In winter, Lijiang loses some of its noise and gains a deeper composure. In the early morning, the old town is still wrapped in a thin chill. The stone paths catch a faint sheen, and far away Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stands quietly, like an old guardian watching over the town for a thousand years.
Heading north, over mountains and valleys, Meili Snow Mountain gradually appeared at the edge of sight. Winter sunlight fell across the snowy peaks, turning the white slopes gold. Clouds drifted across the mountainside and then parted, revealing glimpses of Kawagarbo’s solemn, sacred form. Standing at the viewing platform, the wind came down from the snow mountain, carrying the breath of ice and snow and taking away the restlessness in my mind.
At the foot of Meili Snow Mountain, time seemed to slow. I watched the peaks wearing snow, the Jinsha River rushing past, and the sunset dyeing the mountains gold and red. Only then did I understand that travel is not only about reaching a distant place. It is also about meeting yourself again between heaven and earth.