The sun's direct path has shifted to the northern hemisphere. Spring has returned to the northern region, and all things are breathing in the fresh green. On this day of travel, the morning breeze caresses my sleepy eyes, as if trying to rescue me from the world of Zhou Gong. The wind says, it's time for you to visit that vivid ink painting - the Dragon Palace.

Before visiting the Dragon Palace, I didn't know it was located in Anshun City, nor did I know how large its entire area was (please excuse my ignorance). However,

In the promotional video on TV, I learned about its colorful cave landscapes. It takes about two and a half hours to drive from the urban area of Guiyang to the Dragon Palace. Saying it is long is not accurate; in fact, all your free time is stolen by the scenery outside the window. It outshines the mobile phone that you can never part with. When the car was approaching the scenic area, the upright street lamps along the road seemed to guide all visitors to move deeper into the greenery.

In front of the Dragon Palace, I was like a newborn child, using all my senses to observe this strange world. What came into view was the drooping greenery, along with the vibrant energy it exuded. In this summer-early summer Dragon Palace, the sky was so white it resembled a snowman, and from time to time, there would float by a few leisurely clouds; the leaves stretched out the branches that had been compressed by the cold air throughout the winter; the scattered stones stood in various postures, like a group of people with stories, quietly recounting their legends to the visitors; the flowers all put on their own special makeup; the paths were filled with clusters of tender grass that indicated to the visitors the enlightenment of life; the water in the bridge's underflow was also pure green, as if without any impurities; these highly interesting elements were my initial impression of the Dragon Palace.

The attractions in the Dragon Palace are numerous. It can be said that there is nothing you can't imagine, but what remains in my mind most vividly are the Dragon Gate Waterfall and the Herbal Valley. As is well known, Guizhou has the famous Huangguoshu Waterfall, and not far from Huangguoshu, the Dragon Gate Waterfall also has a breathtaking beauty. It is understood that the Dragon Gate Waterfall is formed by the water pouring from the Heavenly Pool, and it is a typical karst hidden waterfall. Looking up at it from the viewing platform, it looks like a silver ribbon coming from the sky; it also resembles a sky ladder when a fairy descends to the earth, connecting heaven and earth; it is even more like a gift of heaven to the earth, capable of washing away all the filth in the world. What is even more astonishing is the circular water pool formed at the bottom of the waterfall, resembling a "bathtub". Maybe the Dragon King of the Dragon Palace has bathed here before!

This "bathtub" must be the recorder of water flow, inscribing on the time book - the saying that "running water never decays". In ancient times, Tao Yuanming wrote "Record of the Peach Blossom Spring" to inspire future generations to yearn for it. Some people sarcastically said that it was just Tao Qian's beautiful fantasy, which was ethereal and illusory in reality. Now, I finally have sufficient reasons to refute those people. The Medicine Valley of the Dragon Palace is the earthly paradise.

Before reaching the Herbal Valley, the aroma of various medicinal plants wafts towards us, rich but not overpowering, making us feel refreshed immediately after inhaling. Through the guide's explanation, we learned that this Herbal Valley has a significant history. This seemingly simple valley not only has a large number of medicinal herbs but also has an inexplicable connection with the Night郎 Kingdom. Now， it seems that the people of the Night郎 Kingdom have extraordinary discernment. They are happily living in an idyllic paradise. The unknown trees in the valley stand closely in rows, working together to shield against the ups and downs of history， and firmly guarding this extraordinary valley. This valley is not barren； rather， it is favored by nature. The pond in the Herbal Valley is like the eye of the valley， allowing us to perceive the vitality of heaven and earth. We can see the patterns of water plants floating on the pond， with lotus leaves scattered on it. What's more amazing is that there are clusters of darkish small tadpoles playing in the water. It is certain that in a short while， the valley will be filled with the sound of frogs.

The deeper I went into the valley, the more intense my sense of dizziness became. Once inside, the illusion and the sense of reality were engaged in a fierce struggle. At that moment, all the complicated worldly affairs vanished like a passing cloud, dissolving in the fragrant air. Even though I knew I was just a passer-by in the Medicine Valley, I still silently vowed in my heart that this "dream" should never wake up. If the beautiful scenes in the movies are for the satisfaction of aesthetic enjoyment, then the scenery in the Medicine Valley is the enjoyment of both aesthetics and humor. Only after visiting the Medicine Valley did I understand that all the beautiful scenes in the movies are merely false visual illusions of the real, natural scenes, and are all poor replicas of the magnificent natural wonders like the Medicine Valley.

Karst landforms are one of the factors causing poverty in Guizhou. However, for the tourism industry, they are an important foundation for development. Longgong also grew up on this basis. It is like an artwork hidden in the darkness by an expert painter, eventually being carved by time into a colorful form. Fortunately, during my life journey, I was able to use its "spiritual power" to piece together a different journey of youth with the scattered fragments.

Time carves out memories. Perhaps when we look back on the journey we have taken, all that remains are faint traces. But the trip to the Dragon Palace did not disappoint my expectations for all the beauty in the world. It redefined for me the simple joy of life. I will measure with my footsteps the invaluable treasures bestowed upon me by the Dragon Palace. The dust raised beneath my feet will forever be frozen in the moment I pause to admire the beauty. The world will be captured as a painting, with emotions that cannot be expressed coloring it.

All the excessive sentiments about the Dragon Palace seem too pale and powerless at this moment. I just want to hide among its mountains and waters, allowing the Dragon Palace to adjust the optimal temperature of my soul.

Fan Ziqiu (author)