A Story to Mark a Time (Part 7): EV Road Trip from Chengdu to Xishuangbanna

This year's exam season is over. The road we've traveled may be filled with the joy of success or the regret of failure. Though fallen petals drift into the flowing water, they may follow the stream far and carry its fragrance. The end of this road marks the beginning of the next. Youth is meant to soar, and summer is the season to see the world.

In the Spring Festival of 2007, with our two-year-old child, we drove south for the first time. We first experienced the Dadu River Valley, the Dagang Mountain in Shimian, the Eighteen Bends of Lining in the Jinsha River Gorge; we first felt the snow of Cangshan and the moon over Erhai, the pristine Lugu Lake. Years later, following the steps of 'Where Are We Going, Dad?', we visited Puzhehei, the Mile Hot Springs, and Fuxian Lake. This time, the colorful clouds of the south also draw our hearts. As the summer wind rises, we watch the sky ablaze with rosy clouds.

Day 1/16 days: Chengdu to Panzhihua, 637KM.

Playing, playing, and you grow up. Growing up is joyful, for we always explore the world with curiosity! So lucky to have you, heading all the way south.

First, a nucleic acid test. Then, as we charge the car, we sip a night beer and get going.

Day 2/16 days: Panzhihua to Lijiang, 248KM.

Passing Huaping, mountainsides covered with all kinds of mangoes. The kind elderly and child, the fruits are sweet and heartwarming! Truly fortunate to pass by your orchard.

Lijiang, its tender warmth at the first fall of night. That year, our child was two.

Day 3-5/16 days: Lijiang to Dali, 155KM.

Lazy sunlight streams through the leaves and branches outside the window into the room, marking a quiet morning moment.

Fifteen years later, we bring our child back to this beauty.

Slowly strolling to Dali. Lunch: tiny shrimps from Erhai.

A very stylish island arrival service, reminiscent of landing on a Maldivian island.

I've come from afar just to sit under the eaves and gaze at the sea, to chat with you about daily trifles and also about romance.

The tranquility here is like the grasslands of Axu, the summer splash just like my childhood.

I see Cangshan as full of charm, and Cangshan likely sees me the same.

In the quiet night's soft humming, I recall the fireworks by the Tamsui River that year, and so I cherish this simple life.

Yesterday's stars, today's morning light.

You paint a watercolor, I read a book beside you. This morning time is like the clear emerald water beside us.

Leaving the island for the city, even living deep in an alley, the joy remains unchanged. The most beautiful are the worldly, vibrant scenes.

Cangshan and Erhai brew snowy moon romance, the bustling streets intoxicate with wind and flowers.

At the season when mushrooms grace the incense table, I meet you again.

We all love life so much, so we always unexpectedly meet in some corner of the world.

Create golden time with your child. What is golden time? It's the happy moments that, even in your sixties or seventies, you can still recall with your parents and still smile.

The ancient city with soft clouds and blue sky remains the same. In a small courtyard, though outside is bustling, we prefer sitting alone inside, painting a picture, reading a book.

At the foot of Cangshan, watch wind and flowers; above the gate of Erhai, a rainbow falls.

Day 6-7/16 days: Dali to Tengchong Heshun Ancient Town, 330KM.

Gaoligong Mountain, which I had often seen in books, now suddenly stands before my eyes.

Charging at Tengchong service area.

On a day when clouds roll and unfurl, I feel as if I've stepped into a peach blossom paradise.

At this moment, it's like returning to the rice-scented pastoral of Ubud that year.

Swim freely, seek beautiful spots in the peach blossom land. Copper pot beef with spiced beef.

Seven or eight stars beyond the sky, two or three raindrops before the mountain.

Morning rises, the scent of rice.

Afternoon, to feel the breath of the forest.

The internet makes distance no problem. Truly grateful to a local net-sister for showing us this wonderful place—let's have a drink, it's called 'Xiao Guo Jiu' (small pot liquor).

A small mountain town where people are gentle and harmonious—this is Heshun.

Private hot spring pool, chatting around the stove at night.

A pool of hot spring water, as night deepens and the wind stills, ripples smooth out. A little boat drifts away from here, and I entrust my remaining years to rivers and seas.

Day 8-9/16 days: Heshun to Lincang, 430KM.

Seeing the world with our child, in the south of colorful clouds, the hometown of Pu'er tea, let's visit the tea mountains here.

What a rare occasion—today we happened upon a celebration day in a big mountain village.

Neither east nor west divides the village; neither old nor young are excluded; everyone dances beautifully. The distant valley is silent, only here they sing in a language I don't understand, celebrating without sleep.

Life here is so simple and beautiful.

Clouds drift before my eyes, almost within reach. The corn just picked from the field is so sweet. At this moment, the village hears only birdsong and roosters crowing.

In the afternoon, let's go see the lake in Iceland. Thank you, Xiao Tao.

The children in the village are just like us in childhood, always playing until they forget time.

Every night in the valley seems to be a sea of stars.

Day 10/16 days: Lincang to Pu'er, 330KM.

It does not perish for a tyrant, nor live for a sage. Although last night a certain Pelosi sneaked off to the treasure island, at this moment, the sun still rises as usual.

We, all of us, should strive ceaselessly to improve ourselves, at least to cultivate ourselves bit by bit, and to nurture our families with love.

Day 11-12/16 days: Pu'er to Xishuangbanna, 120KM.

Mountains and rivers differ across regions, but the world is one.

Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles. Children can learn happily because they often experience the joy of exploring the world. Even without the grand ambition to establish the heart of heaven and earth, one must have the spirit of ceaseless self-improvement and striving to be first.

Seeing the world with our child.

Meeting after dusk.

Now, the stars are brilliant, dazzling like the Milky Way. Walking in today's starlight night market, I feel as if I've returned to those nights in Taipei and Tainan years ago.

Small family, big family; the little happiness of two people, and the harmony and prosperity of millions. May the weather be favorable and the country prosperous and the people at peace.

Every dawn is beautiful.

Deep shade by day, clear light on clothes. Walking through the tropical rainforest, to see if that butterfly that occasionally flutters its wings is still there.

The nights here, the wine here, are no different from those days in Luang Prabang.

Day 13-14/16 days: Xishuangbanna to Fuxian Lake, 532KM.

Slowly opening my still sleepy eyes, drawing the gauze curtains, brewing a pot of tea, everywhere I look, the surrounding mountains and waters teem with vitality!

A parent's love and companionship for their child should be unconditional. Be a guide and guardian in their youth, and even more, be an appreciator when they grow up.

As night falls, it's always time for delicacies.

Charcoal fire is the soul of a barbecue. The taste here is just like that at the Axu grassland camp—natural and simple, always awakening every traveler's taste buds.

Day 15/16 days: Fuxian Lake to Xichang, 450KM.

The moonlight charm is boundless, tonight the stars are brilliant, this is Moon City.

Day 16/16 days: Xichang to Chengdu, 450KM.

Charging at Qionghai Park.

Strolling in the wetland park next to the charging station. Idly fishing on the emerald stream, suddenly dreaming of sailing a boat to the sun's edge.

Returning home, the journey's standard.

So lucky to have you, all the way south. In the south of colorful clouds, watch the sky full of rosy clouds dancing.