An Autumn Fairy Tale in the Greater Khingan Mountains｜A Day Healed by the Golden Birch Forest

⏰ 6 AM The moment I opened the car door, the crisp air wrapped in pine scent embraced me, like biting into the crisp shell of a mint candy. 🍂 Stepping on the thick pine needles, I walked deeper into the forest. The birch forest was holding a ceremony of light, its leaves molten gold. With every breeze, a tinkling rain fell. 🐿 Squatting by a fallen log watching the moss, they embroidered the stones with green velvet. Suddenly, a pine cone dropped on my shoulder— probably an invitation from a squirrel. 🍄 An Evenk elder picking mushrooms said, “Matsutake hides the breath of the mountain god.” I gently brushed aside the fallen leaves like her, and sure enough, I smelled the sun in the soil. 🦌 In the afternoon, I rested beside a reindeer, its antlers perched with half a rainbow. Watching the clouds slowly wipe the sky into blue porcelain. 🌄 At dusk, I climbed the fire lookout tower, the entire Greater Khingan Mountains burning in the sunset glow. The rolling ridges like the spine of a giant beast, draped in ochre and gilded fur. 🎁 On the way down, my pockets filled with hazelnuts, a maple leaf bookmark tucked in my hair. Suddenly, I understood the forest’s gift— it teaches us to relearn wonder at all things. · 📌 Warm tips: ▪ Large temperature differences in the forest, remember to layer your clothes. ▪ The pine needle-covered path is soft, perfect for slow walking. ▪ If you meet a chipmunk storing food, please help keep its acorn secret safe🌰