Hidden in Wulong's Fairy Mountain, Lanba Offers Sea of Clouds and Scenery That Trumps Foreign Estates!

Not long ago, I encountered Guiyuan Town on Fairy Mountain. This time, on the southern slope of Fairy Mountain, I stumbled into the beauty of Lanba. If I had to describe this first meeting, I would say it's a gathering place for artistic inspiration, a free and unrestrained mountain and sea of clouds, an unconfined paradise beyond the world.

July 4th was the opening day of Lanba. The weather was not good, with continuous drizzle, strong winds, and heavy fog on the mountain. But precisely because of this rainy day, I saw a completely different beauty of Lanba compared to last year. The mountains were shrouded in mist, clouds suddenly appeared, and the green peaks were hidden and revealed intermittently! Such a spectacular sea of clouds was a feast for the eyes.

At its core, Lanba is a gathering place for art. When you come here, remember that 'everyone is an artist.' Seeds of art take root and sprout here, the threads of traditional culture continue here, and nature, art, and humanity coexist harmoniously. Lanba has created a resort for the heart, spirit, and body—an experiential getaway.

Through this exhibition titled 'Everyone is an Artist,' I gained a slightly deeper understanding of Lanba. The exhibition is divided into three parts: 'Future,' 'Spirit Child,' and 'Scenery and Objects,' showcasing the charm of thinking art from different dimensions. If you come to Lanba, be sure to visit the art museum to see these artworks.

The 'Future' section features creations by artists, such as 'Waves Are Crashing,' 'Interactive Installation,' and 'Another Set of Techniques of Chen-style Taijiquan.' Art comes from life and transcends it. When appreciating these works, there's no need to dwell on their internal logic; just feel their frequency and the novel sensations they bring.

The 'Spirit Child' section presents works created by children from the Huiling Institution. Bright colors, bold and casual strokes—their innocent eyes hide a fantastical world we cannot see. Their unrestrained way of thinking can depict another kind of beauty. If you are willing to slow down and communicate with the children, you might even enter another realm of thought.

The 'Scenery and Objects' section focuses mainly on Wulong's cultural heritage. Wulong's intangible cultural heritage is a brilliant part of it, such as handmade sweet potato vermicelli and Miao batik works. Each has made a name for itself, and even a glance is unforgettable.

This artwork, titled 'Idol,' is inspired by Chongqing's unique 'Bangbang Army' (porters). The steep terrain was mitigated by the existence of this group, solving many people's big troubles. They once made great contributions to the urban construction of Chongqing and can be said to be a hardworking and meritorious group. The city of Chongqing also gains some flavor because of their presence.

In addition to these indoor art installations, Lanba also features a 600-acre Earth Art Garden, about 33,000 square meters of Zen Culture Park, about 20,000 square meters of Lazy Village, a Zen Art Town, and the Wulong Lanba International Earth Art Season that runs through the entire scenic area. There are many places worth visiting, such as the Floating Island, Heartbeat Museum, Bamboo Sound Theater, Earth Descending from the Sky, and Four Seasons Flower Sea.

Lanba Resort is located on the north bank of the winding Wu River, at an altitude of 1025 meters, with an annual average temperature of 15°C. It is often shrouded in clouds and mist, with lush green forests. It has a high concentration of negative oxygen ions, making it an ideal natural oxygen bar. Walking on the winding roads, both sides are lined with blooming flowers and trees. The air is filled with the rich fragrance of soil and grass. The distant mountains smile in the sea of clouds, and the humidity in the air seems to carry dewdrops. I was delighted like a child.

Lanba has many places worth checking in. The most famous might be this giant named 'Mariette.' From behind, it looks like a lonely silhouette, staring blankly at the sea of clouds and distant mountains. From the front, it feels like jumping into a fairy tale world, coming face to face with a giant living in the jungle. This is probably the most popular Instagram spot, and taking a photo with the giant is a trend. Besides this, there are two other giants hidden in the woods behind, but unfortunately, due to the heavy fog that day, we went in the wrong direction—a real pity!

Next to the giant is the Heartbeat Museum. You can take off your shoes, go in, and record a segment of your own heartbeat, listening to the sound of your heart beating. That melody belongs to you, a unique existence. Ding-dong, ding-dong—the sound of the heartbeat, the most vibrant rhythm of life.

The Bamboo Sound Theater is a place worth savoring. It is a creation by Japanese artist Matsumoto Akinori, a representation of artisan craftsmanship. 37 types and 112 pieces of bamboo instruments perform a magical theater in this 50-year-old old house. The most interesting part is that when people approach these installations, they start performing, producing pleasant notes.

Sitting outside the house drinking tea, listening to the crisp sounds of the bamboo wind forest, all kinds of sounds seem to take me back to childhood. Back then, my grandfather made a living weaving bamboo strips. His skillfully made back baskets and bamboo hats sold very well. In his spare time, he would also weave toys like grasshoppers and birds for me. The happiness back then was truly incomparable!

On the slope above the Bamboo Sound Theater is 'Far Away.' Behind it is a cliff, and looking out, there are endless green mountains intertwined with the sea of clouds, with no end in sight. Taking photos here also has a great feel. Everyone has a 'far away' they cannot reach, but can 'far away' really only be far away? The answer to this question can only be solved by oneself.

In the Moss Museum, there are many succulents, various cacti and cactus balls. Plant lovers should not miss this place.

Next to it is 'Earth Descending from the Sky.' This hall is my favorite place and also the largest immersive mud painting. It is a work by Japanese artist Yusuke Asai, made with various colors of soil from Wulong local area. It was created with the collective effort of many people, forming a beautiful fairy tale world.

Lying down on the sand cushion in the middle, emptying my mind, staring at the painting above, closing my eyes, it feels like I can step into this world. I imagine myself becoming one of the elves in it, running and playing with a group of forest animals, full of joy and happiness.

The Floating Island presents another picture. This work, inspired by a French artist, is elegant and romantic. When I arrived, there was no blue sky or white clouds, but the wet pink muhly grass and the misty clouds all over the mountain formed a fairyland in the clouds. The hanging basket looked particularly lonely surrounded by green grass and clouds. Imagine in September when the pink muhly flowers bloom, a sea of pink, a beautiful girl sitting on a swing with a smile—how beautiful that scene would be!

If I hadn't told you, you might not have known that 'Floating Island' and 'Slot Machine Restaurant' are actually both places to eat. 'Floating Island' floats on the edge of a cliff, serving only 16 people per meal; while 'Slot Machine Restaurant' is hidden beside the woods, and you can only get meals by playing a game. How interesting! The ingredients here are all sourced locally from Wulong, and the food is refined French cuisine. I hope you can experience this romance in person.

At the highest point of Lanba is the Moon Museum, which is the easiest place to create sci-fi scenes and is also China's only Moon Museum. It is a work by British artist Luke Jerram, made according to real data provided by NASA, at a scale of 1:500,000. Here, you are just a little distance from the moon—the distant and outer space are within reach.

The Moon Museum is located within the Zen Culture Park, adjacent to the Jingxin Temple, the Three Buddhas Hall, the Medicine Master Glazed Hall, and the Mahavira Hall. Unfortunately, Jingxin Temple is temporarily not fully open, and I couldn't visit many places. I hope to have another chance to experience Zen culture here in the future.

The drizzle kept falling, and the clouds sometimes dispersed and sometimes became so thick that nothing could be seen. Looking down from a high place, the Lanba Art Museum truly deserves the title 'Cloud Art Museum'! I am very glad I didn't give up this trip because of the weather. Whether it's cloudy, rainy, or sunny, Lanba can show you a different kind of beauty.

If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, weary of dealing with the hypocrisy of concrete and steel, then find some time to drive to Fairy Mountain and spend a mountain weekend in Lanba. Let the wind blow on you, let the rain soak you, have a conversation with the flowers and grass, stroll through the artists' works. Perhaps after a thorough relaxation, you can set off again with renewed fighting spirit!