Chinatodo
Always weary from rushing between concrete and steel, my heart yearns ever more for the poetry of distant lands. So, I packed my bags and set off for Dali’s Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, plunging headfirst into this dreamlike paradise—only to realize that every romantic fantasy finds its fulfillment here.
At the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, gazing up at the main peak, Shanzidou. At an altitude of 5,596 meters, it resembles a silver dragon, its summit perpetually cloaked in snow, every angle exuding solemnity and sanctity. In the early morning, when the first rays of sunlight touch the snowy peaks, they shimmer with golden light, bathing the entire world in a warm, golden hue. By evening, as the sun sets in the west, the gold gradually transforms into fiery red, making the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain appear…
Under the night sky, Lijiang Ancient Town becomes even more dreamlike, adorned with countless glowing lights. Red lanterns lining the streets gradually illuminate, casting a warm glow over the weathered wooden buildings and meandering cobblestone paths. The timber-framed structures, built along the waterways, follow the ancient Naxi wisdom of "following water, sheltering from wind, and facing the sun." Their layered rooflines echo the distant contours of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, sketching the town's unique silhouette against the night.
From November to March every year, the waters of Dianchi Lake are gently touched by messengers from Siberia—thousands of red-billed gulls arrive right on schedule. They swirl like snowflakes, their wings skimming the lake’s surface, softening even Kunming’s breeze. In this city where snow never falls, these gulls become winter’s delicate spirits. When they perch on your palm and snatch a piece of bread, you’ll suddenly understand: the most poetic winter hides within the greetings carried from afar on these white wings.
As dusk descends, the Kunming Twin Towers rise abruptly from the city skyline like two bronze swords splitting the flowing clouds, yet their glass facades meekly reflect the warm-hued light. Beneath their shadows crouches Kunming Railway Station, its pale dome resembling the hunched backs of resting camels, while its arched gateways exhale the last few travelers dragging their suitcases into the night.
The renowned writer Wang Zengqi once poetically described, "Emerald Lake is the eye of Kunming." This shimmering body of water truly embodies the spring city's radiant gaze, reflecting the ever-changing beauty of all four seasons. To truly feel Kunming's heartbeat, one must linger by the shores of this enchanting lake.