À propos de ce voyage
Atu's Invitation to the Stars:
"My name is Atu. I come from Inner Mongolia. I love stargazing and driving to places where stars can be seen. In Dali, my favorite place is West Lake, where I take a boat to the center of the lake. Once a month, I hope to also take you to Genie Snow Mountain in Tibet to see stars on the plateau."
Atu's invitation is filled with her love for the stars and her passion for sharing this experience with anyone willing to join.
A producer came specifically to make a documentary about Atu's stargazing in the summer:
Blog by guest Wawa
West Lake Stargazing: Another Highlight Full of Uncertainty
West Lake Stargazing Experience:
Itinerary:
19:30: Depart from Dali (time may vary by season).
20:30: Enjoy dinner by the lake (in winter, around a fire pit) while watching the changing night sky (we bring food from a nearby halal restaurant we like. Their beef dishes are great! Cost: about 50 RMB per person).
21:00: Sip hot tea, fruit, and snacks while waiting for the first star, planet, or satellite to appear. As the sky darkens, we head deeper into the lake to see stars more clearly and use binoculars to explore dimmer, more distant stars.
22:00: At a suitable spot we find, take photos of people with the starry sky (photos are taken when the Milky Way is visible).
22:00: Set up telescopes by the lake to observe stars invisible to the naked eye (the stars seen depend on the season, usually when bright winter stars or near full moon).
22:30: Return to a local farmhouse for a short rest before heading back.
23:00: Return to Dali Ancient City.
Important Tips:
Bring a warm, windproof jacket because it gets cold on the lake at night.
Key topics we will share include:
The romantic story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.
Ancient Chinese astrology and its connection to emperors.
The Three Enclosures, Four Images, and Twenty-Eight Mansions in Chinese star lore.
The seasonal movement of Western zodiac constellations.
Finding celestial figures like immortals.
The Beginning of the Lake Stargazing Experience:
The first time I met Atu, she asked me, "How does it feel to watch stars by the lake at night?" She had just left an astronomical institution and was preparing to work independently.
Without hesitation, I replied, "That's fantastic!"
My answer was not just politeness but came from a picture that immediately appeared in my mind: sitting on a boat at night, heading into open water, surrounded by swaying reeds. The only sound was the gentle ripple of water. Above, the sky was filled with brilliant stars. Nearby, villages twinkled in the distance, while the majestic Cangshan Mountain outlined the horizon. The scene felt magical—almost unreal.
The best things in life often feel "unreal." Whether it's a beloved book, a dreamlike love, a captivating movie, or a passion you deeply cherish, these moments take you out of the ordinary and into another world. They free you from daily monotony and let you breathe fresh air before returning to reality.
This vision prompted us to quickly plan our first attempt at this experience.
The Real Stargazing Journey:
We chose an unusual time—one o'clock in the morning, deep in the night. Atu wanted us to see the moon rise over the mountains, the stars shining after moonset, and the Milky Way rising at dawn.
Night on the Lake:
Adu piloted a small boat from the dock near the village, carrying us into the lake under cover of night. Xiao Chun, the tailor, and Shuangshuang, who joined on impulse, were fascinated by the constellations, the moon, the Big Dipper, and the Milky Way. They used the telescope on the boat to observe the moon and stars up close, asking many questions.
Atu patiently explained, telling stories about the stars, the moon, and the Milky Way from the perspectives of modern astronomy and traditional Chinese astrology.
The Silence of the Lake:
The boat drifted to the center of the lake, and we stopped by the reeds. Occasionally, the silence was broken by a bird softly cooing or sometimes a bird startled, flapping its wings across the water. He Chen lay on the bow of the boat, gazing up at the stars.
Although I'm not particularly interested in astronomy, I was captivated by the experience—gliding on the silent lake at night, surrounded by darkness, immersed in deep conversation. Without stargazing, I would never have had a reason to go to the lake at this hour.
Due to the season and weather, we couldn't see the Milky Way that night. But it wasn't unexpected—things aren't always perfect, and that's part of the charm.
On the way back, we took a different route, returning through the lakeside village.
Final Thoughts:
Despite having to wake up in the middle of the night, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the stargazing trip. Perhaps that's the magic of stargazing: it takes us out of the ordinary and makes us realize the vastness of the universe and our connection to it.
I hope you will also enjoy this stargazing journey.
Photos
