Tengchong, this name is not very loud and not very quiet on the border of Yunnan. If you open the map, it is just a small dot, sandwiched in the folds of the Hengduan Mountains, and it seems that it will be swallowed up by those thick contour lines at any time. However, it is this kind of place that hides some things that are not found elsewhere.

People who first arrive in Tengchong are probably always shocked by the hot sea. Boiling water gushes out from the rocks, and white steam is lingering, steaming the surrounding grass and trees to make them shiny.

Volcanic rocks are very common here. The locals use them to build walls and pave roads, and they are also neat. The dark brown stones are full of pores, which are a bit uncomfortable to step on, but surprisingly non-slip.

Heshun Ancient Town is a must-visit place for tourists. The old houses in the town are crowded together, with moss growing on the roof tiles and the eaves curled up, as if they are about to fly away at any time. The shops sell jadeite, medicinal herbs and the like, and the prices are naturally high. The interesting thing is that the people deep in the alleys continue to live their lives as usual, and nothing changes because of the arrival of outsiders.

Ginkgo Village is a different scene. In late autumn, yellow leaves cover the sky and dye the whole village golden. Tourists hold cameras and capture them everywhere, while the children in the village roll around in the fallen leaves, giggling.

The most unforgettable is an unnamed waterfall in Gaoligong Mountain. I climbed for a long time along the path pointed out by the woodcutter, and suddenly heard the roar of water. After turning around a dense forest, I saw white silk hanging in the air and falling into the deep pool. The water in the pool is extremely clear, but it is too deep and appears ink-colored. There is no one around, only a few blue-winged butterflies flying up and down in the splashing water mist.

When night falls, the lights of the small town light up one after another. The aroma of roasted tofu wafts through the night market, and the stall owners shout in the local dialect, with ups and downs in their voices, forming a melody of their own. Buy a piece and try it, it is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, spicy and sweet, and tastes different from other places.

This Tengchong is neither a fairyland nor a secular place, it is a place where the fireworks of the world blend with the creation of nature.