Artux Grand Canyon in Southern Xinjiang: Delighting in Danxia, Exploring the Gobi

🌄 When it comes to the Artux Grand Canyon in Southern Xinjiang, my heart surges with the passion of an adventurer! Bai Sha Lake and Ka Lake are indeed beautiful, but in my 'Stone Chronicle,' they can't compare to our 'A Lake' in terms of spectacle. Why? There's a tranquility here that feels removed from the hustle and bustle of the world, as if stepping into a painting of Danxia landforms. The Gobi and the oasis villages dance together in harmony, and even the air tastes a bit sweet! 🍃 Walking into the canyon is like stepping back into childhood memories. The stream babbles, stones are scattered everywhere, and with bare feet, I'm like a child again, picking up stones by the river, rediscovering that pure joy. With the red mountains as a backdrop and the Gobi for company, this feeling is more natural and comfortable than any luxury resort! 💧 Speaking of A Lake, it's truly a magical place. Just look, the water flows out from under a seemingly barren stone mountain, so clear you can see to the bottom. In the deep pools of the water bend, schools of cold-water fish swim about freely, as if performing an underwater ballet. Let me tell you a secret, this water is national first-class natural drinking water! If you're thirsty here, just scoop up a handful to drink, and I guarantee it'll be sweet to your core. 🌵 In this hundred-mile expanse of the Gobi, it's so barren that you can hardly see a soul. But did you know? This place was once a fortress guarding the Central Asian border passage! The ruins of the Sughet Ata Fort are nearby, and the strategic position of 'two mountains flanking a valley, impregnable to thousands of men,' once made countless merchant caravans turn back. But now, we can explore to our heart's content and experience the infinite charm of nature! 🍂 Huh? Look there, by the old campsite at the foot of the mountain, there's a solitary Euphrates poplar tree. It's the 'old immortal' of this place, standing tall for hundreds of years, witnessing the extraordinary history of the desert frontier. I think, it must be the incarnation of some border soldiers, right? They protected this land with their youth and blood, and now this tree stands as a symbol of their spirit, forever in our hearts. Here you'll find the peace, nature, and profound sense of history you desire; here you'll experience the adventurous fun and childhood memories you've never had before; here you'll also find the freedom and tranquility that your soul has always longed for...