A Tribute to Xishuangbanna

A Long Journey

Ji Xianlin

Tsinghua University Press

April 2023

59.00 (CNY)

This book selects the authors excellent proses related to tourism. It includes many natural and cultural scenic spots in China and other parts of Asia and Europe.

Ji Xianlin

Ji Xianlin was a professor and the dean of the School of Eastern Language and Literature at Peking University, the vice president of Peking University, a member of the Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the director of the Center of South Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He made outstanding achievements in linguistics studies and was successful in proses and Chinese studies.

I often thought of Xishuangbanna when I was in Beijing. Once I thought of it, my mind seemed to have wings and fly in the air. I didnt know how long and how far I would fly to reach this remote border area of the motherland.

However, today, when I arrived in Xishuangbanna, I felt as if Beijing was in front of my eyes. It seems that I could smell, hear, and see Beijing, and my breath and behavior were shared by Beijing people. I dont feel distant at all. At first, I was puzzled about the reason. It seemed like a mystery, and I couldnt figure it out anyway. However, I finally knew the answer by accident.

One day, we visited a tropical botanical garden in Yunjinghong, accompanied by a group of young men and women. I could tell by their accents that they were not natives: some were from Nanjing, some from Shanghai, some from Hunan, and others from Jiangsu. Though they came from different places and had different dialects, they lived and worked together in harmony. In the thick black shadow of rubber trees, in the fragrance of colorful exotic flowers and rare herbs, these young people excitedly introduced to us the name, features, and economic value of every plant. There was a girl with a pair of pigtails, a pair of big, round, bright eyes, and cheeks as red as apples. She was full of the vigor of youth, and her eyes shined with affecting light. She happened to walk beside me, so I chatted with her.

“Where do you come from?”

“Xiamen, Fujian.”

“How many years have you been here?”

“Five years.”

“Dont you miss home?”

The girl smiled sweetly, threw her braids behind her back, and said calmly, “The place where I am needed is my lovely hometown.”

My heart was touched. These words were worth pondering. The facial expressions of these young men and women show that they have long regarded Xishuangbanna as their hometown. Although I came here not long ago, I have also unconsciously regarded Xishuangbanna as my hometown. I dont think it is different from Beijing.

I heard Japanese friends say more than once that the eyes of Chinese youths were very bright. They observed this carefully. It is true that, similar to the girl from Xiamen, young people in Xishuangbanna have very bright eyes. These eyes can see the present and also the future. They are full of vigorous enthusiasm, ardent hope, and beautiful dreams.

Xishuangbanna is a “kingdom of gold” and a wonderful place that can arouse peoples imagination. How can young peoples eyes not be very bright here?

Look at the woods here. Not far from Simao, as soon as you enter the primary dense forest in Xishuangbanna, you will be shocked by the endless and abundant vitality of various plants. Look at the towering old tree. It sticks its head out of the bushes. It stands tall and straight there as if it wants to grow upwards and poke a hole in the sky. A vine with big leaves circles the trunk, stretching out thick green arms. As high as the tree is, it climbs all the way to the white clouds. Some herbs, like fragrant thoroughworts, grow on the trunk and branches of the big tree, proudly flourishing in the air. The big banyan trees are stronger. One tree can multiply into a forest. “Legs” grow on the thick trunk and branches. Once there is an opportunity to step onto the soil, it immediately goes deep and firmly. It seems that it wanted to drill through the earth. It can never be shaken, no matter how strong the wind is. The plantain leaves are so huge that one leaf seems to build a ceiling. The shadow spreads on the ground, thick and black. In a word, all kinds of trees, grasses, and flowers gather here intertwined. They grow in piles, balls, and blocks. They are so gloomy and lush that even a snake can hardly get in.

The fruits and vegetables here are also amazing. A banana tree can bear hundreds of bananas. Plump papayas are crowded together, and no one leaves room for others. The stronger ones grow as big as possible, while the weaker ones have to survive in the cracks. A cabbage weighs dozens of jin. They look like emeralds in ones hands. Radishes are round and thick, and the juice inside is nearly flowing out. Green onions, white and tender, look like childrens arms. All the other vegetables are tender and fresh. When we first saw them, we even thought they were absurdly big and fat. We were so shocked that we didnt know what to say.

Everything that grows out of the soil seems to bring a rich vitality from the deepest of the earth, bursting out and spreading everywhere. It has made this land a beautiful paradise on earth, among all the trees, all the flowers and grasses, all the mountain tops, and all the boundaries of waters.

Besides, the natural scenery here is even more magnificent. We can say there are four seasons here. But different from the north, they are not spring, summer, autumn and winter, but three springs and one summer. But it was warm and sunny here, and the fragrance of flowers assailed my nose. It was probably just spring. I love the early morning here best. When a hundred roosters wake me up, the morning stars are still in the sky and the morning mist is thick. The fragrance of all kinds of flowers and grasses seems to condense into blocks in the mist, which makes people intoxicated. I love the moonlit night here best. The moonlight pours down from the sky like water, on the big leaves of bananas, on the pendulous papayas, and on the clusters of sisal hemp. Everything is immersed in the cold silver light. The big leaves of bananas are like doors; the leaves of sisal hemp are like saw teeth; the leaves of papayas are elliptic. They cast shadows on the ground, leaving clear shades and lines. I love the clouds here best. They curl freely and change endlessly, flowing in the depths of mountains and big forests, on the top of huts and under the wheels of vehicles. They tie a belt around the forest and put hats on the peaks. Whenever a car drives into the white clouds, I look down into the valley and the white clouds seem to make a silver bridge, which carries the car to the heavenly palace with jade halls. I love the green mountains here best. They are clustered, tier upon tier. They are full of grasses and trees, precious treasures and strange stones. They surround every dam like green jade belts. The peaks compete for beauty and the valleys compete for seclusion. I love everything here. My favorites are countless in Xishuangbanna.