Prose about a trip to Qinghai and Hexi

This summer vacation, I originally only planned to go to Qinghai Lake, which I have been fascinated by for a long time. Unexpectedly, by chance, I could not only go to Qinghai Lake, but also visit Hexi with a few colleagues who I like. There are many scenic spots in the area, which is indeed something to be happy about.

On the morning of July 28, seven of us started our casual trip. When we first set out on the road, it was raining lightly and the road was muddy, but this did not affect our mood at all. We talked enthusiastically about the beautiful scenery we were about to visit. After Jingyuan passed, the sky cleared up and cotton-like white clouds filled the sky. Some clouds are very low and moving quickly, as if you can grab a handful if you stretch out your hand. We arrived at the intersection of Wujiachuan Expressway at around 10 o'clock and stopped for a short rest. By the way, we watched the West Route Army's Western Expedition Memorial Garden. The tragic history of the Red West Route Army was awe-inspiring and saddening - "One general's achievements and thousands of bones withered." "When we enjoy today's happy life, has anyone thought of the blood shed by those unknown soldiers?

Then continue to move forward and reach the first scenic spot we planned - Qinghai Kumbum Monastery. Kumbum Monastery is the birthplace of a certain school of Tibetan Buddhism. The solemn White Pagoda, the tall and magnificent Sutra Library, the splendid Golden Hall, as well as the colorful embroidery and strange butter flowers in the main hall are all amazing. In the corridor of every main hall, you will always see a few believers prostrate on the ground and kowtow. Their piety and persistence make people feel respectful. In the evening, we rushed to Huangzhong County and stayed in a hotel we had booked.

The next day, we passed by Riyue Mountain and Daotang River all the way, and after a quick browse, we went straight to our main goal, Qinghai Lake. From a distance, I saw a bunch of dark blue hanging in the sky like a distant mountain. My colleague said that it was Qinghai Lake. I couldn't help but be surprised: How could the lake be higher than the ground level? Only when he got there did he have to admit this fact. The sky is clear, the water and sky are the same color, and the vast expanse of blue is intoxicating. Standing by the water, looking at this lake that carries countless beautiful legends, I can't help but daydream: Is this clear water the sun and moon mirror where Princess Wencheng looks at her hometown in the distance, or the Yaochi where the Queen Mother of the West entertains all kinds of gods? Or is it the West Sea formed by the Dragon King of the West Sea diverting water from 108 lakes? Or was it the clear spring Erlangshen accidentally discovered when he was chasing Sun Dasheng? These magical legends add a bit of mystery to the beautiful scenery. The statue of the Queen Mother standing proudly in Erlangjian Scenic Area creates some awe-inspiring religious atmosphere in Qinghai Lake. In any case, the excitement and excitement in my heart is indeed unparalleled when I can see with my own eyes the Qinghai Lake that I have long admired. I just felt that at that moment, all the mundane things that were lingering in my mind disappeared, and my whole body and mind seemed to be integrated into this pure and deep blue. We took photos, played in the water, rode horses, and enjoyed it for a while. After taking a short rest, we drove to the Chaka Salt Lake not far away.

The parking lot of Chaka Salt Lake Scenic Area was crowded and chaotic. We couldn’t find a parking space for a long time, and everyone was anxious about waiting. I don’t know when it started to rain, the temperature dropped sharply, and the cold wind blew, so we had to stay in the car. About half an hour later, we finally found a parking space. When we got off the car, the rain had stopped and the weather had warmed up, so we could enjoy the salt lake, known as the "Mirror of the Sky," in leisurely time. I just realized that the difficulty in parking just now was not a bad thing. On the contrary, it saved us from the rain. As the saying goes, blessings and misfortunes depend on each other. The salt lake is vast, with sparkling silver waves. The blue sky, white clouds, and snow-capped mountains are reflected in the lake, making it picturesque. Walking by the lake, you can see thick salt flowers under your feet, white lake water in front of you, and elegant white clouds above your head. You are in a white world. It is really a wonderland. There are also salt sculptures of different shapes - "Emperors of Yan and Huang", "Cowherd and Weaver Girl", "Chang'e Flying to the Moon", etc., which are really breathtaking.

In the evening, we stayed in Delingha City. Because I was in a hurry, I didn't go to Heima River to see the magnificent sunset, I didn't go to Bird Island to see the spectacular sight of birds gathering, and I didn't go to pay homage to the Haizi Memorial Hall that I passed along the way. These are the hidden regrets in my heart. However, if there are regrets, there will also be thoughts of playing again.

On the third day, we rushed to Dunhuang. In the morning, we first visited the Koruk Lake that we passed by. Koruk Lake is Mongolian, meaning "a place with lush water and grass". Indeed, here there are dense reeds, wild ducks playing in the water, gentle breeze and gentle waves, making it look beautiful, peaceful and tranquil. It coincides with the Qinghai Lake I visited yesterday. If Qinghai Lake is a handsome and handsome man, then Koruk Lake is a gentle and beautiful beauty. Then, we headed westward, looking around, there were less and less green, and it felt more and more desolate. Although I am from Gansu, I have always lived in a small town with lush vegetation. Only when I came out this time did I truly appreciate the roughness and desolation of the Northwest. The car travels through the Qaidam Basin, surrounded by thousands of miles of mountains, solemn, majestic and cold, with each peak standing like a philosopher. The vast Gobi Desert is desolate and desolate, with almost no human beings except for the passing vehicles and the crisscrossing wires on both sides of the road. The highway is like a giant dragon, winding around the gray and yellow land. Sitting in a speeding car, it feels like traveling through the tunnel of time, and historical pictures unfold in my mind one by one: the romance of the solitary smoke in the desert and the camel bells on the ancient roads; the tragedy of the gold and iron horses and corpses in the wilderness, the flash of swords, the shadows of swords, the vertical and horizontal scenes. The glory of the gallop... Suddenly I came back to my senses and found that the place now is a desolate land of thousands of miles of yellow sand.

The passage of time, vicissitudes of life, the reincarnation of life... all this seems to be a kind of historical destiny, an eternal mystery that is difficult to solve.

Climbing the Altyn Mountains, which is more than 5,000 meters above sea level, and passing through the Dangjin Pass, the colors of the mountains on both sides of the road are suddenly different from those seen before, and the greenery on the ground is getting thicker and thicker. Passing through Aksai County, not far away is Yangguan, a place where "no one knows anyone when you leave Yangguan in the west". We took a quick turn there and then continued on.

When we arrived in Shazhou, we visited the "Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City" there. As soon as we got off the bus, the weather suddenly changed and wind and sand swept over us, making our hair messy and almost unsteady. The entire Shazhou City was shrouded in sand mist, looking desolate and tragic. I stood in front of the empty city tower with a silk scarf wrapped around my head. A feeling of loneliness spread in my heart.

Stay in Dunhuang at night. After dinner, we took a walk to enjoy the night view of Dunhuang. The next morning, because we had not booked tickets to Mogao Grottoes, we had to go to Mingsha Mountain first. Since ancient times, it has been difficult for clear springs to exist in the desert, but in Mingsha Mountain, you can see the wonderful scene of desert and clear springs coexisting next to each other. It had just rained that morning. The weather was gloomy and the sand was wet. It was difficult to display the unique features of Mingsha Mountain, which was a bit disappointing. However, when I climbed to the top of the mountain, I saw the beautiful and charming crescent moon surrounded by Mingsha Mountain, like a girl from the south of the Yangtze River. Quan, this trip is not worthwhile.

At four o’clock in the afternoon, we finally got emergency tickets for the Mogao Grottoes, which allowed us to visit four caves. Visiting each cave only takes a few minutes, but waiting in line can take up to an hour. There is no way, because there is no reason for anyone who comes to Dunhuang to miss the Mogao Grottoes. Many people in this long queue have traveled thousands of miles to come here, and there are many foreigners with blue eyes and yellow hair, who are eager to visit. The longing eyes are just for a glimpse of this ancient temple of Chinese civilization - although most people may not understand its cultural connotations, they can finally satisfy their long-cherished wish and express their appreciation for our history and culture. The reverence for a treasure. I stood at the entrance and looked around. Under the vast sky, all the large and small caves were silent. But the murals, sculptures and scriptures in the caves have preserved pieces of vivid history like specimens here forever. As the slow-moving team entered the cave, the moment they looked up, the long-silent history was awakened. The graceful flying apsaras, solemn Buddha statues, and ever-changing paintings are dizzying and dazzling. The disappeared Xianbei people, the prosperous Tang Dynasty, and the mysterious Xixia Kingdom all seem to have come from distant time and space.

I visited two important scenic spots in a row that day. I was exhausted and stayed in Dunhuang for the night.

On the fifth day, we went to Jiayuguan, the “most majestic pass in the world”. A 120 yuan ticket there covers three attractions: Jiayuguan Pass, the first pier of the Great Wall and the Hanging Wall. It seems to have a "buy one, get two free" feeling. The three scenic spots are relatively far apart, and there are no vehicles to pick up and drop off tourists between them. I felt that except for the majestic city tower, which was worth climbing to experience, I was not very interested in the other two places. I went in and walked around for a while, then found a place to rest in the shade, and just waited for everyone to finish the tour and get back to the hotel together.

On the sixth day, we rushed to Zhangye early in the morning to visit the long-awaited Danxia landform. Zhangye was one of the four counties in the Hexi Corridor in ancient times. It has a dangerous geographical location. As the saying goes, "If you don't look at the snow in the Qilian Mountains, you mistake Zhangye for the south of the Yangtze River." In Zhangye, I saw the rare softness and lushness in the desolate and rough Northwest.

The colorful Danxia is the most shocking. Under the sun, the continuous mountains are light red, dark red, earthy yellow, golden yellow, gray green... as colorful and charming as a rainbow, and endlessly changing. One can't help but marvel at the uncanny craftsmanship of nature. Perhaps, this is a masterpiece created by God holding a colorful giant pen and applying it at will? These romantic and colorful colors are the password of nature. Only those who know how to communicate with nature will understand the mystery.

After viewing the Danxia landform, we ended our pleasant journey westward and drove back. Passing through Jinchang, Wuwei and other places along the way, we finally arrived home successfully at around 12 o'clock that night.

When I came back and looked at the map, I realized that we had actually traveled such a long distance during this self-driving trip, crossing half of Qinghai and most of Gansu. I immediately felt a sense of accomplishment, and at the same time, I thought There are still many scenic spots worth seeing that I haven’t had time to see, and there are also some regrets and melancholy that are still unfinished.

Goodbye, the beautiful Qinghai Lake; Goodbye, the sacred Dunhuang; Goodbye, the peculiar Danxia landform; Goodbye, the epic Hexi Corridor... When I have the opportunity, I will definitely visit again Go and take a closer look.