes were full of affection, and he was not afraid of wind, rain, or hardship...

02) The Shock of Wenhai

On October 4, 2019, the hotel’s wake-up bell rang at 5:30 in the morning. I opened my hazy sleepy eyes, stretched my muscles, and began to welcome the new day.

The first day of the hiking challenge, target: 24 kilometers, maximum altitude: 3135m, everyone is very excited. After breakfast, everyone began to get on the bus in an orderly manner. I found a window seat in front and sat down, closed my eyes and rested in preparation for the 24-kilometer hike. The car slowly drove away from the hotel and drifted away from the busy city. I tilted my head and buried it in the soft seat of the bus. Because it was my first time to participate in outdoor mountain hiking and it was in such a beautiful city, I was very excited and stayed up all night. I wanted to take a short break while riding in the bus. I took a nap, but the car soon arrived at Lashihai Wetland Park.

The staff had already arrived at the starting point in advance and had set up the arch of the second stop in the distance, the "2019 Tea Horse Road Hiking Challenge". Under the warm sunshine in the morning, blowing the refreshing cool breeze, the disciples were excited and eager to try. Under the organization of the organizing committee staff, we conducted warm-up activities, with thunderous drums and a whistle, a tense and exciting The hiking activity officially started, and the excited hikers rushed out of the starting line like arrows. I carried the team flag of "Tea Horse Jingtu" and marched with the large group. Lashihai Wetland Park is a tourist attraction. When we arrived, there were already travelers checking in at the scenic spot. We were walking on the Ancient Tea Horse Road together. They passed by on horseback, but we had to measure the Ancient Tea Horse Road with our feet; the team marched on the small road in the countryside. The air is filled with the smell of cow dung and horse dung, mixed with the smell of green grass; the morning sun shines on the earth, and the puppies on the roadside are also shivering and walking with the team, and the "嘘嘚" of horse hooves is heard not far ahead. With the sound of the sound, small ponies trotted leisurely by. The dark faces of the herdsmen leading the horses were rough and simple...

After the team passed through the small village, they quickly turned into Mountain road, the organizing committee’s thoughtful and meticulous work allows everyone to easily find the route forward. The red ribbons every 100 meters are like a link, tightly connecting people from all over the country. *** Meet the challenge; the ribbon sways in the wind, and is like a small flag calling, calling more people to join in activities full of positive energy...

A group of people walked quietly through the mountains and forests, The higher you go, the denser the woods are, and all kinds of rare flowers and plants appear in front of you. Everyone is attracted by various plants and flowers, and everyone rushes to take pictures...

The quiet mountain forest suddenly becomes lively. .....

Laughter and laughter filled the mountains and forests, and the sisters turned into beautiful butterflies and flew back and forth in the mountains and forests...

Mountain flowers bloomed all over the mountains and fields. With the vicissitudes of memory in the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, the petals are stretched out by the gentle wind and drizzle, blooming quietly in the mountains, admiring them alone, enjoying the state of comfort and selflessness...

Have a party, your laughter is the best gift to the mountains...

On the first day of hiking, everyone was very relaxed and responded to the organizing committee’s call: feel the road, don’t rush ;Having fun on the road, feeling the breath of nature and the heart of the mountains... I carried the team flag and continued to move forward with the team.

The valley in the distance is filled with soft hills. As we begin to walk into the valley, the sound of bells can be heard on the distant hillside. Three or five cows are eating pure natural grass, leisurely and contentedly; the leading cow has a tie around his neck. The bell makes a crisp ringing sound with every step we take, as if to welcome us guests who are coming from afar. After crossing a hill, my eyes suddenly became brighter. Following the direction guided by the red ribbon, I came to the lake. The water was clear; under the blue sky and white clouds, cattle and sheep gathered in groups, creating a vibrant scene...

As we continue to move forward, the shadow of the cow becomes longer and longer, and the sound of the bell becomes more and more distant...

The sky is still so deep, and the white clouds keep changing with us, sometimes like a ball of cotton wool, Sometimes it looks like a strong white horse; while stopping and walking, I finally saw the end point 5 kilometers away. Dragging my tired legs, I continued to walk in the direction of my heart...

The camp is located in Wenhai Village, "a mountain in the clouds and hundreds of households on the water", is a small village like a paradise. Tents pitched in the valley have become a beautiful scenery dotting the village. Under the blue sky and white clouds, gongs and drums sounded and colorful flags fluttered.

The organizing committee set up a table next to the camp, with instant noodles, mineral water, and fruits available, so that everyone could replenish energy in time; Sun Nan's "Pure Land" resounded throughout the valley, warmly welcoming everyone who returned in triumph. warrior. The disciples who arrived first were busy stretching, washing, changing clothes, taking photos, and taking group photos.

Next to the camp are several families of herdsmen. Our arrival brought them happiness and busyness. The women were working hard in the yard to prepare dinner for us.

The men smoked hookahs and set up several large pots at the entrance of the small courtyard to light the fire and make soup. The pork rib soup became thicker and thicker, and bursts of aroma filled the nostrils, refreshing and lingering. Over the small village.

The disciples came back one after another, and the village was crowded. Everyone exchanged warm greetings, like old friends reunited after a long separation returning to their hometown...

The Unicom signal in the small valley is particularly poor, and there is no 4G. , I asked the herdsman who made the soup if I could use the Internet. The enthusiastic herdsman gave me the wireless password in not very standard Mandarin, so that I could easily communicate with the outside world and share happiness.

It was past the prescribed dinner time, the rain kept falling, the sky was dark and the sky was low. The generator has been roaring like the engine of an airplane, bringing faint light to the rainy night. The dim light is lonely and hesitant, and the silhouette of the figure is getting longer and longer. The chill of late autumn is hidden in the air. When the mountain wind blows, it makes people feel sad. People were shivering, the slippery ground was covered with water, and the rain that kept falling hit the ground, splashing layers of water.

The herders covered the cooked meals with raincloths and moved them from the kitchen to the large tent next to the camp. It was cold and cold, and we ate the steaming meals in the tent.

The sky has completely darkened, and the bright night sky has disappeared. Each team began to rehearse the show to be performed the next day in the tent, and laughter and laughter came from the tent. Danruo and her mother went to the organizing committee to find Pipa and planned to play the song "Ambush from Flying Daggers" at the gala. At the call of team secretary Han Ying, we also started looking for jokes on Douyin and browsed for a long time. I couldn't find a suitable program that I could learn quickly. Suddenly a familiar melody sounded, giving everyone sudden inspiration and direction. Everyone expressed their opinions and began to arrange movements and practice. After many adjustments and improvements, we decided to face the difficulties and break through ourselves, and a new song "Flower Protector" was released. The high standards and strict requirements of Team Secretariat Han Ying are impressive. In order to highlight the playboy characteristics of the flower protector, we went through all the bags in the tent and put on all the colorful sports clothes and compared them left and right, over and over again. In the end, the captain with strong chest muscles put on his own orange tights. Tang Shuyou from Beijing wore a yellow short-sleeved shirt found in a woman's bag. I reluctantly put on Ma Jiajia's red sportswear. The sleeves of the clothes are too short and a bit stretched, but I have sacrificed them for the sake of the show's effect. Paired with sunglasses, the look of the flower protector is beginning to take shape. I think this look alone will definitely become a beautiful scenery at the gala party.

It was raining continuously and the night was dark. The first draft of the program had been finalized. Everyone was chatting happily, thinking that they could have a good sleep in peace of mind. Lightning and thunder began outside the tent, and soon it began to rain. Bright lightning shuttled through the air like silver snakes, lighting up the entire tent again and again. A loud thunder exploded on the top of the tent, and the torrential rain began. It raged in the small valley, and the raindrops were like thousands of arrows shooting at the tent, unstoppable. The wild mountain wind blew the branches outside the tent with the force of the rain, and the heavy rain was like a faucet that was forgotten to be turned off...

In the dark night, the isolated tent , a group of people who had just met, in a small mountain village thousands of miles away, endured the baptism of strong winds and heavy rain!

I huddled in my sleeping bag, the dull thunder roared like a cannon, and I was terrified. All the imaginary horrors were crowded in my mind, making it impossible for me to sleep. The raindrops as big as soybeans continued to beat against the tent. The rainwater flowed down the mountain. The tent seemed to be floating. The moisture-proof mat was already wet. I could vaguely feel that the tent was still dripping, which wet the quilt next to the pillow. I moved the pillow to the side. I moved up and looked around the other team members in the tent through the residual light of lightning. The children were all asleep, completely unaware of what was happening outside. In the dark, I saw other team members who were just like me, unable to sleep and uneasy.

Outside the tents, the staff braved the rain and used weak lights to check the conditions of each tent. Faintly listening to their voices, the heart that had been unable to calm down for a long time finally calmed down.

The downpour lasted for nearly three hours, leaving me sleepless and frightened all night...

03) Dongba Valley Party

October 5, 2019

A heavy rain in Wenshang Village kept everyone awake all night and the memory is still fresh. After a night of fright, we headed towards the next target: Dongba Valley Camp. Distance: 28 kilometers, altitude 3380m. At the expedition ceremony, the organizing committee revealed some conditions of the Dongba Valley camp. It is said to be a camp built with tens of millions of dollars. We are all looking forward to seeing it soon. At the same time, we also hope to unveil the Dongba Valley camp. The true face of Ba’s secret realm.

In the morning in the small valley, the air is very fresh, and it is still raining lightly. The carpet outside the tent is full of mud and water, and there are pits. If you accidentally step on the uneven place, the splash will fall on the trouser legs and On shoes. Under the leadership of Tao Ye Outdoor Dalong, we completed the warm-up exercise in the light rain. The weather was slightly cool. Some teammates put on raincoats. I added a windproof jacket and prepared to go on the road.

The sound of the starting drum beats the sleeping soul, and the sleepy eyes travel through the flow of time and space. With heavy steps, they begin to advance towards the secret realm of Dongba. The rugged mountain road extends upwards to the top of the mountain. Today will be another extraordinary day...

The team walked quietly on the winding mountain path, with hills and ravines, narrow roads, and some unnamed branches with overgrown branches. If you pick up a thorn, you can accidentally stab your arm.

Because of the heavy rain last night, the mountain road was washed clean, which made walking more convenient for everyone. Every foot touched the ground and the scenery became more and more beautiful as we walked halfway up the mountain. The charming, hazy distant mountains are covered with a layer of gauze, and the shadows are blurry. They are far and near in the misty clouds and smoke. If they are far away, the thin clouds and the clouds in the sky meet and become a beautiful picture. wonderland.

The mountain road continued to climb up. After climbing for an unknown amount of time, the shouts of horses and horse drivers came from behind. It turned out that the rescue horses were following. In order to ensure safety, the organizing committee hired local herdsmen. To prevent emergencies and ensure quick rescue in places that vehicles cannot reach. The honest herdsmen led the horses in front and chatted in Naxi. The teammates along the way pulled the horses and were busy taking photos. The hillside was covered with various unknown green vegetations that were full of vitality. The beautiful scenery in front of me was profound. It attracts us and makes us intoxicated in the embrace of nature.

The woman who took the photo of me on the sign-in day, Jelly, also caught up at this time. Probably because the organizing committee decided not to consider personal results after the heavy rain, she walked very easily, and her smile was still as bright as a mountain flower. We exchanged pleasantries, cheered each other on, and made way for the horses. The horses were in front and we followed them for some time. During the chat, Jelly told me about several 100-kilometer cross-country races she participated in: Jiangnan 100, Laoshan Cross-Country and Shanhaiguan Great Wall Cross-Country. She also joked that the 100-kilometer cross-country race was actually a large-scale outdoor buffet event. Along the 100 kilometers, every I had a meal at a supply station 10 kilometers away, and there was endless flowing water. The confidence in the free conversation made me look at the frail woman in front of me with admiration. Things in this world are likely to be unsatisfactory. Although there is no life where everything goes as planned, there is an open-minded and cheerful life. Perhaps this is the character of people who like challenges: open-minded, optimistic, and strong.

The winding mountain road has no end. No one can be seen but the voices can be heard...

After climbing over the mountain, the road is no longer rugged and turns to an open land. Going farther and farther, The scenery along the way becomes more and more beautiful; the white clouds above the valley sometimes turn into balls of cotton wool, and sometimes turn into long silk ribbons, floating elegantly and melodiously over the valley.

Walking in the empty valley, under the blue sky, I breathed in every cool breath in the sky, watched the flowers blooming and falling in the mountains, and was not surprised; I looked at the clouds in the sky, and there was no intention of leaving or leaving. ......

Looking from a distance, there is a white tent at the foot of the mountain. It must be the Dongba Valley Camp. Unknowingly, I speed up my march, running, sprinting, and advancing into Dongba Valley. Camp.

What a Dongba camp, and it lives up to its reputation; it is surrounded by mountains and hidden in a sea of ??flowers. There are flowers in the valley, a lake among the flowers, and the blue sky and white clouds are reflected in the lake.

Neat tents lie quietly in the valley like yurts. They are steel pipe structures and are set up one foot above the ground to allow water to pass through unimpeded. Compared with the tents in Wenhai Village, they are "a little better than Nothing less." I felt much more at ease.

Fellow disciples arrived one after another. After taking a short rest, they began to stretch and relax. Some were washing clothes and shoes, and some were replenishing energy.

In the camp’s auditorium, staff are debugging audio and video equipment.

Dinner was a sumptuous hot pot and a toast song sung by local ethnic minorities. Although I didn’t understand the lyrics, I was familiar with the melody:

The wine is fragrant and the singing is flying

p>

My friend, please drink a toast

The victorious October will never be forgotten

The cup is filled with happy tears

…

After having enough tea and rice, we took a rest in Dongba Valley and waited for the party...

The party officially kicked off with a high-pitched and beautiful minority song. Curtain...

The first performance was the pipa piece recommended by our Chama Jingtu. Danruo came on stage calmly and calmly, worthy of being the gold medal winner in the national pipa competition; the song "Ambush from Flying Daggers" was like a sea of ??literature. The heavy rain in the village was fierce and majestic. Xiao Danruo was calm and composed. The song ended with joy and the crowd shouted.

Next, there was a drama performance recalling the Dunhuang expedition, including the song and dance "Calories" and an adapted song "Walking on the Ancient Tea Horse Road". Although the performance was not professional, it was very funny.

The host continued to announce: Next, we would like to invite the Tea Horse Jingtu Team to perform "The Flower Protector"...

It is finally our turn to play, I have never been on such a big stage, so what if I get stage fright? I put on a headscarf around my neck, put on my sunglasses, and stepped onto the stage with a feeling of trepidation; the equipment in the camp was a little rudimentary, the music was playing but the screen had no subtitles. "The Flower Protector" is a fast-paced song, and I stepped on it. With a panicked pace, the familiar melody suddenly became so stiff. Looking at the teammates around me dancing happily, I thought in my heart that I couldn't mess up and embarrass the team. I concentrated on dancing to the beat again; As a short-sighted person, I couldn't see the audience clearly with my sunglasses on, which made me no longer nervous and twisted. An impromptu dance between team secretary Han Ying and the team leader made the audience applaud.

After the party, I couldn’t calm down for a long time. I simply packed up my clothes and mood, slept in a tent with floor heating, and prepared to face the challenge of the 20 kilometers on the last day.

04) Farewell at Juxian Hall

October 6, 2019

The Dongba Valley Party allowed everyone to spend a pleasant and wonderful night, like It was a dose of stimulant that injected new energy into the army.

In the secret realm of Dongba after the light rain, the mountains have not yet awakened and are shrouded in clouds and mist, making it look like a fairyland. The large team has assembled and started to warm up. Today is the third day of hiking, and it is also a day for individual and team results. Everyone is working hard.

After a short stay, I had to carry my luggage and leave before I had time to take a closer look at the secret land of Dongba. I felt reluctant to leave. The beautiful environment and clean camp left a very good impression on me. , and the floor heating allowed me to sleep soundly, without the fear of Wenhai sleeping outdoors that day.

As soon as we left the Dongba Valley camp, we encountered a muddy mountain road. After a night of drying in the camp, the clean shoes were already very comfortable to wear. I tried my best to land on the slightly dry ground, but the mud soon became It still spread over the uppers of the shoes and stained the trouser legs.

The rugged and muddy mountain roads leave behind the footprints of brave men...

On the ancient road, tourists on horseback occasionally pass by, some of them smiling. Some were frightened. The ancient road was very narrow, with the sound of horse hooves and pits every step of the way. It was a constant surprise and fright. The experience was very good; the horse manure that can be seen everywhere exudes a strong smell, mixed with the fragrance of earth. After sweating profusely, the smell has already The smell is no longer so bad, the smell of horse manure attracts countless small bugs, which keep flying around in front of the eyes, which is annoying.

The road is ahead, and the only way to reach it is to stop at it...

It started to rain lightly during the last two kilometers of sprinting. Looking at Jelly’s retreating back, I felt exhausted. I was no longer able to catch up, so I walked for a while with the eldest sister of the Tea Horse Eagles. Halfway up the mountain, the wind was extremely strong, mixed with light rain, and it was extremely cold. The finish line was right in front of me. I gritted my teeth, roared, and rushed. Crossing the finish line...the moment Doudou put the medal on me, I was tired and happy at the same time.

After simply replenishing energy, we waited in the cold autumn wind for the disciples behind us to arrive...

After walking along the Tea Horse Road, we came back as brothers and sisters!

The celebration banquet was held in the hotel's "Juxian Hall". I like the word "Xian", which means "morality". Confucius said: When you see a virtuous person, you should reflect on them; when you see a virtuous person, you should reflect on yourself. Everyone here is a 100-day racer, and there are also many 100-kilometer cross-country masters. I got to know each other through running, and I am very happy to be with such a group of "virtuous" people.

The sisters were dressed up in colorful and gorgeous clothes; the men were graceful and high-spirited, smiling and communicating with each other, making the Juxian Hall a sea of ??joy.

Cultivation Outdoor Dalong was dressed in black, and his humor remained the same. The organizing committee was extremely attentive and kept surprises. They prepared cakes for disciples who had birthdays in October, which moved me as a bystander.

The winner was well-deserved and gave a speech. Jelly burst into tears of gratitude and burst into tears. After the awards were given, everyone drank happily, and Jelly came to say goodbye. As Jelly said, a friendship can be built in three days and four nights; he wished her a safe journey back to her distant home.