In Search of Shangri-La (part 3)
by Lily Pietryka

I enjoyed my first day in Shangri-La, but I was anxious to leave as if some force were pulling me. Some invisible force. I was leaving this area called “Shangri-La,” but in my mind I knew I had not found it yet. After all, a name is just a name. I thought that when I saw or stood in “Heaven on Earth,” I would recognize it.

With this thought, again I got up early and left the hotel at 7:00am for Lijiang with my tour guide, the taxi driver.

The White Water Platform

We stopped at a place called the White Water Platform. It looked white from afar but was actually yellow up close. It was formed by hundreds of years of running water. Against the green and blue mountains and blue sky, it was quite spectacular.

I climbed many steps to get up there and was surprised to find a Naxi man up there. I asked him what he was doing. He said he had come here to worship the goddess of fertility and prosperity.

Where? I looked around. He guided me to the middle of the waterfall. He explained that the hole in the middle of the stone symbolizes a woman’s womb. People come here to worship the goddess of fertility if they want to have children. He encouraged me to do the same and offered to give me some incense to burn. I thanked him, but declined. It is not in my agenda to have another baby right now.

White Water Platform	Goddess of Fertility

 

On the Way to Lijiang

After we left White Water Platform, we were on a winding road going up the mountains. We were climbing over the mountains to get to Lijiang on the other side.

The road consisted of two lanes with no guardrails along it. It was up and down and very winding. I looked to my right—there were beautiful mountains with wildflowers, beautiful trees and vegetation. I looked to my left and saw deep plunging valleys.

Those were big mountains! And because of that, it is totally isolated. We were on the road for at least 4 hours, and we only saw a couple of cars going by. Then we saw some local farmers. I was envious of those farmers for living in such a beautiful place.

We saw very few people and cars. The scenery was breathtaking at every turn--the rollercoaster-like ride was exhilarating--I was singing along with the songs played in the car… It came to me: this is great, this is beautiful, this is perfect, this is like heaven on earth! This is clean, this is pure, this is out of this world! I was high with excitement and same time filled with peace…

I asked myself: is this Shangri-La?

Jingsa Jiang (Golden Sand River)

I was intoxicated with the beautiful ride and thought I was in heaven. But soon I was pulled back to earth. The scenery changed.

First the road became narrower. It was barely two lanes now. There were cliffs on both sides of the road. One side rose sharply up and one side dipped down to immeasurable depth. I was overwhelmed by the power of nature. Somewhat possessed.

Parts of the road were not paved. Many parts were paved but now covered by rockslide. One slight wrong turn could send us to the bottom of the river which was thousands of feet down…

I felt slightly tense but more charged with excitement and some kind of inexplicable psychic energy. I felt overwhelmed but at the same time taken in, humbled but at the same time ennobled, alienated but at the same time drawn…I was mesmerized.

Nature has its own way to win us over with its beauty, with its power. We are totally powerless in front of nature.

 

Golden Sand River	Tiger Jump Gorge

The narrowest part of the river was the Tiger Jump Gorge. It is said that it is so narrow, the tigers that live in the mountains could leap from one side of the river to the other.

 

Lijiang Old Town

We continued on this road for another hour. It was one of the most incredible road trips I have ever taken. I had one of the most unbelievable adrenaline rushes I have ever felt. I did not realize how much it was taking out of me until we got to Lijiang. When I finally got to the hotel and checked in, although I was starved, I did not want to do anything but sleep. I fell asleep instantly with my dust-covered clothes on. I slept for at least 3 hours.

Lijiang is a lovely city. It is very green with all kinds of trees and flowers. There is water everywhere that softens. Little rivers running through the city, water fountains, ponds… There were happy people everywhere. Young people in ethnic clothes singing, dancing, and frolicking…

Part of Lijiang is the old town preserved. It contains interesting and beautiful old buildings, nice little shops, restaurants and tourists. I walked around at night and it was a very busy and happening place.

Lijiang--a beautiful, happy place. It is busy, but with no hassle and bustle like Shanghai. It is a calming kind of busy. It is hard to describe. Everything moves swiftly and smoothly and energetically. It is a city that is full of life and happiness.

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