Dali - My Poetry and Distant Places

Number of days: 4 days
Time: May
Average cost: 2000 yuan
With whom: and friends
Updated: 2021.07.13

This trip to Dali came about on a whim. Perhaps it was temporary fatigue from the hustle and bustle of life, or perhaps it was the frustrations in various areas of life, but I felt a deep, depressed mood I'd never experienced before. One afternoon, I recalled my university days and decided to pack my bags and reach out to poetry and distant places.

The next morning, I took a sleeper bus from Changsha to Kunming, where I met up with a friend from Guangzhou. From there, we took the high-speed train to Dali.

Day 1: I booked a guesthouse near the entrance of the ancient city online before arriving. After getting off the high-speed train, the hostess picked me up. Upon arrival, the hostess briefly introduced some of the ancient city's famous attractions, and then I and my friends set off on a tour of the city. The ancient city is gentle and intellectual. The flowers and plants everywhere, the small bridges and flowing water within the city, make it impossible not to sit and stare blankly.

Day 2: My friends and I signed up for a jeep-based photography tour around Erhai Lake. Full of anticipation and hope, we embarked on this journey. Sitting quietly by the lake, I could reach out and touch the water (according to the Erhai Lake Protection Campaign, the water is only for viewing, not for desecration). Watching the sunlight filter through the clouds onto the lake, I felt an inexplicable peace of mind, a sense of tranquility. If things don't go as planned, please believe that there must be another arrangement; all that is lost will return in another form...the words suddenly appeared in my mind.

Day 3: Today we planned to rent an electric scooter to visit nearby attractions. Since the Cangshan Cableway was under maintenance, we decided not to go to Cangshan. We navigated to Tianlongbabu City, but the route got increasingly out of control. We asked many residents along the way, but they all pointed us to the same path. We ended up riding our scooters halfway up the mountain. An elderly man spotted us sitting by the road and asked us questions. We then learned the road was closed for maintenance... a truly hilarious and painful experience. Traveling into the unknown is a process of exploration. There are always surprises waiting for you. As long as you take a step forward, there will always be unexpected scenery to share with you. Day 4: It rained a bit this morning and it suddenly felt a bit cold. I prepared to take the sleeper train to Kunming at night. Thankfully, the sun returned after an hour or two, so we rented an electric scooter and continued our journey to Erhai Lake. The journey from the ancient city took about half an hour, and it was truly relaxing to bask in the sunshine. There are no words to describe the beauty; all the beauty is captured in our eyes, our memories, our spirits, and our lives...that is the true meaning of travel. I don't have many purely scenic photos. Only by being there can you appreciate the beauty of Dali and Erhai Lake, and experience the romantic charm of Yunnan. In the bustling city, you always need a place of poetry and distant places to strengthen your soul and swim deeper and deeper into the long river of life. May you walk through half of your life and return still young.

P.S. Be sure to bring long sleeves and long pants (my friend shivered in the cold in the morning and evening), and sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sun-protective clothing, shawl is also acceptable, and sunscreen