The Second Largest Freshwater Lake in Yunnan Actually Called ‘Sea’, Even More Surprisingly, There Are Trees Growing in the Lake
Wise once sang in 'Life Is Not Just the Present'Life is not just the present, but also poetry and the distant fields. You come to this world with bare hands, disregarding everything to find that sea…
Slow melody, literary lyrics, it seems to take you away from the triviality and complexity of life. And the sea that doesn't give up in the song, perhaps everyone has their own answer, but if you ask me, I'll just say one answer—Erhai.
When you mention Yunnan, Cangshan Erhai must be unavoidable.
As the most famous place in Dali, Cangshan Erhai presents a romantic scene of mountains and seas.
The magnificent and majestic Cangshan nineteen peaks, stretched and undulating, like waves spanning the earth. The snow on Cangshan Peak that never melts in summer is a rare sight in the world.
As for Erhai, it has always been called 'the flawless jade among the mountains'.
Clear and transparent highland lakes, quiet like the deep eyes of a lover, hiding love and stories. It is said that on the fifteenth night of the lunar calendar, when boating on Erhai, you can see the moon falling into the lake, which is the origin of 'Erhai Moon'.
Rain and snow flowing down from Cangshan into Erhai, nourishing the people of Dali who have lived here for generations.
It is precisely because Erhai is so beautiful that people come here in all seasons.
Fortunately, I was once on the west shore of Erhai, especially between Cai Village and Xixia, where I enjoyed the quiet, uninhabited, and natural Erhai. There were no noisy voices, no crowded crowds, only the whistling wind and the stable and steady heartbeat in my heart.
At first hearing the name Erhai, you might have some doubts, why is it called Erhai?
Because the entire sea looks like an ear, so it is called 'Erhai'.
Although the name of Erhai still has the word 'sea', in fact, Erhai is not a sea, but a sunken lake. The lake water is very clear and transparent, with high transparency.
For those Yunnan people who live in the mountains, they rarely have the opportunity to see the sea, so they will call large lakes 'sea'.
Erhai is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan.
North of Erhaiyuan, the entire Erhai is about 42.58 kilometers long.
From the air, Erhai looks like an ear, also like a crescent moon, lying horizontally across Cangshan and Dali, sketching out a unique and wonderful beauty.
In fact, Erhai is divided into west line and east line. The way to best appreciate the beauty of Erhai is to ride or drive along it. However, compared to it, the west line is more natural and closer, and more charming.
When you step on the west shore of Erhai, the field of vision is a vast expanse of fields, various crops spread across the earth's texture like a series of stunning works of art.
The sky is bright, dyeing everything with the breath of youth and vitality. The sky is the most extreme blue, and the distance is slightly purple, and even further away, it's almost indistinguishable between the sky and the mountains, as if they were originally one.
One old tree stretches its branches towards the water, perhaps because of the long years, the roots have already become entangled on the ground, but it still stubbornly sprouts branches and leaves in the spring, scattering greenery.
Looking out, the water is endless, the waves seem to be thousands of miles away, and it's hard to see the end, just like a sea of smoke and waves.
Continue forward. When there is no wind, Erhai is like a shining mirror, or like a touch of Jiangnan beauty on a lady's dress. To choose a more pure existence between the water and the sky, no one can choose,
When the wind comes, the static water surface ripples, and it brings the fragrance of distant plants.
There is also a large area of reeds here.
The green trees and yellow reeds reflect each other in the water, just like someone casually painted a few strokes, but it's already so quiet and beautiful.
If there are more reeds, you won't be able to see the whole Erhai.
You feel like you're in a park, with neat rows of trees guarding a small area of water.
Who would believe this is a magnificent highland lake?
If the trees are dense, they will weave a dense green net overhead. Rays of sunlight pierce through the gaps, casting infinite changes on the ground's shadows, making people dizzy.
One stone bridge is placed just right. You should wear a classical costume, stand on the bridge, and appear in a painting.
If you look closely, Erhai also has a very magical landscape—trees underwater. Some trees grow in the water, their upright branches pointing to the sky.
Perhaps it's because there is land underwater, which can provide support for the growth of trees, or perhaps these tree species can grow in water.
It's very special to look at.
Some trees have dried up and died, only their sharp tree trunks protruding from the water.
When you get closer to the lake, you can see black pieces in the water, which are tadpoles. They squeeze together, maybe there are thousands of them.
Friendly reminder, friends with obsessive compulsive disorder, please quickly skip this photo.
Continue forward, a long stone pier stretches out, connecting people and the water surface.
The style of the pier is very ancient, and the surface is covered with the vicissitudes of time and weather.
It's probably been with Erhai for a long time.
Here, there are neatly arranged green boats on the water. Perhaps it's the off-season, so these boats are docked here.
Because the water quality of Erhai is very good, you can see many local aunties along the way, either washing clothes or washing vegetables.
For them, Erhai is not Dali's city name, nor is it a popular tourist attraction, it's just a part of their daily life.
No matter if there are people watching or not, they are content and unhurried doing their own things.
This feeling of rooting in life makes people feel very good.
As the sky gets late, the mist is rolling, and Erhai has another style.
On the water, an uncle is fishing. It seems that it's the off-season, but he still secretly fishes haha.
But he didn't use a small boat or a raft, but a balloon-filled pad, which looks like a life jacket from a distance.
And his hands aren't a bamboo pole or a wooden paddle, just two self-made boards.
It's not easy to operate, but it's small and flexible.
Some boats pull a long tail on the water surface, giving people endless imagination.
Further away, a flock of water birds are leisurely.
Where there's no one to disturb, they are the masters of Erhai.
Another tree in the water stands upright in the water. It's like a woman in the water, casting a shadow.
Erhai is beautiful. Sometimes calm, sometimes distant, sometimes charming, like a love story, holding everyone's hearts and minds, and letting you succumb to its skirts.
