Authentic Original Essays: "Borotala's Spring"

In April, the spring in Jiangnan arrived in March, and it was in full bloom in April. In Bortala, Xinjiang, which was far away in the northwest corner of the motherland, spring seemed shy, arriving late. It had been accumulating momentum, ready to strike. Everything seemed to be waiting for that long-awaited moment to arrive.

Here, you don't need to travel far; in a single day, you can traverse hundreds of miles, enjoying the beauty of all four seasons. As of April, most of the ice on the Wushi Reservoir had melted, and pairs of swans flew north. Large flocks of wild ducks began to raise their young. The grass in the Riverside Park turned green, and the (yuè jià - elm pods) of the mountains opened their mouths, and the Phoenix Mountain apricot blossoms bloomed in profusion, while the willows of the Lake Kerek swayed in the wind. Shercheri was filled with colorful mountain flowers. At noon, young boys playing basketball were running and jumping with skill. By the basketball court under the trees, two retired old men were sweating profusely as they played, while on the square, beautiful Uighur girls wearing dazzling ethnic costumes danced and twirled with music, letting you experience the heat of summer. On both sides of the streets and beneath the trees, vast fields of camellias bloomed, with countless varieties of camellias bursting forth with new leaves, red and tender. The torch trees on the mountains also pushed out new shoots, raising their red torches to declare war on spring. In the evening, a cool breeze swayed through vast patches of red leaves, as if it had already entered deep autumn. If you are fortunate enough to climb Alatash Mountain and look south to Borokenu Mountain and Sayem Lake, the ice on Sayem Lake reflected dazzling blue light under the scorching sunlight, and the snow on the Fruit Grove remained waist-high, letting you experience the winter landscape of the north.

However, it is astonishing that all of this happened in spring. From morning to evening, on the grasslands and mountain peaks, the four seasons coexist harmoniously, which is truly astonishing and reflects the incredible power of nature. Just as the 35 ethnic groups of Bortala have come in different orders, with varying populations and skin tones and customs, they have lived on and thrived through generations. This magical land is eagerly waiting for you to come and feel its spring!