I come from a small unknown town on the China mainland. My hometown, Yajiang, lies in the southeastern region of the Tibetan Plateau. There are many tourist sights in the county. Now, I present to you, the mysterious...

Qingda Valley

I.

The Qingda Valley forest park is about 2758 square hectares. The main tourist sights are in the Qingda Valley of Murong Village. Qingda means "a very long river" in the Tibetan language.

Walking into the park, you can see the Yalong, the Xian Shui, and the Qingda Rivers come together and flow day and night. On the sides of the rivers, there are many lofty mountains, and clouds and fog float and cover the mountains. The mountains' forests, grasslands, lakes, and streams come together. If you walk into the scenery, it seems like you've entered heaven, what a paradise!

II.

From the east side of the Yalong River suspension bridge, you can ride a horse along the streams of Qingda Valley and walk in the forests. The cliffs on both sides of Qingda Valley are covered with plateau forests, such as plateau pines, cloud firs, arbor oaks, short oaks, birches, cypresses, and beautiful cold firs. The plateau pines, especially, grow so densely all over the mountain that even the wild chicken can't run through (the thick forests). Walking into them, it seems like you've entered a forest kingdom, and will make you forget about home.

Plateau arbor oaks are tall and hardy. A person isn't able hug one because it is too wide. A kind of parasitic plant called "Murongxu" in Tibetan grows thickly on the trees. Some are glossy dark green and float in the wind like an Arabian queen's mysterious scarf. Some are yellow and white like the beard of an old seasoned oak man. They are proof of Qingda Valley's history, and tell the people the seasons that have come and gone.

Some maples are tall and straight, and three people are needed to hug one. In autumn, walking into the maple forest, the red leaves float in the wind. The ancient poet said, "Maple leaves are redder than the flowers of February's Chinese New Year. "Red maple forests make Qingda Valley, with its green hills and green water, even more beautiful. Fallen leaves on the ground dye red the forest paths, meadows, etc. In the autumn breeze in the forests, rare animals such as black bears, wild boars, sika deer, ring-necked pheasants, and green monkeys walk in groups everywhere.

In light autumn rains, many different types of mushrooms are ready for harvest.

III.

The Qingda Valley has twelve plateau lakes. The most beautiful is ZhuoMa YongChuo. Riding on a horse across the quiet and secluded valley for about two hours, you can reach the ZhuoMa YongChuo Lake. The lake is 1000 meters long and 500 meters wide and is like a young maiden lying in the arms of the mountains and forests peacefully. The mountain is like a rough Khampa man and the forest is a graceful Tibetan girl. They raise their lovely daughter -- Zhuo Ma Yong Chuo.

Zhuo Ma Yong Chuo is a bright mirror which can never be broken. She is contained within pure forests and blue sky. When the breeze blows, there are small ripples on the surface of the lake, the fairy girl feels a thrill. She uses her ripples to kiss the burly Khampa man at her side.

Autumn in Qingda Valley is very colorful. Deep red maples make the mountains extremely beautiful. Evergreen pines, golden birches which symbolize the harvest, white poplars described in an ancient poem "Fall Leaves are Full of Chang An" (capital city during the Tang Dynasty), all are relected layer upon layer in Zhuo Ma Yong Chuo lake. The lake, under the white clouds and the blue sky, brightly reflects the sun's colorful rays. In the drizzle, mountains and water are covered by drifting fog and clouds. It's truly like the scene described in an ancient poem. It's sunny after the rain, and a seven-colored rainbow appears in the blue sky and adds to Qingda Valley's beauty.

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