Lugu Lake, Heaven on Earth

Rock came to Yunnan in 1922. He spent 27 years in Yunnan, and for over 20 years he lived on an island in Lugu Lake. 

Rock had deep emotion of this land which is surrounded by water. When he was dying, he told his best friend (in 1926) that, he preferred to die among the flowers on Lugu Island, instead of dying in the hospital in Hawaii.

Today I follow the footsteps of Rock to this incredible lake. There are 5 islands, 3 peninsulas, 1 seawall attached island. They are of different shapes with thousands of green trees. They look like green boats floating on the lake.

I was sitting beside the lake quietly. Before I came here, I am a city man with too many upset things hunting in my mind.

I couldn’t find a proper word to describe what I saw. Heaven is the only word I can say.

Lugu Lake, the Paradise

“This is most beautiful water ever. I can’t imagine any more fascinating view than this.” Rock once wrote in his journal, “this is the heaven on earth which God lives here.” This is the Lugu Lake which Rock gave such high accomplishment. Lugu Lake is about 50 square kilometers large. Its sea level is nearly 2690m. The local residents of Lugu Lake are mainly Mosuo people. 

Few people heard of Rock, unless you are a big fan of tourism. Joseph F. Rock, the botanist, explorer, photographer and ethnographer, came to China in 1920s and wrote a book named Shangri-La. He was in deep love the customs and natural view of south China. 

Mosuo people treat Lugu Lake as their mother lake. Lugu Lake is rounded by mountains. There are three months of snow cover. The average depth of the lake is 45meters and the deepest place reaches 93meters. The transparency reaches 11meters. It is the deepest freshwater lake in China and the plateau lake of highest elevation in Yunnan province. The lake is surrounded by green mountains. The local people told me that the deepest place of Lugu Lake is 93m. Lugu lake is one of the deepest freshwater lake in China.

Now I follow the footsteps of Rock and come to visit this heaven-like place. 

Sharing A Beautiful Poem

A Night Thought

By William Wordsworth

Lo! where the Moon along the sky

Sails with her happy destiny;

Oft is she hid from mortal eye

Or dimly seen,

But when the clouds asunder fly

How bright her mien!

Far different we--a froward race,

Thousands though rich in Fortune's grace

With cherished sullenness of pace

Their way pursue,

Ingrates who wear a smileless face

The whole year through.

If kindred humours e'er would make

My spirit droop for drooping's sake,

From Fancy following in thy wake,

Bright ship of heaven!

A counter impulse let me take

And be forgiven.

The wind tugged at me as I stood at the garden yard. Gazing out at the night sky, I still savor the poem by William Wordsworth. It is called A night thought. Moon, so purity as it is, always is the hot theme of poetries.

In Chinese culture, moon is the symbol of homesick. While in western country, moon refers to freedom and hope.

In the A night thought, the writer looked up to the sky. The bright moon was flickering in clouds. When the clouds dispersed, the silver bright of the moon spilt on the poet’s shoulders. The moon inspired him for seeking the freedom and joy.

A Bite of Ninghai

Love, eat and travel are the top three great things in the world. Recently, A Bite of China is very popular in China. I have already introduced this documentary to you in my earlier post. This is a TV program which is about local and classic food in China’s different regions.

Today I want to talk about the delicious food in Ninghai. Ninghai is a city in Zhejiang province of China. Ninghai situates in the eastern part of Zhejiang province and southern flank of the Yangtze Delta. It is grouped in the Shanghai Economic Development Region.

Ninghai is a beautiful city, sitting on the Beach of East Sea. It not only has the fabulous scenery, but also has various delicate foods. It is famous for its various kinds of sea food. What’s more, Ninghai has another name, called the “Land of Abundance”.

Now let me introduce you several delicious dishes for you.

No.1 Beef Tendon with Green Chili.

Do you want to have a try? It is very spicy and Q.

No.2 Garlic Favor Fried Fish.

This tastes really good.

No.3 Soup of Jump Fish.

Just like its name, this kind of fish can jump quite high from the water.

No.4 Red Boiled Chicken.