About this journey
Lina had troubles at work and took leave to come to Dali to relax. One early morning, unable to sleep, she impulsively signed up for Ajin's stream-painting activity, but didn't want to hike. So Ajin improvised a different route, one leading to forests, ancient roads, abandoned houses, and temples. We stopped on a path lined with towering trees, and Ajin habitually took out a notebook to draw. Lina chatted with Yangqiao. The wind blew, sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the soil and grass. Lina said, 'Why not start a poetry-writing activity? Everyone writes a poem, tells a story, or draws a picture in the mountains, then reads it aloud or shares it. How fun!'
The first poet we met on Cangshan was Ranjie.
Actually, during the previous tea-picking activity on Cangshan, we did exactly this kind of activity. The guest who joined us was from Canada, and her name was Ranjie (we later became friends). She said she wanted to read her poem to me under the wild tea tree. Wow! I thought that was so romantic! Ranjie read two poems, one called 'Women Control Time' and the other 'Pebble'. It was under a pine forest, we sat on the ground. The sunlight was nice, there were Paris polyphylla swaying in the breeze, tree shadows dappled, and the sound of tea leaves being picked dripped and ticked, re-dividing time into the nodes I wanted. The small footsteps added a layer of soft, restrained sinking to the space.
Later, our little Shusha also read a poem she wrote, 'The Rainbow Fell Down.'
I stood on the high bridge,
The bridge began to move,
It said, 'Help!'
The rainbow fell down,
And turned into a banana.
I think not everyone can write poetry, but storytelling is something everyone can do effortlessly. We can tell stories, draw them. If you don't want to speak or draw, you can listen to me.
Activity Introduction:
This should be a very relaxed activity. You may like nature, literature, painting, or just want to talk to someone or say nothing. You may like to write something, draw something—things that seem unimportant, timid, shy. In the mountains, every cloud and every leaf can embrace you. Or a person can participate only by watching and listening, take a walk, collect some plants, have a forest picnic.
Activity Details:
1. We gather at the designated location at 2:30 PM.
2. Our main route: first visit a temple, see the cute white dragon king and judges, then walk along a quiet dirt path to the mountainside. We'll have something to drink, chat, quiet down to do something—write poetry, tell stories, draw, or admire the sky.
3. We share our creations: read them out, show them, or sing them.
Duration: 14:30–17:30
Meeting Point: Dali Taihe Baolin Village
Age Requirements: 1. Family group (children aged 1–3 can participate with a guardian). 2. Adult group.
Guide WeChat
Ajin's Introduction
Based on traces of past life, in candlelight and darkness, by the creek, in the mountains, in the soft beliefs of grandmother, slowly moving towards the steel city and then back, there has been exploration of dreams, homeland, travel, life and death. In the years, there are waves of ups and downs.
Ajin writes scripts, stories, makes stop-motion animations, and also documentaries. Lives and works in Xiamen, Dali, Garze. Uses the 'travel' method to shuttle through poetry, dreams, and reality.
Animation work 'Dao Wei Qu' - Double Habitat Youth Film Festival 'Experimental Spirit Award', recommended screening at Shenzhen Animation Biennale, Beijing International Short Film Festival Chinese Jury Special Award.
Short film 'Wild Night Talk' - 2022 World Nomadic Film Festival Top 10 Narrative Shorts.
Documentary 'Sunflower on the Nata River' - 2022 hi short! Xiamen Short Film Week Documentary Unit.
Experimental short 'Daytime' - 2023 17th FIRST Film Festival Super Short Unit.
The above are photos from the most recent adult group activity.
The above are from the family group (our old friends Dunzhu, Liuli, and their children also participated).