Scenery Embraces the Eyes, Culture Lingers at the Fingertips | Gansu and Qinghai Archived in My Mind

"If you come to visit me and I'm not here, please sit with the flowers outside my door for a while. They are warm, and I have watched them for many, many days."

My mind roams freely,

Yet my feet have not moved a single step;

My ears are filled with tales of distant lands,

But my eyes have yet to see them;

Though I am a glutton for beautiful scenery,

This time, I want to revel in the Northwest.

I know you have heard of Yardang landforms, but have you ever heard of Water Yardang? I know you have watched movies, but have you ever seen the stunning scenery from the movies with your own eyes?

Water Yardang originally consists of lake sediments at the bottom of a lake. Due to tectonic movements, they rose above the water and, after years of wind erosion, formed a unique landscape.

It is sand, yet not sand,

Embraced by the lake, yet not entirely within it.

The sky is azure, the water is turquoise, the earth forest is peculiar, and the atmosphere is ethereal.

After intense erosion, splitting, and collapse, red sandstone forms isolated, prominent tower-like terrain. Then, under the sunlight's rendering, it becomes the famous Colorful Danxia. It truly lives up to its name as "Colorful."

Movie "Speed King"

Movie "Meet You in the Most Beautiful Place"

There is a very popular novel called "The Lost Tomb" (Grave Robbers' Chronicles). I don't know if you've read it, but I really like it. The book mainly tells the story of a core team's adventurous explorations, overcoming dangers time and again. The places they visit include rainforests, deserts, and snowy mountains—all remote, uninhabited areas. There, you can only rely on yourself, the equipment in your hands, and your companions. This time, we also followed Mo Ge into two major uninhabited areas: the U-shaped Highway and the Yadan Ghost City.

The trending U-shaped Highway has dramatic undulations, as if pointing straight to the sky. Standing at a low point and looking up, a sense of vastness and freedom arises spontaneously.

I reached out my hand and touched the dream of the West; if I took a step, could I get closer to this clear blue sky?

"Yardang is a typical wind-eroded landform. In Uyghur, it means a small hill with steep walls."

The name "Ghost City" for the Yardang comes from the sound of the wind howling at night, like ghosts crying and wolves howling. Many self-driving tourists claim that it's easy to get lost in the Yardang at night, unable to find a way out. Is it a prank of nature, or a trick of the mind?

When did summer arrive? When you open a bottle of ice-cold soda under the scorching sun,

When you cut a watermelon and put it in the fridge, and also, when you go with me to see the four major salt lakes of Qinghai.

Qinghai Lake, called "Tso ngonpo" in Tibetan, is the largest inland lake in China.

Depending on the weather, the color of Qinghai Lake changes. On clear days, it appears a warm, jade-like sapphire blue.

Watch seagulls flying slowly over the lake, listen to the sound of waves lapping ashore, and smell the salty breeze from the lake—how pleasant it is...

"Caka" is Tibetan, meaning "salt lake." Because of its transparent, boundless surface, it is also called China's "Sky Mirror" by travelers, as "the lake merges with the sky, and the salt lake shines with the snowy peaks."

The trendy little train at Caka Salt Lake is also a photo spot. Going there reminded me of a scene from Spirited Away: Chihiro walking on the submerged railway tracks, holding her shoes, leading everyone to the station. I then boarded this little train, feeling it could also take me to a magical world.

Dongtai Jiner Salt Lake has a unique "Tiffany blue" color and is known as the Chinese version of the Maldives. If you don't want to be packed like sardines but still want to experience the feeling of the sea, this natural landscape, not yet fully developed, is a summer exclusive for you.

The color of Dongtai Jiner Salt Lake differs from most salt lakes, with white crystals covering the shore. I am also different from most people, my mind filled with thoughts of following Mo Ge all the way through this journey...

Tired of sweet ice cream? Have you ever tasted salty? Used to seeing blue lakes and oceans? Have you ever seen emerald green?

Emerald Lake, as its name suggests—a piece of untouched emerald fairyland.

Similar to Dongtai Jiner Salt Lake, due to different densities of minerals in the lake water, the green is not uniform, but that makes the water even more like jade.

I wish I were a dandelion, riding the warm wind,

Drifting over this piece of jade~

Wherever the wind blows, I go,

Whatever color the lake is, I am that color~

Speaking of the Silk Road, everyone is familiar with it, but it's hard to define precisely because the topic is so broad. Many historians spend their entire lives studying just one part. I, however, chose to visit Dunhuang to see the unique sight of sand dunes surrounding a spring and listen to the echoing camel bells in the sand mountains.

Mogao Caves, commonly known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, is the largest and richest Buddhist art sanctuary in the world. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1987. Please note, to preserve this artistic masterpiece for future generations, photography is not allowed inside Mogao Caves. Like me, look carefully, listen attentively, and store this treasure in your clever little mind~

The murals in Mogao Caves are numerous, rich in content, and exquisitely crafted. While everyone was focusing on their meaning, I marveled at the monks who carved these caves. What supported so many of them to spend so much time to create such a great achievement?

Now, let me talk about Mingsha Mountain, which I have long admired. In recent years, many people have written songs, poems, and made movies about it. Do you still think it's just a gust of wind that passes and disperses? Of course not, my friend. Once you come, you'll understand its mystery and beauty.

Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring are twin sisters in the Gobi Desert. "The mountain resonates with spirit, and the water enhances beauty."

What good habits have you kept to take beautiful photos?

Don't just say you keep on carefully editing pictures!

The landscape is magnificent, so go out for a walk,

Bask in the same sunlight as the Colorful Danxia,

Bathe in the same lake breeze as the seagulls on Qinghai Lake,

And enjoy the same summer day as the camels at Mingsha Mountain.