Step into the golden world of Shangri-La, turn the sutras at Songzanlin Temple, and see the cracks in time where faith and tranquility coexist

When I first came to Shangri-La, I didn't plan a tight schedule. I only brought a diary and a heart willing to empty my mind. Unexpectedly, this small Tibetan town on the Yunnan Plateau quietly left a golden mark in my heart. The first stop of this journey is the most representative [Songzanlin Temple] in Shangri-La. From a distance, the whole temple stands on the top of the mountain like a golden castle, and the scattered Tibetan buildings shine with the light of the sun under the blue sky and white clouds. Walking to the foot of the mountain and up the slope, there are prayer wheels and devout believers all the way. The prayer wheels in their hands keep turning, and they whisper in their mouths. The whole temple seems to be breathing slowly. I turned the prayer wheels with them and walked into the temple gate. What came to me was the colorful prayer flags falling from the sky, like a waterfall of faith. The sun shines in between, and when the wind blows, the prayer flags flutter. Blessings and scriptures are written on each flag, and they are transmitted to the mountains, rivers, lakes and seas with the wind. At this moment, I put down my camera and just wanted to stand quietly in the sun and feel the solemnity. Songzanlin Temple is not just a photo hotspot, it is a truly living temple. You will see monks chanting in the courtyard, believers circumambulating and prostrating, and you will also hear drums and trumpets coming from deep in the temple. The atmosphere here is not sightseeing, but a real practice space. After leaving the temple, I went to [Pudacuo National Park]. The lake in winter has been covered with thin ice, and the lake surface quietly reflects the white snow of the distant mountains. The air is filled with the smell of dry cold and sunshine. Find a wooden chair facing the lake and sit down. There are no noisy voices around, only scattered Tibetans herding sheep in the distance and occasional eagle calls. I sat quietly for half an hour, thinking nothing, but I felt as if I had sorted out a long storm of thoughts in my heart. Along the way, we also passed the Tibetan pastures, where flocks of sheep and yaks were grazing on the hay, herders were resting in the sun, and the hay sheds on the side were supported by primitive wooden stakes, which looked rough but stable. These scenes remind me of the original meaning of the word "Shangri-La" - a pure land undisturbed by the secular world. Traveling does not necessarily mean checking in or chasing after photo spots. Sometimes, walking into an ancient temple, sitting by the lake and doing nothing, watching the scenery come and go, is also a kind of healing. This trip to Shangri-La made me understand that some places are not for seeing the scenery, but for seeing the soul that I have forgotten in the scenery.