See Xiangxi again

This is already my second trip to Xiangxi.

My mother also happily agreed to this trip like never before. For me, Xiangxi is like revisiting an old place.

The journey is not far, but for me who don’t like driving, the six-hour drive really makes me feel timid. Even as we drove onto the highway, I was still thinking about how to convince them to change the trip. But in a blink of an eye, I caught a glimpse of my mother's expectant eyes, her desire to explore the unknown, and the excitement of not having traveled far away for many years. I suppressed all the thoughts in my heart that I couldn't even express!

My mother is a fun-loving person. Perhaps she was worried that I would be tired while driving. She talked and laughed along the way, but she didn’t feel bored at all. It was already eight o'clock in the evening when we entered the territory of western Hunan. I stopped by to visit an old friend in Miao Village whom I haven’t seen for many years. I still feel scared when I think of that not-long but winding mountain road. But when I stood in that original environment, the inexplicable old feelings in my bones began to haunt me. Others were instantly interested in bluestone slabs, cabins, and wooden handicrafts they had never seen before. Seeing the clean smiles on their faces, I was still a little relieved.

Perhaps because of the hard work of traveling, everyone went to bed early after dinner. Lying in bed, I thought of my dream to take my family across the mountains and rivers, and then I thought about the happiness they felt when they embarked on the journey, and I secretly became more determined!

The next day, I said goodbye to my old friend. Let’s drive to Phoenix! I was like a driver and a tour guide, telling them the story of the Phoenix and the Tuojiang River in the book. The car was speeding on the highway, and the light and darkness were flickering. There were ups and downs on both sides of the road, and the continuous green mountains seemed to have foreshadowed this worthwhile trip.

It was already noon when we arrived in Phoenix.

The rows of stilted buildings, the creaking water windmills, the women squatting on the riverside doing laundry, the hawkers everywhere and the tourists taking photos on the bridge, this scene is not the same as four years ago. No different. The mountain is still Nanhua Mountain, and the water is still the Tuojiang River, but the mountains and rivers seem to be mixed with more and more commercial things, like a fly dropped in a bowl of delicious clear soup, which makes people uncomfortable.

I have to say that in a complicated and stressful life, it is quite special to steal some leisure time and stroll around the ancient city.

There were not many tourists in the afternoon, and a group of eight people wandered aimlessly in the city. Mother was distracted by the dazzling array of merchandise on both sides. Perhaps due to the impact of the epidemic, the business of small shops is not good. Whenever tourists come in, the shopkeepers feel as if they have found a life-saving straw in a swamp. The two children who were traveling with me were chasing each other in the narrow bluestone alley, sometimes cheering, sometimes marveling, and sometimes running back and telling me excitedly that there was a wooden bridge over there. Things that were not common in their daily lives had become The source of their elation. This kind of childlike innocence without any modifications spreads freely in this ancient city, which actually adds a lot of fun to this trip.

It was very pleasant to stop and go along the way, bargaining with store owners, politely rejecting vendors selling special features, or stopping to take photos at places that I thought had a good angle. The grandma carrying a bamboo basket, the Miao girl humming a ditty, and the boatman who was still asleep, all outline the unique charm of the ancient city. In this ancient city, cultural sentiments steeped in history can be seen everywhere!

While wasting this stolen leisure time wantonly, night came quietly!

If the ancient city during the day is compared to a quiet girl, then the ancient city after nightfall is like a dancing girl whose youthfulness has faded. When the lanterns are first lit, they complement each other. Occasionally there are passing ships in the Tuojiang River hung with lanterns, and the ripples turn into lines of light under the lights. Tourists suddenly poured out of nowhere. The DJ in the bar was playing wildly, the resident singer played the guitar and sang unknown folk songs. There were also some old people sitting on the bridge, playing the erhu or the flute. Or playing with some instrument I can’t name. There is no cross-fertilization or desk work here, only the bright lights of the night and the freedom of one's own mind. It was like a carnival on the edge of Tuojiang River.

We followed the endless stream of people and plunged into the excitement.

I walked around the ancient city again, and then returned to the stilted building on the edge of the Tuojiang River, full of joy. My mother’s circle of friends is filled with videos and photos of her that were not taken skillfully. She never tired of showing off her joy, sharing with me like a child others’ comments in her friend circle. At this moment, I am very satisfied!

If during this trip to western Hunan, the ancient charm of Fenghuang Ancient City is reasonable, then the shock that Feitian Valley gave me was definitely unexpected!

A narrow path runs through the entire scenic area along a small stream. On both sides are plants that I have never heard of. There is a stone bridge not far away. There are sometimes scattered cabins on the winding roadside. What can be seen everywhere are the natural mountains formed over time, and what can be heard nearby are the endless gurgling streams. Everything is just right and complements each other.

This road paved with bluestones comes to an end at a turning point. Even though I have crossed bridges in many places, I have also seen the mountains and rivers in many places. But when I go around that curve, I can see the scene that greets me. Still takes my breath away. A plank road hangs on the cliff, and a hundred-meter-high waterfall pours down, causing mist to swirl. At the end of the plank road is a glass bridge for tourists to take photos. While walking cautiously along the inside of the plank road, my mother murmured, "It's true that the predecessors planted trees and the descendants enjoy the shade, so we must be respectful." I laughed out loud at her coquettish look, and thought about her words, which made me deeply moved. Yes, whether it is the miraculous craftsmanship of nature or the road paved by predecessors who have gone through hardships and dangers, we should all respect it!

On the way back, my mother was still scared to death. She said she was afraid that the plank road would collapse while walking on it. I jokingly told her that your son and daughter are with you, so it doesn't matter if it collapses. I don’t know if it was my misunderstanding or my mother was really comforted. I think she walked away more calmly!

While resting in the pavilion, everyone’s face was covered with tiredness. But behind the tired face, there is an expression that is not difficult to detect. Let’s call it happiness!

My mother kept asking about the status of my sister and me with concern. She said that there were still hundreds of kilometers to go home. I didn't respond to her. Maybe there are still hundreds of kilometers to go home, but I know that I still have a long way to go, and I have to walk firmly!

When I come to Xiangxi again, even if I revisit the old place, I still feel a lot of emotion. I think that traveling through mountains and rivers is not worth it, but the world is worth it!

Yes, this world is worth it!