When thinking about traveling in Yunnan Province, high mountains and beautiful valleys may be the first things that come into a tourist's mind. But there's more than spectacular mountain scenery in Yunnan - there's also a spot that is as pretty as any to be found in East China's Jiangsu or Zhejiang provinces.
It's Puzhehei which is also known as Yunnan's Guilin.
Puzhehei is located about 5 kilometers from the downtown area of Qiubei County. The scenery on the way to Puzhehei is charming and the best time for a visit is early summer.
The large paddy fields, decorated with lotus blooms, evoke feelings of peace and relaxation in any visitor.
From a distance, the whole village looks like a scene set on a big round plate. The small surrounding hills look like pearls on the plate, with rivers and streams zigzagging between them.
Visitors can board a small boat at the dock of Pucaotang Lake. To protect the environment, and to keep the river water of Puzhehei clear and pure, powerboats are not allowed on the lake so the boats are rowed by local people.
Weeping willows on the riverbanks shade the river. Because the water is pollution-free, the fish and shrimps have a more delicious taste than those available in Shanghai.
The name Puzhehei, in the dialect of the Yi Nationality, means literally: "The lake filled with fish and shrimps".
When our boat floated into Xianren Lake, some red-mouthed birds suddenly appeared and looked us over. Next, we came upon clusters of brimless lotus, their deep green leaves decorated with white wildflowers. The scene looked like the home of the immortals.
Puzhehei is the largest village in Qiubei County with more than 800 families living there. Rivers criss-cross the village and many houses are built along the riverbanks among the weeping willows.
It would be impossible to create such a lovely living environment in a city like Shanghai, even if one were a millionaire.
Enterprising local farmers have turned their homes into family restaurants and sell local food. The best dish is fish soup and salty shrimp. I can feel its fresh flavor even now.
(Shanghai Star February 22, 2003)
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