On the final day of our journey, I awoke in a damp tent perched atop the distinctive Bamian Mountain in Longshan county, which is part of the autonomous prefecture. The 1,416-meter-high mountain features an expansive summit that stretches 20 km long and up to 4 km wide. I had planned the perfect night of stargazing followed by a sunrise viewing.

The wind howled relentlessly throughout the night, battering the tent and creating a roaring symphony that kept me anxious about the possibility of being swept away. The weather ruled out any chance of stargazing or watching the sunrise, which I had to save for next time.

After breakfast, we quickly set off for the high-speed train station, which is 130 km away.

Feeling disappointed, I stared out the car window, lost in thought. As we navigated the winding mountain roads, a breathtaking panorama suddenly unfolded before me: a vast sea of dark green mountains punctuated by wisps of white clouds. I hurried out of the car at an observation deck to capture the scene with my camera.

At that moment of wonder, I thought to myself, "This is a perfect ending to the trip."