Golden Land

Abu Dhabi: Between Desert and Sea, Searching for Echoes of Civilization The early morning flight skimmed over the Persian Gulf, and outside the window, the outline of Abu Dhabi slowly emerged from the horizon where the sea met the sky—the ochre of the desert clashed with the azure of the sea, and the glass curtain walls of skyscrapers reflected the sunlight like diamonds scattered among the sand dunes. This city, named after the "father of gazelles," always reminds me of the fables in One Thousand and One Nights: a barren land transformed into a mythical oasis through wisdom and inclusivity. Sanctuaries of Faith and the Poetry of Light and Shadow The moment I stepped into the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the hustle and bustle faded away. Beneath the pure white marble dome, patterns inlaid with 46 tons of gold resembled fallen stars, and a seamless Persian carpet woven by 1,200 Iranian artisans stretched beneath my feet, taking my breath away. Sunlight streamed through the carved lattice windows, casting dappled light spots across the hall, intertwining with the glow of the gold-plated crystal chandeliers, as if freezing time into an eternal stillness. This $5.5 billion edifice is not only a symbol of religion but also the ultimate expression of humanity's pursuit of beauty and faith. As dusk fell, I stood in the courtyard and gazed into the distance, the silhouettes of the minarets piercing the sunset glow, unexpectedly overlapping with the vast imagery of "solitary smoke rising straight in the desert" from Wang Wei's poems. Saadiyat Island: A Utopia of Art If the mosque is an echo of tradition, the Saadiyat Cultural District writes a modern rhapsody. The Louvre Abu Dhabi floats on the sea, its pure white dome like a cluster of drifting stars. A Warring States bronze dragon converses with Monet's water lilies in the same exhibition hall, where the long river of civilization surges. Walking through the corridors of intersecting light and shadow, the teamLab digital art exhibition transforms the desert into a flowing galaxy. The sea breeze of Saadiyat Island carries the jazz melodies of the Berklee College of Music, and traditional date palm patterns are reborn in the geometric deconstruction of master architects. This city irrigates a cultural oasis with its oil wealth, making Saadiyat Island a bridge connecting the past and the future. As the tour guide said, "What is collected here is not cultural relics, but humanity's imagination of its own possibilities." Desert Twilight and a Culinary Adventure Riding a jeep into the heart of the Liwa Desert, the rolling sand dunes resemble solidified golden waves. The Bedouin guide hummed ancient songs, and the sound of camel bells startled lizards into the shadows. As the setting sun painted the sky crimson, we sat around an Arabian carpet, the grease from the hand-pulled lamb soaking our fingertips, the honeyed sweetness of dates balancing the fiery cumin. The locals say that the soul of this dish lies in "sharing"—like the water pouch shared by desert travelers, food transcends taste and becomes a bond connecting strangers. Strolling along Yas Island after nightfall, the roller coasters of Ferrari World roared across the starry sky, while on the terrace of the Emirates Palace, the aroma of gold-flaked coffee mingled with the sound of the Persian Gulf's tides, a wondrous coexistence of luxury and wildness.