dognovel Chapter 114: Chasing the Light
Chapter 114: Chasing the Light
As the morning light breaks, a light golden glow shines on the winding National Highway 318, as if covering this legendary road with a veil.
Zhang Bei took the lead in driving a pickup truck, with the sturdy body of the truck carrying a lot of stories as it drove towards the next place. Xiao Xing, who was sitting in the passenger seat, had her cheeks flushed with excitement, her eyes fixed on the mountains and rivers passing by outside the window, her hair dancing freely in the wind, like a lively brushstroke outlining the appearance of freedom.
In the back seat of the car, the panda dog stuck out its tongue, its black and white fur fluffy in the wind. From time to time, it stood up and barked forward, as if racing with the wind, adding a bit of liveliness to the journey.
Following closely behind was Li Fugui and Xiao Taojie's RV, the huge body of which moved forward steadily, like a moving castle.
Inside the car, Zhang Tingjian sat at the table, stroking his fingers on the map, gesturing along the route, muttering to himself, calculating the distance and time to the next stops, Basu and Ranwu Lake. The wrinkles engraved by time hid his anticipation for this journey.
Zhang Nan leaned against the window, with melodious music flowing from his headphones, but his eyes drifted out of the window from time to time, capturing the curling smoke rising from the Tibetan villages along the way and the leisurely figures of yaks grazing, immersed in the fantasy where reality and music were intertwined.
In the pickup truck, Xiao Xing chattered non-stop: "Zhang Bei, do you think Ranwu Lake is frozen yet? It would be so cool to dance on the ice!"
Her eyes sparkled with longing, and she gestured with her hands as if dancing, her body swaying slightly, making Zhang Bei laugh. "Girl, be careful of the ice or you might fall flat on your butt. But that lake, whether it's frozen or not, is as beautiful as a fairyland."
As we were talking, the car turned a winding mountain road. On one side was a steep cliff, and on the other side was a mountain wall towering into the clouds. The river was rushing below the cliff, and the white waves were surging like the roar of an angry beast. The sound of the waves poured into the car, shocking everyone.
The panda dog seemed to be startled by the sound of the waves. It whimpered a few times and curled up in the corner.
Xiao Xing hurriedly turned around to comfort it, gently stroked its head, and hummed a little tune softly. The dog gradually calmed down, closed its eyes and dozed off, and the car continued to shuttle through the mountains.
In front of us, a large array of prayer flags comes into view. The colorful strips of cloth rustle in the wind, as if chanting mysterious scriptures, conveying the unique sound of prayers in Tibet.
Zhangbei slowed down and stopped by the roadside. Everyone got out of the car and walked towards the prayer flags. Xiao Xing touched them curiously to feel the warmth of faith. Li Fugui and others also came. Everyone stood under the prayer flags, closed their eyes and put their hands together, silently praying for a safe journey and a smooth life. The wind blew by, as if taking away the wishes and sending them to the sky.
We set off again, the sun growing stronger, baking the road. The RV's air conditioner hummed. Zhang Tingjian had fallen asleep on the sofa, a faint smile playing on his lips. Perhaps in his dreams, he was strolling along the shores of Ranwu Lake.
Zhang Nan sat in the driving seat, taking turns with Li Fugui. He held the steering wheel tightly with both hands, his eyes focused. Sister Xiao Tao handed him a cup of water and reminded him to be careful.
In the pickup truck, Zhang Bei and Xiao Xing were sharing snacks in the bag and laughing, but suddenly the car in front of them braked suddenly. Zhang Bei reacted quickly and stepped on the brakes. The car body shook violently and stopped. The panda dog barked "woof woof" and was still scared.
It turned out that a group of sheep were slowly crossing the road. The shepherd was wrapped in a Tibetan robe, waving a sheep whip, with a simple smile on his dark face, and his shouts echoed in the valley. After the flock of sheep passed, the convoy slowly followed.
As evening approached, the sky was dyed orange and red by the setting sun, and the afterglow outlined the mountains and rivers with golden edges. "We are almost to Basu!"
Xiao Xing cheered and looked at the twinkling lights of the town in the distance, like falling stars in the night sky.
The convoy drove into Basu and found a campsite for the night. Everyone gathered around a bonfire, its flames licking the night sky, dispelling the chill. Zhang Nan strummed his guitar, the strings flowing. Xiao Xing rose to dance, her skirt swirling. Everyone clapped and sang, the laughter and singing blending into the quiet Tibetan night, their fatigue dissipating in joy.
The next morning, the chill still lingered as the convoy headed for Ranwu Lake. Mist thickened the air, and the mountains loomed in the haze, like celestial peaks floating in a sea of clouds.
As the distance gets closer, Ranwu Lake slowly unveils its veil like a shy girl. The clear lake water reflects the snow-capped mountains, blue sky and white clouds, and the dark blue water is like a dreamland.
On the shore, thin ice shimmered like broken mirror pieces, glittering in the sunlight. Little Xing happily ran to the lake's edge, treading lightly on the ice, spinning and leaping. Zhang Bei followed closely behind, his face full of doting as he captured the moment with his camera.
Ranwu Lake, a beautiful pearl embedded in Basu County, Changdu City, Tibet Autonomous Region, has attracted countless travelers with its ethereal and clear appearance and unique background.
It was born from an "accident" of nature and is actually a landslide lake created by geological movement.
In the upper reaches, the majestic Laigu glacier melts year after year, and the trickles of snow water gather into a river. As it rushes down, it is ruthlessly cut off by landslides or mud and rock flows. The river water is blocked and continues to accumulate in the valley. Over time, this dreamlike lake with an altitude of about 3850 meters and an area of 22 square kilometers is formed.
The waters of Ranwu Lake, as if kissed by the sky, are a deep blue and clear, fed by pure mountain meltwater, free of silt and impurities. Like a capricious beauty, the lake changes with each season, its beauty and grace changing with each passing year.
In spring, the lakeside is carpeted with tender grass and colorful wildflowers bloom in profusion, complementing the lake water and bringing it a vibrant scene. In summer, surrounded by lush forests, the lake shimmers with ripples, bringing a refreshing coolness to the heart. In autumn, the mountains and forests are dyed in vibrant colors, pouring into the lake, blending the water and sky into one, creating a poetic and picturesque scene. In winter, part of the lake surface is frozen, resembling a broken mirror, contrasting with the surrounding snow-capped mountains, resembling an ice and snow kingdom in a fairy tale.
This quiet place is not only a visual feast, but also carries the story of time sedimentation and geological evolution.
It lies quietly between heaven and earth, witnessing the rise and fall of glaciers and the changes of mountains and rivers, attracting people who yearn for nature and seek beauty, and silently telling the ancient and mysterious past of the eastern Tibetan Plateau.
Li Fugui and Sister Xiao Tao strolled by the lake, holding hands, whispering, and sharing stories of the past. The years were quiet and beautiful at this moment.
Zhang Tingjian sat on a rock by the lake, his sketchbook open, and his pencil scratching out the scenery of the lake and mountains, trying to capture the beautiful scenery on paper.
Zhang Nan found a flat stone and skipped it across the lake. Ripples spread out, disturbing the reflections but adding a touch of spirit. A panda dog sniffed and chased butterflies in the grass on the shore, its barking adding a unique melody to Ranwu Lake.
The time spent at Ranwu Lake is like a stretched candy thread, sweet and leisurely.
They get up in the morning to enjoy the sunrise over the lake, and watch the golden afterglow at dusk. During the day, they stroll along the lakeside and explore the surrounding villages. They drink butter tea and taste tsampa with Tibetans and listen to ancient legends. At night, they fall asleep next to RVs and pickup trucks, accompanied by the sound of the lake water and the chirping of insects.
This 318 trip is not only about rushing to the destination, but also about pursuing inner peace, collecting heartwarming stories, and engraving unforgettable memories, and finding the true form of life among the beauty of heaven and earth. When the team sets off again and rushes to the next stop, everyone's heart is filled with the treasures given by Ranwu Lake, and their eyes are firmly looking into the distance. The road ahead is long and full of scenery.