Han Zhong People's Journey Westward (Serialized 4/6: The Golden Hu Yang Chapter)

I climbed over the mountains and came to the grassland, just to see you one last time before your wedding.

We vowed to be together until the sea runs dry and the stones crumble,Did you forget the oaths we made when we were young?

My mother says we are just a fleeting connection,My father didn't speak for a night, smoking a whole cigarette,I broke my lute outside your yurt,Watching you disappear, I wiped away my tears,Sister, be a lovelorn crane,Brother, I'll wait for you for three thousand years like a Hu tree,I'll wait for you until you die, until the earth is exhausted,I'll remain unchanged, until the heavens and earth are barren,Sister, I've waited for you three years, and three years again,I only realized you went to a place called 'forever',You said don't wait for me, don't wait for me,But how can I not love you, letting you endure this loneliness.

Wang Qi's song 'Standing and Waiting for Three Thousand Years' became a sensation across half of China this year. It's a beautiful and touching love story about a young man from the grasslands and a girl named 'Crane.' They lived on opposite sides of the golden sand dunes, over 100 kilometers apart, and vowed to be together forever. However, fate is unpredictable, and Crane fell ill, becoming increasingly frail. Facing the unknown and deeply devoted lover, she desperately thought of a way to make him let go, discussing with her parents and telling them her wedding date. What Crane didn't anticipate was that, on the night before her wedding, the young man climbed over the mountains and came to her yurt, the violin accompanied by a heart-wrenching melody, piercing her heart like an arrow, she endured the agonizing pain, with tears accompanying the long night, yet still unable to see him. When the sun rose, Crane wore her wedding dress, with her parents' support, she wept and ascended the sedan chair, watching the lover disappearing further and further away, she couldn't help but cry, 'Don't wait for me!' When she reached the place where he couldn't see her, she got off the sedan chair in agony.... Soon, she died. The devoted young man continued to wait in remembrance, and six years later, he learned the truth, came to Crane's tomb, lamented and vowed, 'I'll wait for you until you die, I wish to be a Hu tree and wait for you for three thousand years, guarding this lonely grave, living a solitary life!'

The story is fictional, but the Golden Sand Hu forest is real. It is located to the west of the golden sand dunes in the city of Jinata County, Gansu Province. The Hu forest is surrounded by large areas of sand peach trees, willow trees, and poplar trees, a total area of 80,000 mu. The Hu forest is densely distributed and in good condition, the largest in Gansu. In late October, the entire Hu forest seems to be painted with intense golden hues, the golden Hu trees were so captivating. Each leaf was gilded, each Hu tree seemed to be wearing golden armor. On October 9, 2019, a group of 38 people from the Zhangye Seven-Color Danxia Outdoor Group in Hanzhong, Shaanxi, after viewing the Golden Sand Seven-Color Danxia, Ejina Black Tree Forest, and Hu forest, returned, and stopped by Jinata Hu forest. Compared to Ejina Hu forest, the scenery here is better, like a fairy tale. One is that all the Hu leaves are yellow, as if you are in a golden autumn fairytale. Two is that the area of the water is larger, with trees and water intermingled, the Hu trees in the water are more beautiful and easier to take a reflection. Three is that the Hu trees here are younger, vigorous and vibrant. (Thank you for the pictures and videos provided by the online photography group).

Author: Wandering Through the Painting @Taiyi Zhenren

Source: Author Submission z