Seeing the Three Pure Ones in the Rain and Fog
The "Guyu" solar term has passed in the blink of an eye, and it is really rainy in the south of the Yangtze River at this time.
I had planned to go to "Sanqing Mountain" a long time ago and kept checking the "weather forecast". It turned out to be "rain", "rain", and "rain" here during this period.
I have been to Sanqing Mountain. The weather was fine and it was relatively convenient to climb the mountain.
But thinking about the fact that the Sanqing Mountain is famous for its "strange peaks and rocks, and shrouded in clouds and mist", I had already secretly thought in my mind that looking at the mountains in the rain might be a kind of enjoyable experience.
In the afternoon, we drove to the foot of the mountain and started climbing. As we walked, the rain seemed to have woven a dense net. The mountain path was slippery, and the stone steps were shining with water, as if they were covered with a layer of oil. The raindrops hit the umbrella, making a crackling sound, which was quite rhythmic. Mist rose from the valley, at first in wisps, then it merged into one, engulfing the mountains near and far. When we reached halfway up the mountain, we looked around and saw nothing but white. The outlines of the pine trees were looming in the fog, with water droplets hanging on the branches, dripping from time to time, and they were particularly crisp in the silence.
We stayed at the "Goddess Hotel" halfway up the mountain in the rain and fog, and had no idea what the surroundings were like. In a blink of an eye, it was around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I heard "the rain has stopped", opened the window and was dazzled by the bright light in front of me - the thick fog that was impossible to dissolve had dissipated in an instant! It was as if an invisible hand suddenly lifted the veil covering the mountains. The light leaked through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating the rocks after the rain.
The most magical scenery of Sanqing Mountain stands right in front of you: a famous "Goddess Peak" that looks like a dignified woman, standing sideways, with her hair tied up high, her clothes fluttering, and her eyes full of affection. Thank you goddess for bathing those who are interested in her with spring rain, washing away the worldly dust, and waiting for them to come near.
On the other side of the hotel is the "Python Out of the Mountain". A huge rock, like a pillar supporting the sky, rises from the deep valley. The top is slightly curved, just like a giant python with its head raised to the sky, its scales visible.
What’s even more amazing is that the rocks are shiny black after the rain, contrasting with the fog that has not yet dissipated. The mist flows through the mountains like white silk; the rocks appear and disappear in the mist like ink. This is clearly a living ink painting! Even if a painter has a brilliant brush, it would be difficult to depict this natural charm. The color of the mountains turned from green to dark blue, and clouds rose from the bottom of the valley. The "goddess" and the "giant python" gradually disappeared again.
Then the most beautiful ink painting fantasy came. The thick fog dyed the strange peaks and rocks into light ink color, and the vague outlines were like the freehand paintings of famous artists. The granite peaks appear even more rugged in the fog, as if they will flow with the clouds at any time.
At this time, the fog flows very quickly, and the same landscape may go from being completely obscured to suddenly clear within a few minutes, like a montage directed by nature. Especially when walking on the plank road, I experienced firsthand what it means to have a different scenery with every step. Suddenly I caught a glimpse of the surging sea of clouds below my feet, it was thrilling and dreamy.
The mist moistened the breath of the mountains and forests, the fragrance of grass and trees mixed with the smell of soil after the rain, and the sound of water drops sliding down the leaves nearby was heard. The senses of touch, smell, and hearing were all amplified. This is a unique sensory experience in the fog, like a feast.
After turning a ridge, we suddenly saw a mountain rhododendron poking its head out from the fog. The flower was in full bloom, with crystal raindrops trembling on its pink petals, like a girl's tearful smile, or a bridal veil floating on a sea of clouds.
Visiting Mount Sanqing in the rain, surrounded by clouds and mist, this famous Taoist mountain has lost its clear outline on a sunny day, but has gained a bit of mystery and agility. The fog in Mount Sanqing is not an obstacle, but a gift from nature. It makes the mountains breathe, turns the scenery into a flowing poem, and allows every step you take to be in the blank space of the landscape painting.
The rain started to fall again, but I put away my umbrella and let the raindrops hit my face. It felt cool and I felt like I was floating in the air.