usatvline Chapter 135 The Token of Kunlun's Gift
Chapter 135 The Token of Kunlun's Gift
As you drive into the city of Golmud, you will be greeted by the exotic atmosphere.
Bilingual shop signs line the streets, colorful banners flutter, and mysterious runes seem to whisper.
Everyone found a parking lot and parked their car. As soon as Sister Tao got out of the car, she took a deep breath and said, "Oh, this smell is so comfortable."
The aroma of cumin and butter tea lingered in the air, tempting everyone to eat. At night, everyone stayed in a guesthouse.
Li Fugui was planning his trip for the next day when his cell phone suddenly rang. It was a call from the cooperating travel agency, informing him that the guide who was originally scheduled to climb the Kunlun Snow Mountain was temporarily injured and the trip had to be postponed.
Li Fugui slammed his hand on the table, his face filled with frustration. "What am I going to do? I came all this way here, and now all my plans have gone to waste!" Sister Xiaotao's eyes were red, and she felt aggrieved. "I've been looking forward to going up to the snow-capped mountains for so long, and now it's all gone."
Li Fugui adjusted his glasses and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, let's ask around. Golmud is so big, there must be reliable guides."
The next morning, everyone split up. Li Fugui and Zhang Tingjian went to every travel agency, only to receive the reply that there was a shortage of guides. Xiao Taojie, Zhang Beixiaoxing and A Bao went around asking around, but also to no avail.
The sun was blazing high in the street, and people were sitting around on benches, their morale low. Abao lay on the ground, listlessly sticking out his tongue. Just as despair was looming, an elderly Tibetan woman passed by, saw the crowd's worried expressions, and asked in her broken Chinese.
Xiao Xing poured out all her troubles. The old lady patted her on the shoulder and pointed to a small courtyard in the distance: "My nephew Pingcuo is a good hunter and often goes into the mountains. Maybe he can help." Everyone instantly ignited hope and rushed to the small courtyard.
Pingcuo was agile and had eyes like an eagle. After hearing the purpose of their visit, he scratched his head and smiled, "The snowy mountains are dangerous, but seeing your sincerity, I will lead you on this trip. But you have to be well prepared, and you can't be careless about equipment and medicines." Li Fugui excitedly shook Pingcuo's hand and thanked him repeatedly.
Over the next few days, everyone accompanied Phuntsok to purchase equipment and adjust their climbing gear. Meanwhile, the old woman enthusiastically invited everyone to sample her homemade Tibetan delicacies. Steaming hot butter tea arrived, its rich, fragrant blend of milk and tea aromas dispelling everyone's fatigue and chill. There was also tsampa, the plump grains of which, mixed with sugar and butter, were kneaded into a ball and served in the mouth. It was soft, sweet, and chewy.
Pingcuo smiled and said, "Eat more. A full stomach will give you the strength to go into the mountains." Everyone ate until their bellies were full and warm, and they were looking forward to the next journey. On the day of departure, at dawn, the team headed towards the Kunlun Snow Mountain.
The mountain road is rugged and winding, and the cold wind cuts like a knife on the face.
At first, Po was jumping around happily, but soon he was exhausted. Xiao Xing held him in her arms with concern. As the altitude climbed, the oxygen became increasingly thinner, and every step felt like a thousand pounds.
Zhang Nan staggered and was about to give up. Zhang Tingjian supported him and encouraged him: "You are just a few steps away. The beautiful scenery is waiting for you up there. Hold on!" Li Fugui was carrying the heaviest bag. Veins bulged on his forehead and his clothes were soaked with sweat, but he said nothing.
Sister Xiaotao's face was pale, but she persevered with her tenacious will. At the critical moment, Pingcuo sang a heroic Tibetan song, and the powerful singing dispelled the haze and gave strength to everyone.
After enduring countless hardships, we finally reached the summit. Looking out, we saw a sea of rolling clouds, rolling snow-capped mountains, and icy peaks gleaming with a holy light in the sunlight. Everyone hugged each other and cried, their tears instantly freezing in the cold wind, but their hearts were warm and filled with a sense of accomplishment.
After a short rest, the team set off again, heading straight for the Kunlun Mountains.
The scenery outside the car window becomes increasingly magnificent. The Gobi Desert stretches endlessly, and the wind-eroded Yardang landforms rise from the ground, like ancient castles and giant beasts, standing in the wilderness, silently telling of the bullying of wind and sand.
Ah Bao nestled in Xiao Xing's arms, occasionally whimpering, as if overwhelmed by the vast yet somewhat lonely scenery. Arriving at the Kunlun Pass, the biting cold wind cut through their faces like a knife, but no one paid any attention to the biting pain.
Everyone looked up at the towering monument at the mountain pass. The words engraved on the monument were bold and powerful, commemorating the heroic stories of past climbers, explorers and these mountains and rivers.
The surrounding prayer flags were magnificent, their layers of multicolored cloth carrying the faithful's prayers, chanting in the wind for peace and well-being. Zhang Tingjian's eyes were red as he clicked away, trying to capture the soul-stirring moment. Zhang Nan silently bent down, picked up a round stone, and put it in his pocket, a token of Kunlun's gift. Li Fugui and Xiao Taojie stood side by side, their fingers intertwined.
Sister Xiaotao whispered, "After walking so far, I realized it was worth it." Her voice was carried away by the wind, but it landed firmly in Li Fugui's heart.
In the distance, snow-capped mountains stretch out in unison, glaciers nestled in the valleys. The occasional ice avalanche rumbles like thunder, a testament to the mountains' majesty. As sunlight streams down, the ice crystals refract a rainbow of colors, creating a dreamlike scene, like a path to wonderland.
As we descended the mountain, dusk fell, and the western sky was ablaze with the sunset glow. A swirling blend of orange, violet, and golden yellow cast a warm glow over the return journey. Inside the car, exhausted yet content, we shared our experiences and planned our next day's exploration of the Golmud Salt Lake.
The headlights of the RV tore through the night curtain and headed towards the city. Golmud was hidden in the night, holding countless surprises, waiting for reunion tomorrow; and the magnificent mountains and rivers encountered during the day have been deeply imprinted in the heart, turning into a beautiful dream that will be savored again and again for the rest of the life.
After coming down from the snow-capped mountains and resting for a few days, the team headed to Golmud Salt Lake.
The salt lake resembles a giant mirror left behind by the earth, its clear brine reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, creating a dreamlike scene. Everyone took off their shoes and stepped onto the salt flats, where the fine salt grains caressed the soles of their feet, creating a tingling sensation.
Sister Xiaotao was dancing gracefully in a red dress in the salt lake, her skirt fluttering in the wind like a blooming flame; Li Fugui held up a camera to capture this beautiful scene.
Zhang Tingjian leaned over to collect salt crystal samples, muttering to himself: "Nature is a wonder of creation, these are all treasures." Zhang Bei Xiaoxing took Abao to play by the lake, splashing crystal water, and their laughter echoed over the salt lake.
After a few days of fun, we headed to a small restaurant near the salt lake and ordered a table full of local specialties. First up was the hand-pulled lamb. The large chunks of lamb were cooked to a tender, savory consistency, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and tasted fresh and juicy, with no hint of mutton. The dish was paired with highland barley stuffed dough, the smooth and chewy dough soaked in the hot and sour broth, its gluten soaked in the juices. One bite and your taste buds are instantly energized.
Everyone ate heartily, joking as they ate, and the restaurant was filled with laughter.
In the next few days, the salt lake was like a mirror in the sky, with the clear brine reflecting the white clouds in the sky.
Strolling the salt flats feels like walking in the clouds; hiking in the Gobi Desert reveals mysterious rock paintings, their primitive, unadorned lines evoking a forgotten past; at the night market, succulent hand-pulled lamb and the fragrant, toasted naan soothe hungry stomachs. Golmud is like a massive book, each day opening a new page, filled with adventures. Even when we depart, our trunks overflow with souvenirs and our camera memory cards overflow, our hearts weigh heavy with nostalgia, becoming a constant reminder and a reason to return next time. Because this land is worth countless "finally, I've waited for you."
The return date is quietly approaching, and the courtyard of the B&B is filled with packed luggage and souvenirs.
Sister Tao gently stroked the Tibetan carpets and handmade jewelry she had found, her face filled with reluctance: "I really don't want to leave. Golmud is like a dream I can't wake up from."
Li Fugui held her in his arms and comforted her softly, "We'll come back next year. It won't run away."
Before leaving, everyone visited Pingcuo and the old woman with generous gifts to express their gratitude. Pingcuo handed over some yak jerky he had made himself and said, "Take it with you and eat it on the road. Golmud will always welcome you."
The car started slowly, and everyone rolled down the windows, waving goodbye to the crowds on the street, the familiar streets, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance.
Golmud gradually became blurred in the rearview mirror, but every bit of this journey, the people and scenes encountered, have been deeply engraved in my soul, turning into the warmest memories of the rest of my life and becoming the most beautiful promise for the next time I go there.
From then on, even when they were in a bustling city, the sandstorms, snow-capped mountains and salt lakes of Golmud would always linger in their dreams at midnight, urging them to set out on the westward journey again and head for the land they longed for.