Travel for Mental Nourishment and Longevity
Travel for Mental Nourishment and Longevity
When leaving bustling cities behind and immersing oneself in breathtaking mountains, cascading waterfalls, secluded forests, clear springs, grassy fields, idyllic farmland, moonlit lakes, or vast seas, one instantly enters a poetic realm of reality, opening the heart and elevating emotions. Walking along crystal-clear lakes, one may reflect on ancient times and seek traces of history; climbing misty green peaks, one sees myriad mountains vying for beauty, the sun rising through the fog; visiting stunning beaches, gazing at endless waves merging with the sky, one feels exhilarated and inspired—free from worldly worries. The Eastern Jin poet Tao Yuanming wrote in “Building My Hut Among Men”: “I build my hut among men, yet hear no sound of carriages and horses. Ask me why I do so—my heart is far away, and thus the place is remote. Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I calmly see the southern mountain.” At Hangzhou’s Yiquan Temple, there is a couplet: “Fish rejoice, humans rejoice too; springs delight, hearts feel kinship.” This illustrates how serene natural scenes can shift emotions and nourish the spirit, contributing to longevity.