Chapter 18: Azure Sea and Blue Sky, Taking Photos in the Breeze

Dali Tales: 6. The Road Around Erhai—Flowers Bloom Along the Way.

…

Shenlu Lin gently recorded her thoughts in a pink notebook. Amu Xi watched curiously, her gaze fixed on the small pink book in Lin’s hands. She had noticed Lin writing ever since last night, when they were enjoying fried roses and drinks together. But what truly puzzled her was Lin’s obsession with the color pink—her vehicle, her notebook, everything seemed dipped in that soft hue.

“What are you writing?” Amu Xi finally asked, her curiosity overcoming her hesitation.

“These are the stories I must remember and jot down on my journey through Dali,” Shenlu replied with a smile. “I told you, I’m a traveler. Not just a wanderer, mind you—I have an official identity. You know Lonely Planet? I’m a contracted writer. This Dali feature is my first assignment.”

She paused, then added, “By the way, I took a lot of photos of you today. If I end up publishing them in Lonely Planet, you wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Amu Xi’s expression remained unchanged, but she pondered for a moment. “I suppose I wouldn’t.”

“Good,” Lin nodded and continued writing.

“Will there be a lot of photos of me in the magazine?” Amu Xi asked after a moment.

“Not at all. After all, it’s a travel magazine—landscapes and local life are the focus. People serve to bring out the scenery,” Lin answered with a laugh. “Look, today we drove the entire loop around Erhai Lake. We started from the S-curve on the online-famous Panxi Village road, heading west to east in a big circle. I checked the odometer—about 130 kilometers in total.”

“Our first stop was Xizhou Ancient Town, remember? You certainly didn’t hold back on the food. So many ancient houses, and you got all the photos you wanted. After all, snacks, old houses, and photo ops—those are Xizhou’s three treasures.” Lin chuckled as she spoke.

It was true; they lingered in Xizhou for quite a while. For someone like Amu Xi, who was visiting an ancient town for the first time, the old-world charm of Xizhou was instantly captivating. Lin became her photographer, snapping countless pictures. After their impromptu photo shoot, the scent of local delicacies wafted through the streets as they sampled Xizhou baba and pea jelly, wandering through the Yan Family Mansion as they ate.

Amu Xi even borrowed a black shepherd dog to pose against the red walls of Xilin Courtyard. She ended up buying herself a classic Xizhou ice pop, too.

Afterwards, Lin continued driving, taking Amu Xi along the lake. The scenery was endless, and soon they reached Shuanglang—a must-visit along the Erhai route. Lin navigated them to Yujidao Island, home to the best viewing platform in Shuanglang.

Strolling and exploring, they arrived at Shuanglang’s busiest street. On one side, the shops looked out over Erhai Lake; on the other, distinctive boutiques beckoned. Amu Xi posed for a few photos beneath the purple bougainvillea blooming outside a shop.

They left Shuanglang and headed for Xiaoputuo, stopping again at Luwoshan for another round of photos—after all, this was truly a place that yielded perfect shots. Amu Xi hid in a cliffside cave by the lake, and Lin captured countless beautiful images.

After passing Xiaoputuo and admiring the views, they posed on the bridge and finally reached Dali Ancient City. Shenlu Lin didn’t linger there, simply driving through—she’d already visited in secret once before.

With their return to the S-curve at Panxi Village, they completed the Erhai loop. It was a day full of discoveries and good cheer for Amu Xi. In Dali, only by driving the full circle around Erhai can one say the trip was truly worthwhile. That’s why Shenlu Lin chose this route as her top recommendation for Dali.

If they weren’t in a hurry, Lin thought, she could have taken even longer—devoting an entire day to the Erhai loop, stretching every moment. Imagine watching the sunrise over Erhai, reaching Xizhou for lunch, arriving at Xiaoputuo by sunset to witness the lake’s most beautiful dusk, then passing through Dali Ancient City at night, strolling through its illuminated streets, and ending the day with a drink in a bar. That would be a perfect day.

But for now, Shenlu Lin had to return to Erduo Inn, having promised Gu Mo Ning to shop for groceries together that afternoon. She still had to show off her cooking skills that evening.

Today, Amu Xi truly felt fulfilled, taking so many beautiful photos. She realized she had underestimated Dali—there was so much more to see and capture than just white buses and glass globes, mirrored skies and water-bound dead trees.

Amu Xi came to Dali with no grand ambitions—she simply wanted to prove she had been here. That’s why she took so many pictures.

“Rogue Deer!” Amu Xi called out just as Lin put away her pink notebook.

Shenlu Lin paused. “Hmm?”

“I took so many photos today, but I’m really envious of those who get shots of the Mirror of the Sky. How do they do it?” Amu Xi couldn’t help but ask, her curiosity undiminished despite all the other stunning pictures. Coming to Dali and capturing a Mirror of the Sky photo had always been her wish.

“Do you really want one?” Shenlu Lin sighed.

Amu Xi nodded, for the first time showing a hopeful expression.

Lin looked around—the location was perfect, with no trees to block the view. “Go stand by the roadside, I’ll take the shot.”

“That’s it? But there’s no mirror here. How can you shoot a Mirror of the Sky just by standing on the road?” Amu Xi asked, puzzled.

“Trust me, I’m a professional.” With that, Lin took Amu Xi’s phone—the blue one, called Thirteen Spices.

Amu Xi could only trust Lin now. She stood by the road as Lin positioned herself opposite, aiming the phone camera at her. Then, with a masterful gesture, Lin placed Amu Xi’s phone screen beneath her own lens. In the sunlight, Lin’s screen reflected not the road, but the light and the image from the phone, creating a perfect mirrored illusion. In the photo, Amu Xi appeared to stand on a mirror, her reflection beneath her.

The shot complete, Lin handed her phone to Amu Xi.

“See? This is your Mirror of the Sky,” Lin said.

Amu Xi stared at the photo, stunned for several seconds. The sacred and beautiful Mirror of the Sky—captured so simply? But… but… wasn’t it supposed to be far more complicated?

“I told you, the Mirror of the Sky isn’t as difficult as you think, nor is it some magical scenic spot. It’s just a few large, well-trodden mirrors placed on the ground. If you want a truly breathtaking Mirror of the Sky, don’t worry—I’ll take you to find one,” Lin promised with conviction.