Chapter 138: Camping in the Swaying Shadows, Gazing at the Starry Sky

The western edge of the Golden and Silver Beach Grassland connects to Qinghai Lake, while the northeastern part is surrounded by the Qilian Mountains, with an average altitude exceeding three thousand meters.

This area is divided into the Golden Beach and the Silver Beach.

A small river meanders through.

On the northern bank’s grassy meadow blooms a fragrant little flower called Golden Dew Plum, its golden-yellow petals lending the name Golden Beach.

On the southern bank’s meadow flourishes the Silver Dew Plum, pure and white like silver, giving rise to the name Silver Beach.

Every summer, wildflowers burst forth in bloom, like silk and brocade.

Golden and silver blossoms flourish alongside the colorful wildflowers.

The grasslands shimmer in golden and silver hues—that’s the origin of the name Golden and Silver Beach.

From this vantage point, one can still faintly see the beautiful Qinghai Lake in the distance.

The lake remains dreamlike, ethereal in its beauty.

On this day, Lin Shenlu witnessed both the delicate, petite side of Qinghai Lake as a lake, and its grandeur, akin to that of the ocean.

Yet compared to the sea, it is so tranquil.

"Heku’er, make a note: this place is called Golden and Silver Beach, very close to Atomic City, which is a great spot for tourists to visit."

Heku’er looked at Lin Shenlu with curiosity.

"Uncle, why is it called Atomic City?"

"Because it was originally named Xihai Town, located northeast of Qinghai Lake. It was the site where the first atomic and hydrogen bombs were tested, so it became known as Atomic City," Lin Shenlu explained.

Atomic City is indeed a place well worth visiting.

Before Lin Shenlu could finish reflecting, Heku’er asked curiously, "Uncle, that doesn’t make sense!"

"What’s wrong?"

"If it’s where atomic and hydrogen bombs were tested... then why isn’t it called Hydrogen City?"

Lin Shenlu had many thoughts on this.

Throughout the journey, he had truly seen many different mountain peaks.

To say nothing else, the mountains here display all four seasons distinctly in one mountain.

From afar, the base of the mountain is covered with the rippling green barley fields unique to the Tibetan people, representing spring.

Above that, there is a sea of bright yellow rapeseed flowers and lush green alpine pastures, embodying the warmth of summer.

The higher slopes are planted with alpine pines and firs, lush and verdant in autumn.

At the very top, the peak opposite the renowned Zuo’er Mountain—called Niuxin Mountain—holds snow that never melts year-round, interspersed with the region’s distinctive red Danxia rock formations, symbolizing winter’s pure white blanket.

These layers of colors are vivid and distinct, each with its own character.

As evening approached,

Lin Shenlu had already prepared the camper van, extending its body and pulling out the rooftop canopy.

Inside the van, he rummaged through his gear, bringing out the tent and folding table and chairs he had prepared in advance, along with strings of star-shaped lights he always carried.

He hung several strands of the star lights on the canopy’s ceiling and around the surrounding grass, instantly illuminating this small space with delicate light.

The tent was a special preparation of Lin Shenlu’s.

In such a remote area, it’s not always comfortable to stay inside the camper van.

In such a beautiful grassland, sleeping in a tent and gazing up at the starry sky—

What a delight that would be.

Thus, the tent added an indescribable camping charm.

Surely only those who have truly slept in a tent outdoors would understand.

"Wow, Uncle... this pink tent is so kawaii... Can I sleep here tonight?" Heku’er suddenly became very interested in the tent.

She loved the feeling of living outdoors, with the sky as a blanket and the earth as a mattress.

"No, tonight you’ll sleep in your own vehicle. Either you and Sister An sleep in the camper, or you take your own. The tent is mine—I’m going to prepare for some time-lapse star photography tonight!" Lin Shenlu refused.

On this beautiful grassland, watching the stars at night, eating barbecue and drinking beer—that is the best state for camping.

After traveling a thousand miles over mountains and rivers to this scarcely inhabited plateau, it would be a shame not to gaze upon the most beautiful starry sky.

Lin Shenlu thought some scenes could be captured with a phone or camera.

But some places could only be seen with the eyes and recorded with the soul.

Therefore, with the best equipment at hand, he aimed to capture the beauty as perfectly as possible.

Such moments deserved to be revisited many times.

Night gradually fell.

Countless stars pierced through the darkness, peeking out from the veil of night.

The night’s moisture slowly permeated the air, spreading a subtle melancholy.

Lin Shenlu looked up at the sky. The stars here were exceptionally clear; the distant stars twinkled like scattered tears.

He sat in the folding chair, gazing at the night sky.

An Muxi and Heku’er were nearby, grilling meat over a brazier.

Lin Shenlu truly knew how to savor life.

His camper van was modest in size, yet he had brought everything possible.

In such a beautiful setting, watching the starry night, enjoying grilled meat cooked by a beauty, sipping a bottle of iced whiskey—

Lin Shenlu felt this was truly living.

As the night deepened,

The sky filled with twinkling stars, like countless silver beads densely embedded in the black night.

On this clear night, the Milky Way appeared in his sight.

A faintly glowing white band stretched across the star-studded sky.

The sky was full of stars, like pearls, like scattered pieces of gold, strewn over a jade plate—so peaceful and serene.

Suddenly, a shining meteor streaked across the night sky.

Its arrival added a flash of brilliance, warmth, and delight to the tranquil night.

The meteor’s fleeting passage left endless solitude in the sky, but sparked infinite reverie in the three.

That night, Lin Shenlu sat in the camper van, opened his laptop, and began typing.

"…"

"Today is my first day stepping foot at Qinghai Lake."

"Qinghai Lake is serenely beautiful..."

"…"

"What remains at Qinghai Lake is not only the dazzling rapeseed flowers, but also the afterglow of sunset casting shimmering waves on the lake’s surface, layer upon layer of golden waves lapping the shore..."

"Waves of sunset ripple with the tides; the afterglow paints the sky; the shimmering lake covers the entire surface..."

"A person kicks small stones by the lake’s edge, or quietly waits, watching the last gleams of the setting sun..."

"…"

"A journey like this, everyone should have at least once in a lifetime..."

"…"

Lin Shenlu was composing an article on the 315 National Highway.

This time was different from his travels to other cities.

Before, he stayed settled in one city; this time, he kept moving forward.

A journey spanning three thousand kilometers.

Without pause.

Lin Shenlu preferred to record his thoughts each night, so he could remember the emotions of each day.

Different travel styles naturally lead to different ways of recording.

He stretched lazily.

This was his travel diary.