Dali: My Poetry and Faraway Dreams
This trip to Dali came on a sudden whim. Perhaps I was temporarily weary of the daily hustle, or perhaps life’s various frustrations had left me feeling more down and dejected than ever before. One afternoon, reminiscing about my college days, I decided to pack my bags and seek my poetry and faraway dreams.
I took an overnight sleeper train from Changsha to Kunming in the early hours, and met up with a friend coming from Guangzhou. Then we took a high-speed train from Kunming to Dali together.
Day 1: Before arriving, I’d booked a guesthouse near the entrance of the Ancient Town online. After getting off the train, the guesthouse sent someone to pick us up. Once we settled in, the hostess briefly introduced some famous spots in the Ancient Town, then my friend and I went exploring. The Ancient Town feels gentle and wise. Flowers and plants everywhere, little bridges over flowing streams, make you want to just sit by the water and zone out.
Day 2: My friend and I signed up for a photo tour around Erhai Lake, all by Jeep. Full of hope and anticipation, we set off on the lakeside journey. Sitting quietly by Erhai Lake, I could reach out and touch the water (but please protect Erhai—only look, don’t touch!). Watching sunlight filter through the clouds and dance on the lake’s surface, my heart found an inexplicable peace, a sense of time standing still. If things don’t go as planned, trust that there’s another arrangement; all losses will return in another form... These words suddenly came to mind.
Day 3: Today we planned to rent a scooter to visit some nearby sights. Since the Cangshan cable car was under maintenance, we decided to skip Cangshan. Following the GPS to Tianlong Babu City, we ended up going farther and farther off the beaten path. We asked many locals along the way, and they all pointed to the same road. We stubbornly rode all the way up a mountainside. An elderly man saw us sitting by the roadside and stopped to ask; only then did we learn the road was closed for repairs... A funny yet painful adventure. An unknown journey is a process of exploration—there’s always a surprise waiting, and as long as you take that step, unexpected scenery will be shared with you.
Day 4: It rained a little this morning, turning chilly all of a sudden. We planned to take the night sleeper back to Kunming. Fortunately, after an hour or two the sun came out again, so we rented another scooter to visit Erhai Lake. It took about half an hour from the Ancient Town, and basking in the sun felt so comfortable. No need for many words; all the beauty is stored in your eyes, memory, spirit, and life... That is the most wonderful meaning of travel.
I don’t have many pure landscape photos. You have to be there to truly feel the beauty of Dali and Erhai, to experience Yunnan’s ‘wind, flowers, snow, and moon.’ Living in the hustle and bustle of the city, you need a spot of poetry and faraway dreams to strengthen your soul, to swim deeper in the river of life. May you journey through half a lifetime and return still young at heart.
P.S. Make sure to bring long sleeves and pants (my friend was shivering in the early morning and evening). Sun protection is a must: hat, sunglasses, sun-protective clothing, a shawl works too, and sunscreen.
