The beauty of Tongren is found in the lush greenery of its mountains and the clear azure of its murmuring streams, all blending into a living painting created by harmony between humans and nature.
As a native of Guangdong, where the climate is akin to living in a sauna all year round, my family and I had a simple purpose for visiting Tongren—to escape the heat. Thus, our first stop was the Tongren Grand Canyon.
We journeyed through the canyon on a boat, feeling the caress of the natural breeze and admiring the towering mountains on either side. Immersed in such captivating scenery, even the harsh sun seemed to have softened.
The mountains took on various forms: some resembled ancient Chinese black-and-white ink paintings, others looked like Transformers from Western movies, and still others appeared as if thousands of troops were galloping into the sea, with splashing waves.
We took a round trip by boat, and although we passed the same mountain ranges, the scenery varied with each perspective.
For instance, from the stern of the boat, this part of the mountain looked like white ink quietly flowing into the water, but from the bow, it resembled two devout monks worshiping in the distance.
In the Tongren Grand Canyon, human imagination can break free from the confines of the mundane world and soar in the vast expanse of nature.
Waterfalls cascading from the sky and leisurely mandarin ducks playing a duet of nature, showcasing the vibrant life of this land. And what about the pavilion, submerged by the relentless stream until only its roof remained, what stories did it once hold?
We stayed at a hotel in a village called Banliyuan, surrounded by mountains like most villages in Tongren. Amidst the deep, dark green of the mountains, the mint green of the stream and the dancing water droplets appeared particularly light and graceful.
The next morning, we followed the mountain road to the grape orchard for picking. Although the sun was scorching, the journey didn’t seem as hard with the company of cute ducks.
Along the way, we saw tall pine trees, wheat swaying in the wind, and figs hidden among the leaves… The team leader told us that due to the many high mountains in Tongren, transportation is not convenient, so food is self-sufficient.
Upon arriving at the grape orchard, looking at the rows of grapes wrapped in paper bags, the children were eager to try and cut the grapes themselves.
However, cutting grapes required much more strength than everyone had imagined, and the children could only stand dejectedly aside, watching the adults cut the grapes for them.
Tongren, being close to Hunan, is a bit warmer than other cities in Guizhou, so staying in the grape shed for more than five minutes already left us sweating profusely.
At this moment, taking a bite of the large and plump grapes, the cool juice stimulated every taste bud, and the feeling at this time needs no more words, just one word—refreshing!
During the three days in Tongren, the most touching activity for me was visiting the public welfare day at Banliyuan School.
Although the primary school is just across from the hotel, because there is a stream in between, we needed to take a car and make a big detour to get there.
The mountain road is quite narrow, and every time we met another vehicle, we were a bit frightened; some sections of the road are quite steep, but the teacher said this road is already well-built, at least it’s a cement road.
I couldn’t help but think about how much further the villagers had to walk to school when the transportation facilities were not as good.
Banliyuan School integrates kindergarten and primary school. Due to the gradual population outflow, the higher the grade, the fewer people there are, and the smaller the classrooms become.
What surprised me was that although the wall and floor were relatively old, they were clean and tidy, a warm and small “home” for the children. It can be seen that the teachers and students here cherish the school environment and value the hard-won educational opportunities.
The mountains, canyons, streams, and winding mountain roads of Tongren are novel and adventurous for city dwellers; but for the children in the mountainous areas, they are natural barriers and obstacles.
Children in the city have long achieved the goal of attending school nearby, with public schools only a 15-minute walk from home.
However, in the mountainous areas, it takes at least four hours to go to and from school, which is a particularly high cost in terms of effort and time for the children in the mountains.
For us, it’s a threshold that can be easily reached, but some people may try their best and still find it hard to reach. This is already a huge injustice.
This journey made me think about whether there is a better way to use the Internet and AI to reduce the cost of education for children in mountainous areas, to bridge the gap, and to let everyone have access to education and knowledge under more equitable conditions.
I saw a beautiful sunset in Tongren, the dark blue sky was dyed by the gorgeous afterglow, hanging on the layered mountains. I hope that the children of Tongren also have a future as beautiful and splendid as the sunset of their hometown.
- Article / Serena Chen
- Pictures / Serena Chen
