Fish Zixi: A Viewing Platform in Western Sichuan Shrouded in Mist.

The sound of camel bells jingling echoes through the towering mountains, as caravans transporting tea and driving horses stretch through the valleys. Whether it is mules or workers carrying tea bags, they all grit their teeth, with sweat dripping onto the dusty road. They have no extra energy to appreciate the passing lakes and mountains, their minds solely focused on delivering the goods to their destination. One wonders if these hardworking individuals ever paused at a place now known as Fish Zixi. If they did stop to rest, they would surely be stunned by the breathtaking scenery before them. Would such beauty alleviate their fatigue as they admired the distant towering mountains amidst the swirling mist? Standing on this viewing platform called Fish Zixi, one is presented with the mist-shrouded peaks of Siguniang Mountain, Gongga Snow Mountain, and Yala Snow Mountain. Siguniang Mountain, as the name suggests, has four peaks, named Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, and Little Sister Peak. The four peaks are snow-capped year-round, and Little Sister Peak, with an altitude of 6250 meters, is second only to Gongga Snow Mountain and is known as the 'Queen of Sichuan Mountains.' Gongga Mountain, with an altitude of 7556 meters, is called the 'King of Sichuan Mountains.' 'Gong' means ice and snow, and 'Ga' means white, so Gongga Mountain means white ice mountain. Gongga Mountain is famous for its glaciers, with over 100 glaciers distributed at its base. The glaciers have eroded the peaks of Gongga Mountain into a pyramid shape, like a sharp sword piercing the blue sky. Yala Snow Mountain, also known as Yala Snow Mountain due to transliteration issues, is fully named 'Xiaxue Yalagabo' in Tibetan, meaning 'Eastern White Yak Mountain.' Yala Snow Mountain has an altitude of 5884 meters. Although not as high as Gongga and Siguniang Mountains, it is renowned in the Kang region and is one of the four sacred mountains in the Tibetan area. Each sacred mountain in the Tibetan area has its own mountain god. The mountain god of Yala Snow Mountain is the eldest son of the mountain god of Animaqing Mountain. Legend has it that there was no mountain god on Yala Mountain, so the gods requested Animaqing to send a mountain god. He then sent his eldest son, embodying the spirit of sacrifice, which gives Yala its meaning of sacrifice. The sentiment and wisdom expressed by the word 'sacrifice' make Yala Snow Mountain even more revered. In fact, if the tea porters from over a thousand years ago had reached the Tagong Grassland at the foot of Yala Snow Mountain, they would have been even more amazed. The green grassland is dotted with colorful flowers, yaks, sheep, and horses grazing leisurely. The sunlight shines on the golden roof of Tagong Monastery, gleaming like another sun. The sky is filled with ethereal clouds, surrounding Yala Snow Mountain like a blooming lotus. I believe such a scene would surely soothe their fatigue.