The young monks of Labrang Monastery

Recently, I started writing my first career mystery novel, 'Pawns and Castaways.' For someone like me who enjoys sports and traveling, settling down is not an easy task. However, once I do settle down, I can immerse myself in my own world, artistically transforming my past experiences into words, as if watching how that younger me once honed into a Buddha through the trials of the workplace. Once I enter the writing state, I can't stop, but sometimes I drift away. At such times, flipping through those 'on the road' photos can instantly set me off. The endless winding mountain roads, the endless layers of mountain ranges, the endless wildflowers in the fields. Years ago, I drove through Gannan, bought some Lanzhou bing and beef tendons, and hit the road, with the first stop at Labrang Monastery. Labrang Monastery is located in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. It is a transliteration of the Tibetan 'Labrang,' meaning the mansion of a living Buddha master. Labrang Monastery is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is acclaimed as the 'World's Tibetan Academy.' Watching the young monks in front of the temple, I began to let my thoughts wander: Where do they come from? What kind of families do they have? What will their futures be like?... 152 kilometers south of Labrang Monastery lies a pristine lake, locally known as Gaga Lake (Picture 2), meaning a small lake. When I visited, there were no tourists, and no entrance fee was charged. It is said that now it has become the Gaga Zecha Nature Reserve, with wooden walkways built, turning it into a popular scenic spot. To be honest, I would rather it not be developed, remaining that small, pristine lake, tranquil and indifferent, untouched by the world's hustle and bustle.