Swan Lake in the Flower Sea

　　Swan Lake in the Flower Sea, also known as Luanhuzi, is referred to as the "Flower Sea" by literati and poets, while local herders call it "Luanhuzi." If you can immerse yourself in the landscape and quietly read this page of nature, you will understand the meanings behind their respective names.

　　The "Flower Sea" describes how the lake is surrounded by petal-like mountain ridges resembling lotus petals, cradling a lake basin that looks like the heart of a flower—altogether forming an eight-petaled lotus in full bloom. As for "Luanhuzi," it is dotted with countless bright, sparkling puddles, too many to count, which locals can only describe with the word "luan" (chaotic). This contrasts beautifully with the surrounding grasslands where “short grass just covers the horse’s hooves, and a riot of blooming flowers dazzles the eyes.” In the beautiful summer, when the plateau is golden with life, standing on the southern shore of the lake and gazing at the Gangshika Snow Mountain in the distance, it feels as though you’ve stepped into a giant painting that vividly displays the magic of the snow-capped peak and the magnificence of the grassland.

　　Swan Lake, a high-altitude wetland lake, is also a natural reserve for aquatic birds. Wetlands are often called the lungs of the earth, and this wetland in Swan Lake is especially precious for the Qilian Mountains, a towering giant in a cold and oxygen-thin environment. The Tibetan mergansers, not particularly striking in appearance, are like the people of the plateau—unconcerned with outward appearances but widely admired for their unwavering loyalty in love. They are always seen in pairs, inseparable day and night. If one dies, the other refuses to live on alone and will tragically sacrifice itself for love within a short time. Alongside the Tibetan mergansers, there are also rare birds such as red-crowned cranes and black-necked cranes. They come here every April and May to lay eggs and raise their young, then fly away with their fledglings between August and September. Through their constant flight, they embody the meaning of life. The vast grasslands and beautiful lakes provide the backdrop for the tender Tibetan mergansers, who tell a story of love that is both beautiful and sorrowful.

　　The *New Annals of Xining Prefecture* recorded this Luanhuzi under the name "Swan Lake in the Flower Sea" and listed it as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Xining. "Swan Lake in the Flower Sea"—what a vivid and evocative name. No wonder ancient writers left behind such poetic lines: “The lake mirrors the waves, washing clean the dust and sand. The east wind stirs the green, uneven shadows, rippling as paired mandarin ducks play. Here they make their home, marking time in ice and water, mingling joy with life’s flow. Floating dust drifts with the wind as their way. Who could compare to them, caring nothing for the world’s storms?”