Jinhai Lake: Even Though I Didn’t Get My Fill, It Already Stole My Heart!

On days off, my heart can still be overcast. I even wondered if I've been going through Mercury retrograde recently. The little yoga article I toiled over, with no clear marketing slant, got flagged on three different self-media platforms.

When I pressed them to list the violations, some platforms stayed silent—probably because they had no leg to stand on. One platform actually claimed that my line 'the yoga classroom is very big' was suspected of being marketing. Another platform? Don't even expect a reply; submitting an appeal was a hassle in itself.

At times like these, I can't help but mutter under my breath: stupid, rigid AI and algorithms—how could you possibly be smarter than humans? I've been burned by machines so many times, adding one more tally isn't a big deal. But how to restore a lovely mood? So I grabbed Miss M and headed out for a drive.

Miss M enthusiastically suggested several options, none of which caught my eye. Then I suddenly noticed there's a trendy mountain luge ride at Jinhai Lake, plus a peach-picking trip in Pinggu—that got me a little excited. I'd originally been set on going to Panggezhuang to buy Daxing watermelons, but my mom teased me: 'Watermelons there are out of season; July is the proper time.' Alright then, Pinggu peaches—I can't miss them this time.

After browsing online, I found out Jinhai Lake has a Bibo Island with lots of water activities, including kayaking—just the word 'kayaking' sent a thrill through me. Why hesitate? Saturday, Jinhai Lake, let's roll!

To avoid being late, I deliberately skipped my morning Ashtanga yoga practice, quickly did a shatkarma, and headed to Miss M's place. Every trip, I first meet her at Jiuxianqiao, then we set off in her little red car for some fun. She's a rock-and-roll driver—I can't compare when it comes to driving, but as a passenger, I'm more than qualified.

Handing the driver breakfast, water, checking navigation—I've got all that down pat. This time I also brought my own socks and scarf, because Miss M's AC can be a bit intense, and my delicate constitution just has to fend for itself.

From Jiuxianqiao we got onto the Jingping Expressway, and the drive took about an hour and twenty minutes. There wasn't much traffic; it felt like we arrived while chatting. Right after exiting, the roadside was lined with small three-wheelers selling peaches. Miss M said we should find a stand with a pretty sun umbrella to buy our peaches... Fine, winning by the looks of an umbrella—impressive!

Although I remembered on the way that we should have set the navigation directly to Bibo Island, it was too late—we were already near Jinhai Lake's entrance. So we had to queue up, pay the parking fee, enter, and take the cruise boat to the island instead.

I'd schemed to use my park annual pass for a discount, but got so excited I totally forgot, so I ended up buying the 130 yuan ticket + cruise combo with Miss M. Actually, we'd been to Jinhai Lake once a few years ago, in March; there was no one around, and a big lake surface—that's my only lingering impression of the place.

Inside the gate, there were big lawns; some parents were pitching tents with their kids. I seemed to have wandered into a children's playground by accident. In the distance was a tall dam—you could either climb up or take the sightseeing escalator. Without hesitation, we headed to a corner escalator in the park, changed four times, and finally reached the top of the dam.

The sun was high that day; the sky was hazy and it was pretty hot. The distant mountains loomed in and out of view, very much like an ink-wash painting, but there wasn't a trace of blue sky. I thought, here we are in Pinggu—how come no blue sky? What a pity, the vast lake surface was missing that parade-ceremony blue.

To reach the cruise pier, we had to cross the dam, so under the blazing sun we trudged along step by step. Sweating was inevitable, but my heart was full of anticipation; the joy of reuniting with kayaking was about to burst out.

I'd read guides; the reason I didn't want to take the cruise was that boats left every 40 minutes, and waiting would take too long. But since it was a weekend, there were quite a few boats. Before boarding, I bought a corn on the cob to stave off hunger—I knew I'd get hungry—so I happily boarded with my own water and corn.

There were empty seats in the first row, so Miss M went straight for it. Catching a glimpse of the empty driver's seat, I started daydreaming—someday I should learn to pilot a boat too. After a short wait, the boat filled up and we set off. Inside the cabin, cool air was blasting, and two windows in the front were open, perfect for me to enjoy the view and snap photos.

A tour guide on board gave a brief intro to Jinhai Lake; all I remembered was that it's a national kayaking training base. I was head over heels for kayaking by now.

Most of the time, I gazed into the distance and took nonstop photos with my phone—all kinds of lakes and mountains. The breeze over the lake brushed my face, so pleasant. I couldn't help but sigh: this must be what life is supposed to be like!

After about ten minutes, we arrived at Bibo Island. I didn't rush to the kayaks; I figured they'd still be there, no need to hurry. I found a spot and started gnawing my corn. Ugh, the corn was a bit tough—I'm used to the pressure-cooker-steamed corn at home. Nearby tourists were having lunch, and the occasional aroma of instant noodles drifted over. I know they taste just okay, but the smell was really tempting.

After that, we needed to find the entrance to the water activities. We followed the only path, passing the Maya Hotel, lawns, and a few European-style houses. Up ahead, the sign for water activities was right in sight—so exciting! Miss M went ahead, while I popped into the hotel next door to use the restroom and make my final preparations.

When I got to the water sports entrance, Miss M was busy with work. A few parents with kids were waiting; apparently the instructors were on lunch break, and business would start at 1 pm. I wasn't in a huge hurry, so I took photos and gazed out at the lake—quite pleasant. Meanwhile, the instructors were chatting; it seemed they were waiting for their lunch.

A while later, lunch arrived and the coaches dug in heartily. Miss M was also ready. Just as I was about to rent a boat, something unexpected happened.

The instructor asked me twice if we were part of some group. I said firmly we weren't, and then was told business starts at 2 pm. What?! I almost cried, because we had other plans later. I tried to ask the instructor to make an exception, but he was very firm. Alas, it was destined to be missed.

I remembered the two father-son pairs who'd just gotten off kayaks not long before—I was so envious. Looking into the distance, it seemed some people were kneeling on boards, some standing, paddling leisurely. That must be stand-up paddleboarding. I silently resolved: I have to come back soon. I'll drive onto the island and go kayaking. Maybe I'll make it a regular activity, and even learn paddleboarding—how cool would that be!

This decision was rushed but also brave, because it's over 100 kilometers from my home—likely a 2-hour drive. For someone who normally drives only within the city, usually no more than 30 kilometers one way, it's quite a challenge. But for the water sports I love, I'm willing to try! At the same time, I'll work hard and earn more pocket money to achieve my little goal.

As we were about to exit, I saw a few older gentlemen tending the plants. I really liked that fresh, crisp scent. Even though it was a bit noisy and the machines blew quite hard, I still enjoyed the scene—it felt full of life, and even my mood brightened. The hurdles I'd faced with my little yoga article this week suddenly didn't seem like a big deal. As long as I'm in the right and haven't broken any rules, I'll just stick to doing what I think is right.

The return trip started with buying Pinggu peaches. We randomly picked a roadside stall—a box of 12 peaches for 30 yuan. I even saved the vendor's WeChat, so if they taste good I can order them by delivery later. Suddenly thinking of my kayaking, buying Pinggu peaches could be a bonus side activity of the kayaking plan—I felt a secret thrill.

In the days to come, I'll keep asking myself: when will I go to Jinhai Lake again? My kayaking and paddleboarding, wait for me!