Qiuqiu and Lotus Mountain
I’m a true Dalian native, but I often get laughed at for not knowing which direction the gate of Dalian’s Lotus Mountain Park faces. Last Saturday, a good friend volunteered to accompany me on a hike, so I happily rushed off.
There are three main ways to get to Lotus Mountain. First, turn right from Golden Beach on Binhai Road and go up the mountain; second, turn left from the main entrance of Baiyun Yanshui and go up; third, follow the winding mountain road from Baiyun Mountain. We agreed to meet at the gate of the TV University. Besides my friend, Qiuqiu also came along. Qiuqiu is a Teddy dog, my friend’s furry son. Apparently, he goes up the mountain for a walk every week, so at the command, Qiuqiu cheerfully led us up the mountain.
Following the mountain path and climbing the steps, ha, the scenery is nice! The winding path stretches long, leaves are a mix of red and green, people are scattered in twos and threes—some dressed in bright colors, some bare-chested and bare-legged, some leading kids, some walking dogs, wandering up and down the mountain.
Qiuqiu led the way like an old hand, dashing over like an arrow to greet old friends, and when encountering a big dog, he would tuck his tail and sneak along the edge. He also pretended to be lazy and acted cute, wanting to be carried. But when I carried him and he lost sight of my friend, Qiuqiu wailed like a child looking for its mother. For the first time in my life, I truly understood what it means to “have one’s tail between one’s legs,” “a dog relying on its master’s power,” and “a dog looks down on people.”
After walking a stretch of mountain path, I discovered that the main peak of Lotus Mountain is actually Xishan Lansheng. Haha, all roads lead to Lotus Mountain—it turns out I’ve already climbed Lotus Mountain countless times, just via different routes. From the top of Lotus Mountain, looking down, the entire scenery of Dalian is in full view. But today’s Dalian, apart from the high-rises built of steel and concrete, has lost its former openness and elegance. Still, having mountains and sea surrounding it is not bad—why ask for more? (Literal: what more bicycle do you want?)
At the Xishan Lansheng viewing platform, Qiuqiu went berserk at an old man, barking wildly, making the man feel awkward, as if Qiuqiu had spied on some embarrassing secret. The dog mom told me that Qiuqiu can’t stand men wearing hats. Haha, Qiuqiu, you have taste!
The wind was strong on the mountain, and it blew away all the stinky sweat and tired mood. Looking at the still somewhat green mountains, the still somewhat blue sea, and Qiuqiu’s clear eyes, I felt much happier~
Qiuqiu, next time we climb Lotus Mountain, will you lead the way again, okay?
