“Heaven above, Yubeng below,” this phrase has drawn many people, but what intrigues me is its mystery. The fabled ice lake that is said to be visible in this life and the next, the belief that standing under the divine waterfall will ward off misfortune for the wicked and bring rainbows for the virtuous—these myths and legends are captivating. Yet, my passion lies in exploring mountains and seas, as I believe there are no true mountain climbers without companions.
This year, I was fortunate to witness the first snowfall in Yubeng village. Despite the challenging journey through towering mountains and distant waters, my strenuous trek was not in vain. Walking through the unspoiled forest covered in pristine white snow, I felt the pulse of life, as if it could make one forget their troubles and return to the embrace of nature. Inhaling the crisp air, I experienced a sense of peace that comforted both body and soul.
Seeing the first rays of morning sunlight, a phenomenon that occurs nine times out of ten, filled me with a longing for the beauty of life. Witnessing snowflakes gently falling for the first time, I felt a sense of liberation. Overcoming numerous challenges to reach the foot of the magnificent Miancimu, Wuzhi Peak, and General Peak, I felt a sense of insignificance, a fleeting feeling that I was smaller than even the dust particles. All of these experiences conveyed a sense of freedom, affirming the notion that “in hell, the body; in heaven, the heart,” making every encounter the best.
The fleeting sense of freedom may create illusions, leading one to wonder if this is what everyone desires. In reality, this is the pursuit of only a few. Each journey brings different realizations. In the river of time, your existence is negligible, merely here to experience life. You cannot possess anything, nor can you hold onto anything. There is no need to prove anything, and nothing is a must-achieve. All you can do is continuously harvest and feel, regardless of good or bad.