"Time Capsule in Karst Folds"

Stepping into Xiangshui Stone Forest before the morning mist dissipates is like entering a prehistoric era that has been paused. The iron ore stone forest glows with a reddish-brown luster in the mist, and the rock layers crumpled by crustal movement are like solidified waves, each fold hiding billions of years of secrets. The best time is after the rain, when the rust-colored water seeping from the stone crevices spreads orange tear stains on the moss, and it creaks underfoot, as if hearing the earth's joints stretching. When I accidentally entered an unattended fork in the road, I startled a flock of birds that skimmed over the skylight of the karst cave. The stalactites hanging upside down on the cave walls are immersed in the reflection of the underground lake. When the water ripples, the entire rock wall turns into a flowing galaxy. The guide who accompanied me suddenly blew the reed pipe, and the ethereal tune woke up the sleeping bats. When they fluttered over my head, I realized that this world was never really silent. Climbing up to the viewing platform in the twilight, the entire stone forest becomes transparent in the sunset, as if coated with a layer of honey. In front of the sour plum soup stall set up by the locals, an old woman in Zhuang brocade clothes handed over a bamboo tube of wine. Taking a sip of the sweet aroma of glutinous rice, the shepherd boy's flute in the distance is playing in harmony with the stream. Looking back when leaving, the stone forest gradually blurred in the twilight, and it was difficult to distinguish whether it was a landform or a phantom—perhaps, it was originally a love letter written to time by the karst landform. Tips: The stone surface is slippery in the rainy season, so it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes; the light and shadow are best in the morning and evening, and photography enthusiasts can bring tripods to capture the reflections of the karst cave.