Divine Stone Valley

Divine Stone Valley

Mountains Like the Sea – The Mysterious Stone Forest of Habucigei (Divine Stone Valley) We set off for the “Divine Stone Valley” in Nuoergong with a group of sincere and cheerful friends, lured by an enchanting and mystical call, drawn by a topic about the ghostly and ethereal nature of mountains and rocks, and driven by a long-held yearning. On that drizzly morning, we made our way together toward the Divine Stone Valley in Nuoergong. Along the way, the parched yellow tones of the desert plain, under the cover of thick clouds and moistened by light rain, suddenly took on hints of fresh green. At that moment, a realization about life, about the harmonious aesthetics between nature and humanity, unfolded along the ribbon-like road stretching toward the distant sky. Upon arriving in Nuoergong, we hired a local herdsman as our guide. The locals only knew of such a mysterious place to the southwest, but few had actually been there, as there was still nearly 25 kilometers of natural terrain to cross. The distant mountains were rugged, shrouded in mist. The sandy plains beneath our feet occasionally revealed the true color of the stones, jutting out one by one, reaching toward the heavens. These were the stone gums of Divine Stone Valley. Depressions in the rocks held rainwater, in which the blue sky and white clouds floated. A gentle breeze rippled the water, wrinkling the reflections of the clouds and sky. Suddenly, I felt a strong urge to drink that rainwater. My consciousness drove my action—I leaned down, and the reflections of the sky and clouds were displaced by my face, only to reveal a few swollen, slightly white sheep droppings at the bottom of the puddle, expanded by the rain. Their presence abruptly halted my desire. And so, we arrived at Divine Stone Valley. What lingered in my mind was still a sense of wonder—real, even astonishing. I decisively concluded that this was not a “valley,” but a “sea”—a sea of stones. Look at those undulating stone waves, clustered and rolling, crashing toward the horizon. Then the stone sea grew furious, with towering waves that turned rocks into peaks; at other times it calmed, gently rippling, wave after wave pushing and enveloping one another. The stones came alive, the stone waves taking on three dimensions. To each their own interpretation—some saw sea lions, lizards, camels, ostriches... you name it. Everyone carefully assigned their own thoughts to each wave. People waded through the waves, their faces flushed with sweat trickling down from their foreheads. Their cameras worked busily to capture fleeting moments of wonder and discovery, afraid they might vanish in an instant. When a clear, gentle stream flowed by, the “sea” took on the meaning of a “valley.” People followed the flow of water, directing their gaze as far as the eye could see—the stream extended the magic of the valley. Amidst the fierce, jagged stones, my vocabulary felt humble and inadequate, in awe of nature’s extraordinary craftsmanship, yet aware of its imperfections. Each unique stone, indeed every peak and valley in this sea of rocks, has endured untold years of scrutiny under the vast sky. What year is it now? Deep within this desert wilderness surged a three-dimensional, roaring, immense, and eerily dancing sea of stones. A herder’s family lived near the rocks, tending to this sacred land of stones, earth, and water, day and night listening to the roar of the sea, the whispers of the stones, the surges of the waves, and the gentle flow of the water... People couldn’t get enough—it’s hard for everything to be perfect. The setting sun in the distance, not very high, with its ruddy face turning deep purple, silently urged everyone to look back one last time... I am certain this is a sea of stones. Let your imagination run wild along my train of thought, enrich your longing. In my heart, I silently recite the name of this magical, captivating place—“Divine Stone Valley.” Goodbye. You are an eternal, three-dimensional, frozen sea, a dream of life after death, a sculpture that interprets life or the soul. Ah—Divine Stone Valley.