Write down some words to record my dreamlike journey to the Northwest

5.17 is the last day of the Qinghai-Tibet loop. After saying goodbye to the driver, I knew that sometimes farewells in life can be very difficult. In just seven days, I saw many landscapes I had never seen before. The mountains, rivers, and lakes in nature added a stroke of rich color to my memories. The weather was good on the day of departure. Along the way, there were herds of yaks and sheep. Nearby were grasslands not yet fully green, and in the distance, there were rolling snow-capped mountains. I also encountered several devout pilgrims. The wind was strong at Qinghai Lake, but the water was very blue. Along the way, I also enjoyed delicious yak hotpot, small plate chicken, and some unnamed wild vegetables. We crossed the Rubber Mountain at an altitude of 3817 meters, the first pass of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It rained on the way to Chaka. I had lost hope, but when the car stopped at the entrance of the scenic area, it suddenly cleared up. The salt lake was transparent. When the sky and the lake reflected each other, I understood what is meant by 'Mirror of the Sky'. The next day, we passed through Delingha in the Haizi Poetry and arrived at the Chaka Salt Lake. When I saw it, I felt its beauty was almost unreal. The breeze stirred up layers of blue waves. It was like an emerald that had fallen to earth. Driving on the 315 national road, I saw the Yardang landform that I learned about in high school geography. Different from the grasslands I had seen before, its beauty was a powerful presence in the desert. We passed by Dongtaijiner Lake, which was not included in the itinerary, but the driver took us there anyway. When I approached it, I marveled at its beauty. The lake water was light blue and clear to the bottom. It truly deserves the title of China's 'Maldives'. On the way back, the driver found a back road to take us through the no-man's land. It was both tense and exciting. When we stood on the earth mounds of the Yardang landform, the wind was strong, and the view was vast. It seemed as if the entire land of the Northwest was in my eyes. Crossing the Dangjin Mountains at the junction of three provinces, we arrived in Dunhuang. In the evening, we went to the Shazhou Night Market, where I ate the anticipated beef pie with sand onions and drank delicious apricot peel tea. The next morning, we went to the Mogao Caves. Seeing is believing, and I was amazed at the craftsmanship of the ancient painters. As someone who studies art, it was a visual shock. The colors and lines were all exquisitely beautiful. The weather at the Mingsha Mountain was not good in the evening. I climbed barefoot for a long time and was already out of breath before reaching the top. The sandstorm was too strong, and I had to stagger down. Fortunately, I saw the long-awaited Crescent Lake and took some sand back home in a fridge magnet. During the days in Gansu, it was never sunny, but the colors of the Rainbow Danxia were still beautiful. It's just a pity that I didn't see it on a clear day. Time quickly came to the last day. Finally, I arrived at the Qilian Mountain grassland. The sky was not kind, and it started to drizzle, but that day I hugged a lamb, tried archery, drank a cup of warm butter tea, enjoyed yak meat hotpot, and listened to the songs of the Tibetan people. Everything was beautiful. When we crossed the Daban Mountain Tunnel, the highest in Asia, it also signaled the end of this journey. I have wanted to visit the Northwest for a long time, and this time I finally got my wish. On the way home, I cried. This was the first time I felt upset after a trip ended. The landscapes and people I encountered along the way were rich and wonderful. I think this is a journey I will never forget in my life. The Northwest is like a colorful dream, and I hope it will forever be in my heart.