2025-09-13 Kangding, Sichuan

Photo/Writing CY Chang

Close to the Sky - A Flash Mob of Grassworms and Embankments

Instead of taking National Highway 318, I took a pleasant alternative route to Kangding Airport. I rested by the roadside and watched the sun rise. Plenty of mani trees lined the roadside, and a few horses grazed nearby. I quickly snapped a few photos, which, combined with the distant valley, created a beautiful layered effect. Even after reaching 4,000 meters, I felt dizzy despite the stunning scenery. The horses basking in the sun were a delight to watch.

Yesterday on the way back to Kangding, I had planned to photograph the valley, but I didn’t get a chance. I went down this morning to take a good look. A 4,000-meter climb, the roadside descended into a valley. Panting, I carried my equipment back and forth, searching for several angles, choosing and changing them again and again. Looking back at the backlight, I found the image I wanted, but I couldn’t decide whether to put the flowers on the left or the right.

Red Lake

I don’t know how many times I’ve passed by it, but I’ve never been inside. This time, I finally made it.

Those wedding photos, those phone photos, blocked out a lot of the scenes I wanted to capture. SMH, forget it. The flowers by the lake, backlit with a wide aperture, look great. I took the stacked footage back home to process.

The mountains with their backs to the Red Lake are covered in snow that hasn’t melted yet, perhaps never will. The roadside vendors have clothes hanging there for who knows how long. There are so many shops, selling so many things, worried that passersby might go hungry or thirsty.

Passing Kangding Airport, the moon is still high in the sky during the day. It won’t reach the summit until noon.

Sky City, 3700m

Descending to 3700 meters, I turned left and ascended to Sky City. It felt like I’d just stopped briefly last time. At the top, I looked at the shadows behind me. Black and white and color, there was no difference, just beautiful. The polarizing filter turned the sky blue, a natural blue.

After crossing Xindu Bridge, Jiagen Pass is now the hub for pass traffic. The road to Yaha Pass, which I visited a few years ago, hasn’t been completed in years. The detour was too tiring, so I decided to go to a newly opened spot.

Yaha

When I went to Yaha in 2019, there were no crowds crowding to see Mount Gongga, and there were few SUVs. I shot at 4,500 meters until 7 p.m. I was short of oxygen, but I didn’t feel bad. Now, even with the lack of oxygen, I still feel bad seeing the crowds and traffic jams.

Back then, the sun didn’t even begin to set until 6:30 p.m. I used my Sony telephoto lens to focus on the snow-capped mountains, waiting until the road was open before heading out.

Chongcao Pass

At Chongcao Pass, every second counted. We reached the pass an hour late. At 7:25 p.m., the sun set without waiting for anyone. We parked the car, leaving only a few hours to capture the afterglow of the sunset. Busy and hectic

The telephoto lens created a beautiful scene, a play of clouds and light. There was no light below, but within the lens was a sunset that lingered for a long time.

The clouds came and went, and when darkness fell, we finally had to say goodbye.

Tinong Secret Realm, 4500m

Tinong Secret Realm, 4500 meters, is another fatal pass. It’s said to be very accessible, but it still took a long time to reach. The road is difficult to pass, and out-of-town cars won’t give way, making it very congested. Found it

We reached the summit, at 4,500 meters. The planning was excellent, and the guide parked the car. We didn’t have much time left, so we pulled out our Hasselblad and all our lenses. It was already nearly dark. This might be the best shot I’ve taken this trip. The old Kodak film smelled just like something I’d taken 30 years ago. Darkness had us heading back down. The road was long. We’ll come back next time.