Small but Unique and Charming - 9-Peak Hill in My Hometown
Small but Unique, and Charming
My Trip to 9-Peak Hill on Women's Day
"Go visit Mount Huangshan once and you are not going to see any other mountains" is the pet theory of those who have visited Mount Hangshan in AnHui Province.
Having been to that famous attraction myself, I know very well how convincing
the declaration is. The scenery on the Huangshan Mountain top is just breathtaking, and tourists may just wish to settle down there and never go back.
The belief in the unparalleled charms of this world-famous mountain, however,
is sort of exaggerated and is challenged every now and then. That's true; as they say, nature doesn't lack beauty, which is actually always there to be discovered. For most people, trip to top spots like that can be had only once or twice
in his lifetime, and this is when people begin looking around places that do not require beforehand flight reservations and a few days' leave.
My colleagues and I are among them. It's Women's Day and the fair sex in my hospital talked about going some place nearby for celebration. When the site was
finally singled out, they decided to "go the whole hog" and kindly invited us men to join the group. A nature lover myself, I was sure delighted to have the opportunity.
It was 9-Peak Hill, a small mountain in the area that is well familiar to everybody in town -- almost everybody has been there at least once. But soon after
we arrived at the foot of the mountain, we realized it was no longer the plain,
ugly duckling we had once seen. The local government sure had a hand in making
the changes and scenery additions, which most of us hadn't seen before, happen.
The hill sure wasn't as high as Mount Huangshan, but was still enough to make us sweat a bit. The peaks were beginning to wake to the chirppings of the unknown birds, with tiny but beautiful wild flowers scattering on the slopes. Talk about a good time for us photography fans!
You make a scene when you yell or scream in public places, but not in the middle of the slope here. Everybody was yelling and screaming -- at the top of his
lungs -- and laughing like a kid when hearing the peaks echo. It was really something when people, known or unknown to each other, shouted all together spontaneously, and had a good laugh.
The peaks were not dangerously steep, either, though the paths were rather narrow and could allow only one person to pass through at a time. With the mild sunshine, fresh air and brisk winds blowing gently, this short-distance mountain hiking was actually a good physical exercise one could ever have.
The lovely lake in the valley surrounded by the peaks was a real surprise for
new comers, me included. Though having been to 9-Peak for many times, last time
probably being last year, I was never told about the lake down the valley. I insisted on visiting the lake when being mentioned, despite the toned-down comments from those who had seen it. Well, there's no account for taste; and I am happy I didn't give in. When we, a few of the expedition group, walked close to the lake, we really marveled at our luck here: The lake was situated among the green hills, and was as calm and gentle as a maid. The surrounding was pleasantly
tranquil and peaceful, with small birds occasionally flying through singing, and around the lake were awaking trees and grass and blooming anonymous multil-colored flowers. Even better, because the unknownness of the lake and its distance
from the major scene of the spot, there were only few tourists visiting this solitary but charming place. Revelling in the views of the lake and picture-taking, we really felt sorry for not having brought a camp!
It's really too bad it will take another entire year to have next Women's Day.
Oh hey, when do we men have Men's Day?
Panpanpan.
|
轻松英语