Stairs, Sky, and the Climb That Clears Your Mind: On the Way to Ximatan

#discoverchina #dali #yunnan #naturalwonders It began with a lift into the clouds—but it was the steps that carved the memory. Riding the cable car up Cangshan, I thought the journey to Ximatan would be effortless. The view was already generous: mist-shrouded peaks, sheer cliffs wrapped in silence, and a panorama that felt like a Chinese ink painting unfolding in real time. But the real magic began where the cables ended. The trail turned to stairs—endless, steep, and winding. With each step, the mountain asked more of me, and I gave it: my breath, my sweat, my thoughts. It wasn’t a race—it was a cleansing. Hikers coming down nodded knowingly. Up here, everyone walks with purpose. By the time I reached the still waters of Ximatan, I had left more behind than just distance. I had shed noise, haste, and distraction. This wasn’t just a hike. It was a reset.