The Colors of Jiuzhaigou, a Paradise in Dreams
This trip was hastily decided after a drinking session, so much so that when I woke up the next morning, I doubted whether it was just a joke. But anyway, there was a sense of 'truth from wine.' I had always been holed up in this southern city, though I had thoughts of getting out, they were搁浅 due to all sorts of unfounded reasons. My friend was right—don't make excuses; if you want to do something, just do it. If you deny your own thoughts today, you might never have any ideas tomorrow. So, after five days of insufficient preparation, we flew to Sichuan.
On the first day, as soon as we got off the plane, Chengdu came into view. I thought it would impress me, but instead, it felt a bit like old Changsha. It was already 10:30 in the morning, but the sky was still gray, suggesting some air pollution. Since it was the weekend, there weren't many cars on the road, and we quickly arrived at the reserved hotel.
Although modern buildings in Chengdu aren't particularly distinctive, its ancient alleys and streets have a unique charm. Our first stop was the entrance of Kuanzhai Alley. As soon as we got out of the car, an old hotpot restaurant appeared before us. We were already starving, and the aroma of hotpot wafting around led us right into the shop.
But honestly, the hotpot wasn't as delicious as I had imagined. Even though we were hungry and ordered a table full, it didn't leave me wanting more. Maybe we didn't get the most authentic one; next time, I must Baidu which place is the best! After eating and drinking our fill, we started strolling through the alleys. At the beginning, there was a row of snack stalls, with all kinds of snacks neatly arranged, fragrant and colorful—red chilies, green cilantro, yellow sesame oil... a clever combination that was very pleasing to the eye. On both sides of the road were rows of dazzling small shops, decorated in ethnic styles, with colorful merchandise.
Kuanzhai Alley consists of a wide alley and a narrow alley. Although it's called the wide alley, it couldn't handle the huge number of tourists. We slowly moved forward with the crowd. After walking through the patchwork alleys, we took a taxi to Jinli Ancient Street. The two attractions are not far apart, about a 10-minute drive. Compared to Kuanzhai Alley's blend of simple design and ancient architecture, Jinli is more ethnic in style, with all buildings exuding antiquity, and the goods sold also emphasize ethnic culture. However, one thing in common is that everywhere you go is colorful. Perhaps due to generations of heritage, Chengdu people seem skilled at color matching—whether it's food, clothing, or daily items, they are all bright and vivid, not abrupt but beautiful.
We visited both attractions from around 12:00 noon to about 5:00 p.m. After dinner, we bought some snacks for the upcoming itinerary and returned to the hotel to rest. The hotel we stayed in that night deserves a special introduction.
Location: The hotel is located in Kuanzhai Alley, known as 'Chengdu's living room.'
Metro: Right at the entrance of Kuanzhai Alley is Metro Line 4.
Geographic Location: The location is really great! It's inside the Kuanzhai Alley scenic area, so you can go out and shop and eat conveniently. It's not far from Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, Tianfu Square, etc. You can take the metro or a taxi; a taxi costs about 10 yuan.
Hotel Style: The overall style of this guesthouse is exactly what I like. The room design is Japanese-style, made of pure wood, and the room has a unique fragrance that is very soothing. There are handmade Shu embroidery in the room, and also a wren bird painted by a master artist.
The hotel has many calligraphy, paintings, and antiques that the owner went to great lengths to acquire. Every detail is carefully thought out and impeccable.
Room: The door uses an electronic lock, ensuring safety. The entire room, including decorations and bed, uses phoenix tree wood, giving it a faint woody scent that is very relaxing.
There is a dedicated dining area in the room, and the lunch and dinner are quite tasty.
Bathroom: Whether I stay in a hotel or guesthouse, the bathroom is always my primary concern. Its cleanliness absolutely affects my mood. The bathroom at Jiaoliao deserves full marks! The details show understated luxury. With five-star super-luxury configuration: Carnation linens, King Koil mattress, Kohler bathroom fixtures, TOTO smart toilet. It felt like even turning on a faucet showed the owner's dedication.
Wash Area: Notably, the wash area has a dry-wet separation, allowing for a shower or a bath in the tub. The hotel even provides bath salts.
The three-piece toiletries are from the American brand June Jacobs (a high-end spa skincare brand from New York, USA). I had used this brand before at a Sheraton in Guangdong and liked it very much. I didn't expect to use it again in Chengdu. Moreover, according to the butler, June Jacobs customized a treatment for the hotel, combining local culture, environment, climate, and some traditional Chinese medical therapies to create the hotel's unique 'Jiaoliao Chaolin' treatment.
Bedding: Lying down was incredibly comfortable; I fell asleep within minutes. The blanket and mattress were soft and skin-friendly. I like sleeping on buckwheat pillows, and the hotel thoughtfully provided one.
The biggest highlight was the hotel butler—a very enthusiastic group of people. When I was about to arrive at Kuanzhai Alley, the butler contacted me in advance, came to the alley entrance to pick me up, and introduced the culture of Kuanzhai Alley along the way. This alone gave me a great impression of the hotel. After arriving, the butler learned I couldn't eat spicy food, so for breakfast, they specially prepared wontons without chili for me.
To avoid the hassle of booking individual hotels and tickets, we pre-booked a three-day-two-night tour from Chengdu to Huanglong to Jiuzhaigou from the 25th to the 27th. In hindsight, this decision was very wise. Having a guide arrange our meals, accommodation, and transportation saved us a lot of trouble. Since the departure time was 5:30 a.m., we got up at 4:00 a.m. the next morning, groggily packed, and waited in the hotel lobby for the pick-up car. This is one advantage of joining a tour—no need to arrange transportation yourself. It takes 8-9 hours from Chengdu to Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou. To ensure we had time to visit Huanglong that day, tour groups usually depart very early, so we certainly lacked sleep. After boarding the bus, we listened to the guide's lengthy introductions and instructions, and then most of us dozed off. By around 7-8 a.m., the sky was dimly lit, and the guide started chatting again. Since we hadn't eaten much breakfast and were tired from the journey, plus the guide's droning about the Wenchuan earthquake and how many people died, my stomach started churning. I really wanted to shout 'Shut up!' but I didn't have the courage to offend the person who would be managing our lives for the next few days. Motion sickness medicine is really important for long bus rides! Fortunately, we stopped at a rest point, and I got off to get some fresh air, avoiding vomiting. The restroom facilities along the way were run by locals, costing 1 yuan each, with disgusting conditions I'd rather not recall. At noon, we ate at a hotel—or rather, just filled our stomachs. The guide had warned us about the food in advance. I don't have high demands for food, but even I found it truly awful. But there was no choice; when you're under someone else's roof, you have to make do. Next time, I'll definitely bring my own Lao Gan Ma chili sauce—it'll make the food taste great and keep me healthy! After the meal, we set off immediately, winding up S-shaped mountain roads. The peaks on both sides became steeper, and the plants on the mountains became more colorful, giving the illusion that we were about to enter a paradise. However, the constantly swaying bus kept pulling my yearning back to reality. We continued like this until around 2:00 p.m., finally arriving at a medical service station near Huanglong Scenic Area. When the bus stopped, a staff member came on board to explain precautions for altitude sickness. I hadn't done much research on altitude sickness before coming; I just bought a box of Rhodiola capsules. I didn't know these capsules need to be taken a week in advance—taking them now wouldn't help much. To be safe, and since I was starting to feel a bit short of breath, I reluctantly bought a box. It's important to emphasize that altitude sickness shouldn't be underestimated. If you plan to travel to high-altitude places, make thorough preparations—whether taking medicine in advance or buying oral solutions on site. It's much cheaper outside the scenic area. If you're unprepared, don't risk skipping it to save a few yuan; good health is the foundation of everything. Shortly after drinking the medicine, the bus reached the entrance of Huanglong Scenic Area, but it didn't stop. We continued forward along the endless line of tourists, which stretched back 300-400 meters—longer than the queue at Chimelong during peak season! My heart sank. How long would we have to wait?! The guide was also anxious, urging us to get off and join the queue before the bus even reached the end. As soon as I got off, a chill hit me. We were now at an altitude of about 3,200 meters. Though the sun was bright, the temperature was quite low, so I wrapped my coat tighter.
The scenic area entrance was built in a valley between two mountains not far apart. Looking up, the blue sky and white clouds looked like a narrow, beautiful painting resting on the mountain peaks. To the right of the queue was a small stream with clear, flowing water. At some point, every scene that came into view became a beautiful picture—that's perhaps the charm of this place. After waiting about 40 minutes, we got on the cable car going up. Perhaps because they receive many visitors daily, the cable car moved relatively fast. For those afraid of heights, I suggest not opening your eyes—it's really thrilling! As the cable car ascended, the view gradually broke free from the valley, filled by distant high mountains. Whether due to the rapid ascent or the sight of the majestic peaks, my heart beat faster. But this feeling quickly disappeared once we reached the top—to be honest, I kind of wished it lasted longer.
After getting off the cable car, we followed the boardwalk, enjoying the primeval forest scenery. The boardwalk, mostly single-direction, is a common feature of the scenic area here, protecting the landscape and ensuring visitor safety. Huanglong doesn't have many attractions; our main goal was the Five-Color Pond, but it's at the highest point of the scenic area, so we had to walk the entire boardwalk. Initially, we were attracted by tall or oddly shaped trees, but as time passed and our energy waned, such sights no longer captivated us. Plus, by then, Guo Feng was starting to suffer from altitude sickness, making the walk harder. We walked and rested like this for about a third of the way when, at the first viewing platform, I saw snowy mountains on the plateau for the first time. The towering peaks rose into the clouds, the snow sparkling against the blue sky. White clouds lingered at the mountain tops, unwilling to leave. Sunlight poured through the thick clouds like Buddha's light—a magnificent sight. I had seen snowy mountains in TV, movies, or novels before, especially the Changbai Mountain in 'The Lost Tomb.' Though impressed when reading, I couldn't fully grasp its grandeur. Now seeing it in person, I understood more deeply, and I even thought about visiting Changbai Mountain.
After enjoying the view for a few minutes, we followed the boardwalk toward a closer snowy mountain attraction—Huanglong Five-Color Pond (I emphasize Huanglong because there is also a Five-Color Pond in Jiuzhaigou). This section was even more difficult. Guo Feng's altitude sickness worsened. Fortunately, we had bought a bottle of oxygen while queuing, or I'd worry she might pass out. She had to take a puff every few steps, looking like a critically ill patient. My arm naturally became her support. Wearing high-heeled boots, she clicked along, drawing stares of surprise and admiration from passersby. Her face was full of helplessness; I think she was internally devastated =_= ". When the boardwalk reached the two-thirds point, it started going uphill. By then, I was also a bit out of breath, but it felt like climbing to the 8th floor of my apartment building. I suddenly felt grateful for living on the 8th floor, allowing me to breathe normally at 3,500 meters altitude. All these discomforts melted away the moment we saw the Five-Color Pond. Huanglong's Five-Color Pond consists of over a dozen large and small pools, each like a palette, independent yet complementing each other. The colors are mainly green, blue, and yellow, with other colors interspersed. Looking at it, it's like a beautiful painting displayed between heaven and earth, intoxicatingly beautiful. The snowy mountain stood majestically at the end of the valley, like a stern and loyal guard protecting this sacred land for millennia. How deeply nature must favor this land to grant such beauty! If only I could lie by the pond, close my eyes, and feel its tranquility. But the pond was surrounded by people as solid as a city wall; I couldn't squeeze in. Alas, that's the common phenomenon of popular tourist attractions. I stood on tiptoe to take a few photos, then reluctantly headed downhill.
It's true that going uphill is easier than downhill. Uphill is supported by excitement; downhill relies entirely on willpower. Although the downhill boardwalk passed a few other attractions, none were as beautiful as the Five-Color Pond. With limited time, we trudged forward silently. Guo Feng's two highs (altitude sickness + high heels) had completely drained her. I helped her hobble downward. It was already quite dark, past the guide's meeting time. I started to worry. I thought if I had the strength, I would have carried her down without a word. At around 6:40 p.m., we finally made it out of the scenic area, on the verge of collapse. A simple downhill walk had taken nearly 2 hours. At that moment, I just wanted a quick shower and bed! But we weren't the last ones down; two groups from our tour were still missing, including a group of six elderly people. They were six old men and women from Shenyang, chatting and laughing all the way, showing no signs of their average age of 60. Sometimes, when I saw them, I wondered if, when I'm that old, I could also walk such a tough path. Would I still have friends willing to accompany me to see the great rivers and mountains? That thought brought a bit of melancholy. We waited in the bus for about half an hour before they finally came down. One of the aunties had severe altitude sickness and was vomiting heavily. At such an age, climbing Huanglong at its highest altitude of 3,700 meters was admirable! But I also felt nervous for them. There was a complimentary show ticket for 8 p.m., but due to the time lost on the mountain and everyone being tired, we unanimously agreed to cancel. That night, we stayed at Chuanzhu Temple at an altitude of about 3,000 meters. When we got off the bus, the deep chill of the place hit us. My teeth chattered, and my feet trembled. After a dinner that met no expectations, we returned to our respective rooms to rest. Since we had gone directly from Chengdu at 500 meters to over 3,000 meters that day, the guide specifically advised us not to shower or wash our hair to avoid catching a cold, and to sleep on our side to prevent altitude sickness during sleep. I thought the day was over, but my companion's altitude sickness didn't subside even after descending.
Around 1 a.m., I was woken by heavy breathing and light. Guo Feng was sitting weakly in bed, her face pained, saying it felt like many stones were pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe. I got up to boil water, intending to give her the Rhodiola capsules we had prepared. I didn't want to use the local water; the guide had said the water here is rich in minerals and, though clear, is not suitable for drinking as it can cause kidney stones. But we had no choice—the bottled water we bought earlier was gone. When the water boiled, Guo Feng took a sip and felt it burned her throat. In the end, she took the pills with cold bottled water. After all that, we were wide awake, but Guo Feng showed no improvement, saying she still felt very uncomfortable and wanted to call the guide. I hesitated—it was the middle of the night, and calling him would be rude. But seeing that the medicine didn't work, I had no choice but to call. However, the phone number he claimed was on 24/7 was switched off. I tried two or three more times—same result. My heart sank again. Guo Feng suggested we go to the hotel front desk to check. Thinking of the cold wind outside, I was scared, but seeing Guo Feng's suffering, I gritted my teeth and went out. We were on the third floor. Before closing the door, I looked around—no one in sight. Of course, who would be outside in the middle of the night in such cold? The hotel was a 'square' layout, so I could see the entire corridor clearly. Because it was enclosed, the echo was very obvious; each step produced one or two footsteps, eerie. Whether due to the cold or the hotel saving electricity, the lighting in the corridor was very dim—a mix of yellowish and pale white. I had to use my phone's flashlight to see ahead, creating multiple light sources and several shadows. Every step I took made me glance around; my peripheral vision caught my own shadows on both sides. I knew logically it was nothing, but my mind raced with associations. The atmosphere was terrifying! I made it to the first floor, relieved to finally see the front desk, but it was empty, and the hotel's main door was wide open. My scalp tingled again. Earlier, though scared, I thought at least someone would be at the front desk. If something happened, I could shout for help. But now, I was sure I was alone in this empty, silent environment. My heart pounded faster, and horror scenes from movies played on a loop in my mind. I wished I could teleport back to the room! I even thought of going outside to buy medicine, but through the glass wall, the outside looked like a pitch-black abyss, gaping its mouth waiting for me. I abandoned that idea immediately. I looked for a contact number at the front desk but found none, then turned back immediately. Strange—the more scared I am, the more I try to act calm, thinking it makes others fear me. Looking back, it was just self-comfort. If someone were lurking in the dark, they'd only care if you have money or not, not whether you're calm or panicked! After what felt like an eternity of fear, I finally reached the room. Only when I confirmed the door was locked did my heart settle. Luckily, Guo Feng had vomited just after I left and now felt much better. Checking the time, it was 3 a.m. We had to get up at 5 a.m., so we had only two hours of rest. I quickly got into bed and fell asleep within minutes.
At 5 a.m., the familiar hateful alarm went off. After struggling for a few minutes, I reluctantly left the warm bed. The 26th was the most important stop of this trip—the fairy tale world of Jiuzhaigou. We had a whole day to enjoy the scenery. Guo Feng had mostly recovered her energy, which was a huge relief! Otherwise, like yesterday, this trip would have been wasted. The weather that day was gloomy, with dark clouds over the mountaintops; heavy rain was inevitable. I really missed yesterday's weather at Huanglong! But we had raincoats and umbrellas; even if it hailed, nothing would stop us from seeing the beauty! While waiting for tickets, I noticed a father and daughter from our tour group. Guo Feng had mentioned that earlier, when she was carsick and vomiting on the bus, the uncle handed her tissues. He was very gentle and refined. Seeing him up close, I couldn't help but observe more. He had graying hair but looked very energetic, wearing glasses, and smiled when meeting others' eyes—a warm person indeed. His daughter looked around 20, very delicate, smiling just as warmly as her father. In this day and age, it's rare to see an adult child traveling alone with a parent. I felt moved, but when I discussed it with Guo Feng, she gave a less sentimental reason: maybe the mother had passed away. That made me feel a bit sad.
Thinking and walking, we soon arrived at the main entrance of Jiuzhaigou. The entrance was wider than Huanglong's, and there was no need for a cable car, so the queuing was relatively fast. While waiting for the sightseeing bus, it started drizzling, and soon it poured. We had to put on our raincoats. At that moment, I could have slapped myself: the raincoat I had bought earlier was in my suitcase on the bus, not in my small bag. Now I only had a cheap giveaway raincoat, a pullover type. Seeing myself looking like a wrapped bun, I felt like cursing and tearing it to shreds. But reason prevailed: I took out my umbrella and put the raincoat over my small bag. We continued queuing for the sightseeing bus. Jiuzhaigou has three developed valleys, each of varying lengths. The longest takes over half an hour by sightseeing bus, the shortest about 10-20 minutes. Walking is impossible unless you spend three days here. So the sightseeing method relies on over 600 shuttle buses constantly moving. The junction of the three valleys is the only visitor service center within the valley and also the only smoking area. All buses are dispatched from here to decide which valley to go to first. After deciding, the bus drives along the road to the highest point of each valley, and then visitors walk back along the boardwalks. Stops are available for distant attractions, so we could visit one and then take the bus to the next. We first visited Rize Valley. Following the guide's advice, we didn't go to the highest point, the Primeval Forest, but got off at Arrow Bamboo Lake. Actually, on the sightseeing bus, the guide briefly introduced the origins and legends of each spot, and we had already glimpsed the picturesque scenery. But when we finally got off and stepped into this fairy tale world, we were deeply awed. These lakes, large and small, are called 'haizi' here, each with its own legend and characteristics. The first one we saw was Arrow Bamboo Lake. Being the innermost lake of this valley, it had a deeper, more tranquil atmosphere compared to outer lakes. The water surface wasn't very wide, and there were many reed-like plants on the shore. Because it had just rained, there were crystal-clear water droplets on the plants beside the boardwalk, which fell into the water when the wind blew, creating ripples.
Continuing down the boardwalk, we arrived at Panda Lake. It is named because the lake's surface has black and green colors resembling a giant panda. Panda Lake is much more open than Arrow Bamboo Lake, with no aquatic plants on the surface, as calm as a mirror. By then, the rain had stopped, and the sky above was filled with blue sky and white clouds, reflected on the water, making the lake look even more serene.
When your vision is fully indulged, taste becomes insignificant. We had breakfast at 6 a.m., then drove to Jiuzhaigou, visited from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., before my stomach signaled hunger. So we had a simple snack at the Panda Lake rest area, then took the bus to one of Jiuzhaigou's highlights—Five Flower Lake.
If the lakes of Jiuzhaigou are works of nature, then Five Flower Lake is a masterpiece! Seeing it, you feel all the hardships of the past few days were worth it—whether the 7-8 hour bus rides or the aches from going up and down mountains. Its beauty heals everything. It's a beauty that intoxicates you, beyond words, a beauty that makes you willingly endure hardships to seek. Those who see it can't bear to look away, afraid of missing a moment of this encounter. They instinctively take out their cameras to capture its beauty, because it's too overwhelming to absorb in a short time. They temporarily forget all worries, and every corner of their heart is filled with her image. I have always dreamed of beautiful scenery, but I never dreamed of something as beautiful as Five Flower Lake. Unfortunately, the lake was surrounded by reluctant visitors. With reluctance, we left this paradise, glancing back at every step, but our hearts couldn't calm down for a long time.
Below Five Flower Lake is Pearl Shoal Waterfall. Although not as magnificent as big waterfalls elsewhere, this stretch of white against the specific scenery is unique. Plus, this waterfall was the filming location for the 1986 version of 'Journey to the West,' attracting many onlookers and photos.
Further down is Mirror Lake. But with the stunning Five Flower Lake as a precursor, other lakes seemed to lose some charm. Further down, we returned to Nuorilang Visitor Center. After a short rest, we continued to the next valley—Zechawa Valley. This valley is the longest of the three, but has relatively few attractions, only four. Along the way up, we decided to visit the two inner ones: Long Lake and Five-Color Pond. After a half-hour bus ride, we reached the highest point of the valley—Long Lake.
Long Lake is like the mother lake of all the haizi in Jiuzhaigou. Because of its higher elevation and location at the foot of the snowy mountain, its water volume is stable throughout the seasons and supplies other lakes. Standing on the viewing platform, a pure blue expanse greeted us. Although there were blue sky and white clouds above, the lake didn't reflect them; instead, it absorbed the sky's blue deeply into its body, teasing visitors' eyes through the ripples stirred by the gentle breeze. The snowy mountain stood at the end of Long Lake, giving its love and guardianship selflessly. If Long Lake is the mother, then the distant snowy mountain is the father. Beside the viewing platform below Long Lake, there was a magical pine and cypress tree, with branches growing in one direction, like an old butler silently welcoming visitors from afar. The boardwalk from Long Lake to the Five-Color Pond is the steepest section in Jiuzhaigou. At this point, my calves and right knee started aching—maybe from too much walking these days or catching a chill. This section was also tough. Just when Guo Feng's altitude sickness was gone, my knees started acting up. Sigh, visual enjoyment comes at a price.
Desceding from Long Lake, we reached the second highlight of Jiuzhaigou—Five-Color Pond. Jiuzhaigou's Five-Color Pond differs from Huanglong's; it's a single, smaller pool, but it has a different color not found in other haizi. Besides the clear green, there is a special fluorescent green—whether due to light refraction or unique minerals in the pool. This interplay of deep and shallow, still and moving, creates a breathtaking beauty. Because it's small, it was surrounded tightly by crowds. With difficulty, I used a selfie stick to take a full picture, but the photo was filled with other people's phone screens. It seems everyone shares the same aesthetic for great beauty.
After leaving the Five-Color Pond, we took a sightseeing bus directly out of the valley. Arriving at Nuorilang Visitor Center at 3:30 p.m., with only two hours until the guide's meeting time at 5:30 p.m., and we still hadn't visited Shuzheng Valley, which goes toward the exit. Without resting, we boarded the bus immediately. Fortunately, the highlights of Jiuzhaigou were deeply etched in my mind. We made brief stops at Rhinoceros Lake, Spark Lake, and Bonsai Shoal before leaving the scenic area. This time, we came out earlier, arriving at the bus at 5 p.m. The sky over Jiuzhaigou was starting to darken. It had been an exhausting day, but also a happy one. Interestingly, the young couple sitting next to me had a fight for some reason. The woman looked very angry, ignoring the man's attempts to appease her. Every time he put his arm around her, she pushed it away coldly. The situation was awkward, but I found it a bit amusing. Before this, they had been chattering nonstop from boarding to alighting; now they were completely silent. I didn't pay much attention. I soon fell asleep on the bus. When I opened my eyes, the bus was empty. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming or had encountered something supernatural. Though a bit alarmed, I knew calmness was key to solving problems. I remained seated, motionless. Finally, Guo Feng came to call me. I learned that an hour had passed since boarding. The guide had arranged a visit to a Tibetan house. Everyone else had gotten off, but I didn't hear the bus stop or the guide's voice. How noisy it must have been for me not to wake up? I was impressed by myself! But I was too tired, so I asked Guo Feng to go alone while I rested in the bus and waited for their return. I waited an hour until they came back, and the day's itinerary ended.
On the 27th, we still got up at 5 a.m. and departed at 6:30. Since it was the last day heading back to Chengdu, I felt a bit reluctant. Even so, the morning included three visits that were ostensibly about ethnic minority culture but were actually shopping spots: a silver jewelry shop, a specialty supermarket, and a silk product shop. Although tinged with commercialism, we still learned a bit about ethnic customs—another kind of gain.
When we got back on the bus after the silver jewelry shop, I noticed the young couple next to me had made up, chattering again as usual, and the woman had a new silver bracelet on her wrist. Indeed, shopping is the best way to appease a woman! At 2 p.m., we departed from the Chuanzhu Temple silk culture point, beginning our 8-hour return journey. The bus first had to cross a snowy mountain at about 4,200 meters before driving out of the mountains. Since it was daytime, we could enjoy the snowy scenery up close. Though tired, I couldn't bear to close my eyes. Despite my reluctance, the blue sky, white clouds, and towering mountains gradually receded behind us. The bus wound upward, with Chuanzhu Temple at the foot of the mountain getting smaller and smaller. When the bus reached the highest point, looking out the window, the distant snowy mountains appeared right before us. Unlike the previous views of snowy mountains that felt lofty and untouchable, this one seemed within reach. The sense of shock from a level view was incomparable to looking up. I suddenly had the illusion that the bus would break through the guardrail and drive straight into the snowy mountain. Could there be a bronze door and Zhang Qiling inside? The majestic snowy mountains were incredibly beautiful and spectacular! I never expected to enjoy such a view on the last day. Worth it! But unfortunately, due to being on the bus, I didn't take a photo. After descending the snowy mountain, the scenery became plain, like falling from heaven to earth. I finally allowed myself to sleep. The ride out of the mountains felt extraordinarily long without the support of anticipation. Every time I dozed off, I woke to find only a few minutes had passed—time crawled. The only saving grace was that I didn't feel carsick—maybe I had gotten used to the swaying after these days. I won't detail all the hardships of the journey. After 6 hours of bumping, the surroundings gradually took on an urban feel. Oh my god, we finally drove out of the mountains! The bus stopped at Jinniu Dam Road on Chengdu's Third Ring Road, marking the end of our guided tour. Although our guide had many flaws, especially the night of Guo Feng's altitude sickness, she was generally diligent. I am still grateful to her. After getting off, we planned to take a taxi to our booked hotel, but the road to the hotel was blocked. We had to rebook a hotel near the drop-off point. After checking in, it was already past 11 p.m. We were so hungry that we had to go to McDonald's next door for a burger. We didn't sleep until 12:30 a.m.
That sleep was very comfortable. When the alarm went off at 7 a.m. the next day, I thought I was dreaming. Since the last day's itinerary was to go to Chongqing, and we had bought 10:50 a.m. high-speed train tickets, I didn't dare sleep in. After washing up, I hurried out. At 10 a.m., we arrived at Chengdu East Station, picked up our tickets, looked back at Chengdu, and then plunged into the waiting room. On the high-speed train, I kept recalling bits and pieces of this trip, not even enjoying the scenery along the way. Before I knew it, we arrived at the mountain city—Chongqing. The name 'mountain city' is well-deserved. Looking out the taxi window, I saw high-rise buildings towering like mountains, with rugged and narrow roads. The car would climb a slope every few meters, and the gradients were steep. Even in the city center, there were low hills, making the city very green. Mountain city: mountain comes first, city follows. It's not that the mountain adapted to the city's development, but the city yielded to the mountain's persistence. The taxi driver recommended a decent pea-and-noodle shop near Chongqing's Liberation Monument, claiming it had been featured on many TV shows. Since we were close to Hongya Cave, we went to try it. Honestly, it was just okay. I don't know why, but as soon as I got off the train, I felt an inexplicable dislike for this city—not half the fondness I had for Chengdu. Maybe because Chongqing people seemed more indifferent. After eating, we didn't know where to go. Dragging luggage while visiting attractions is not a wise choice—it's awkward in the crowd. So, when we reached the entrance of Hongya Cave, I decided to stay and watch the luggage, not going in. Guo Feng didn't find it interesting to wander alone, especially since she wasn't feeling well, so she came out soon.
Earlier, the taxi driver had mentioned that due to Chongqing's narrow roads and many one-way streets, traffic jams were severe during rush hours. To avoid that, we took a taxi to Beichuan Airport at 4 p.m., arriving at 5 p.m. Our flight wasn't until 8:30 p.m., so we spent the last three hours of the trip at a buffet restaurant. At 10:30 p.m., our plane landed at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, marking the true end of our trip.
Along the way, there were hardships and surprises, but overall, it was very worthwhile. This spontaneous trip, starting from Chengdu and ending in Chongqing, let me appreciate the wonders of nature and the different personalities of each city. If there's any regret, it's that I didn't stay longer at Five Flower Lake. But regrets fuel future journeys. Jiuzhaigou's beauty is worth seeing a thousand times. Next time, I will definitely fly directly to Jiuhuang Airport and never endure the 8-hour bumpy ride again.
