The biggest surprise of my spontaneous six-day trip was the spur-of-the-moment decision to spend a night in Tiger Leaping Gorge.
My reason for staying there wasn't a passion for high-altitude trekking, but rather spotting this cliffside guesthouse while browsing accommodations. Its impeccable reviews definitely piqued my interest.
One night wasn't enough, so I extended for another, and honestly, even that wasn't enough. Now, I recommend it to everyone I meet. It's a bit of a hassle if you don't drive, otherwise, it’s simply perfect.
The Ctrip contact was the owner's daughter, who told me over the phone, 'It's too hot at noon, my parents will take you to Tiger Leaping Gorge in the evening.' When I arrived at the guesthouse, I saw a couple busy at work and kept searching for a 60 or 70-year-old gentleman to take us to the gorge. It was only later that I realized this young couple *were* the 'parents.'
The owner is a remarkable individual – down-to-earth, capable, loyal, and a shrewd businessman. He's developed a substantial property in this remote valley, transforming what was originally an undesirable plot of land for villagers into this stunning cliffside guesthouse. The buildings clearly show a designer's touch, with meticulous attention to detail that rivals some designer hotels. There's even a yoga studio (currently unused).
Between the cliffside rooms, there’s a wooden platform where the owner entertains guests. On a typical day, he'll lay out homegrown fruits, chilled in spring water and ready to be sliced and eaten. In the distance, snow-capped mountains loom, while below the wooden walkway, the Jinsha River flows. Unidentified birds chirp in the wilderness. All five senses revel in the beauty of nature.
This platform could actually be used for yoga, and the owner plans to expand it further, making it ideal for photos. Industrious and intelligent people always find ways to improve and optimize details.
The guesthouse is home to six cats, four dogs, plus seven new puppies, and a nine-year-old camel who’s a bit lonely. There are also several pigs, sheep, and chickens. For dinner, the owner took us to catch and slaughter a chicken, which we then enjoyed as both soup and stir-fry. The vegetables – cabbage, green peppers, eggplant, etc. – were all homegrown. We even polished off a whole pot of fried rice. The proprietress's cooking, combined with natural ingredients, was truly heavenly.
There weren't many guests during my stay. I met an American-born Chinese woman who had trekked solo from Yubeng. She grew up in the US but moved back to China for her child's education. Such a counter-current spirit is truly rare. We found a lot of common ground in conversation. She, too, was traveling without a plan. Originally intending to hike the next day, she joined us when she heard we wanted to forage for mushrooms in the mountains.
The owner drove us all over the mountains, helping us find mushrooms. We picked two large baskets. It was my first time picking *jian shou qing* (a type of mushroom), and sure enough, it turned blue upon touch – now I understand the name!
Unfortunately, not many were edible, and they weren't as delicious as I'd imagined. The owner mentioned that the prime mushroom-picking season would be in two weeks, so future visitors should definitely experience it.
Oh, and the owner is also involved in public welfare. Apparently, it's related to the will of an elder brother from a Chinese rafting expedition team. He's entrusted with preserving and promoting the spirit of the civilian explorers who sacrificed their lives while attempting to raft the Yangtze River, by establishing a memorial museum. I didn't visit this time, but I hope to have the chance in the future.
I just wonder if there will be a chance. I heard the government plans to build a hydroelectric power station here, and the area will be flooded. It's a real shame. If you can go, go quickly.
Original TextTranslation provided by AI
