[Walking in the Emerald Forest | A Fairy Tale Day in Killarney National Park, Ireland]

| A Fairy Tale Day in Killarney National Park, Ireland]. [Walking in the Emerald Forest | A Fairy Tale Day in Killarney National Park, Ireland] Pushing open the wooden fence of Killarney National Park, I felt like I had fallen into a breathing oil painting. As Ireland's first national park, it has been protecting the most beautiful ecological landscape of County Kerry since 1932 - emerald moss climbing up thousand-year-old oak trees, morning mist flowing over the shoulders of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, and three connected lakes like scattered sapphires, glistening mischievously in the sunlight. My hike started at Muckross House, a Victorian-style castle reflected in the waters of Lough Leane, like an illustration from a fairy tale book. Following the "Ring of Kerry" signs, the ferns rustled underfoot, and I was surprised by the occasional red squirrel peeking out or a herd of red deer hiding in the shadows of the trees. When the mist from Torc Waterfall hit my face, I suddenly understood why the Irish always say, "The air here can squeeze out poetry." Deep in the forest, patches of yew and holly weave a magical light and shadow. The guide pointed to an oak tree covered in ivy and smiled mysteriously, "The Ents from 'The Lord of the Rings' were inspired by this tree!" Climbing the soft mossy path, Carrauntoohil, the highest peak of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, gradually revealed itself. Although it is only 1,039 meters above sea level, standing on the roof of Ireland and overlooking the Emerald Isle, even breathing becomes solemn. Rowing on Lough Derg in the afternoon is another kind of fun. The oars break the reflection of the clouds, startling a heron to fly across the water. The boatman, speaking English with a Kerry accent, tells the story of a sunken monastery at the bottom of the lake, while a family of swans in the distance forms a poetic line, turning the shimmering waves into silver satin. When the sunset turns the Muckross Peninsula amber, I lie in the flowers on Innisfallen Island, listening to the bluebells ringing in my ears. On the way back, I made a detour to Killarney town, where the wisteria hanging from the windowsills of the stone houses collided with the traditional fiddle music coming from the pubs. I ordered a cup of Irish coffee with a hint of malt and suddenly understood why Yeats said that this place "flows with the taste of milk and honey." This UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve is a place where even time is soaked in the gentle embrace of moss. Tips: 1. Recommended hiking loop trails (5-10 km), prepare waterproof shoes 2. Don't miss the afternoon tea at Muckross House 3. The red leaf season in late autumn is as beautiful as a spilled palette When your clothes are stained with the morning dew of Killarney, you will forever carry with you the purest breath of Ireland.