The 3 days I spent within the park was my favourite part of the entire month I spent in China. Having lived in Beijing for a decade, the China I’m used to is covered in dust and smog, hiding all signs of nature and greenery. But I was blown away by ZhangJiaJie's natural beauty and the picturesque scenery - there is truly no place like ZhangJiaJie, anywhere in the world. Beyond the mountains, the area is also home to a beautiful lake (which flows into the dam) and an underground cave. And if the natural beauty wasn't enough, the region is also home to an ethnic Chinese tribe with unique cultural traditions. For example, the brides from this tribe has to cry for at least 3 days prior to her wedding. In fact, it is believed that the longer she can cry, the more desirable of a wife she is.

I loved ZhangJiaJie for its scenic beauty and cultural richness. I also felt connected to the park in many ways. The fresh mountain air reminded me of my school days in Vancouver when I would walk to school in the brisk morning air. At the dam by the park's entrance, I also felt particularly close to my family, to my grandfather and the work he had done there. For the first time in a long time, I felt deeply emotionally connected to a place.



I could not have hoped for a better trip than the one I had to ZhangJiaJie National Forest. The trip reminded me of one of the treasures of traveling. Sometimes a journey can bring me to places miles away from home, to the rural communities of Cuba, to the birthplace of mankind, and to the hidden corners of the earth. But sometimes traveling also bring me full circle - all the way back home.