mtlumby2d Chapter 115: Dream Tracks
Chapter 115: Dream Tracks
Nestled between the towering mountains and lush forests of southern Tibet, Bomi is like a gem meticulously carved by time, quietly embedded beside National Highway 318. Its long and eventful history is like a profound and magnificent epic, singing a unique melody throughout the years.
Today, when the dim morning light and thin morning mist blend together, National Highway 318 is like a silver-gray ribbon winding towards the sky, quietly spreading among the towering mountains, waiting for the wheels of dream chasers to leave their mark.
Zhang Bei was the first to cheer up in his weathered-looking pickup truck. The roar of the engine broke the silence in the mountains, as if sounding the horn of this journey.
In the driver's seat, Zhang Bei's gaze was resolute, his hands steady on the steering wheel. Beside him, Xiao Xing chattered away like a cheerful lark, clutching her treasured travel notebook, densely packed with anecdotes and off-the-beaten-path attractions she'd heard along the way. "Zhang Bei, do you think Bomi is really like what's described in the books, with primeval forests blocking out the sun and mysterious undercurrents in the snow-capped mountains?"
She blinked her eyes, full of longing, and her hair on her forehead lifted up playfully, gently ruffling the wind that came in from the window.
In the truck bed, the panda dog lay comfortably on the quilt with half-closed eyes, occasionally moving its ears to catch the unusual sound in the wind. It had long been accustomed to the bumpy road and only regarded it as a different kind of adventure.
Behind the pickup truck, Li Fugui and Xiao Taojie's RV followed slowly. The RV was huge but elegant, like a cozy moving cottage.
Inside the car, Zhang Tingjian was scribbling on the map, muttering about altitude changes and the best parking spots. The years had shown on his face, revealing his deep-rooted love for this land.
Zhang Nan wore headphones, his head tapping to the rhythm of the music, but his eyes were looking out the car window, greedily searching for the beautiful scenery passing by along the way, from the green pines growing stubbornly on the steep cliffs to the clear and rushing streams at the bottom of the valley, every frame was imprinted in his heart.
When they reached a viewing platform, everyone stopped the car to rest.
Xiao Xing couldn't wait to jump out of the car and pulled Zhang Bei towards the guardrail. The mountains and valleys in front of them suddenly opened up. The sea of clouds surged in the valley like white waves. In the distance, the peaks of snow-capped mountains pierced through the clouds, shining with holy light.
"Wow, how wonderful it would be to live in the clouds!" Xiao Xing cheered, arms wide open, her sleeves fluttering in the breeze. Li Fugui smiled as he distributed hot water. "Take your time, there's more to come. This 318, a new scene at every step, never skimping."
Next to the RV, Li Fugui told Zhang Nan stories about his trip to Tibet in the past. At that time, the road was more rugged and supplies were scarce, but it could not stop people from yearning for freedom. His words were full of emotion about the changes of time and pride in sticking to his original aspirations.
We set off again. The sun became scorching hot, making the road surface glow faintly, as if it was sprinkled with a layer of fine gold foil.
The pickup truck's engine hummed with a bit of effort as it climbed the slope. Xiao Xing patted the front of the truck distressedly and said, "Brother, hang in there a little longer. I'll give you a good bath when we get to Bomi."
There were bends one after another, and when the car body tilted, the panda dog barked anxiously, making everyone laugh.
Suddenly, a few pieces of gravel rolled down the road ahead. Zhang Bei was quick to brake and said with lingering fear, "This road is full of little thrills from time to time, reminding us to respect nature."
Everyone got out of the car, cleared the stones and continued on their way.
As evening approached, the afterglow dyed the sky into a gorgeous canvas of orange and red, and the outline of Bomi gradually became clear in the twilight.
The rich fragrance of the forest wafts in the air, tall spruces and firs stand like loyal guards on both sides of the road, and RVs and pickup trucks slowly drive into the county town.
After finding a place to park, everyone sat around the campfire, the flames dancing and illuminating their faces. Zhang Nan plucked the guitar strings, playing a melodious folk song, while Xiao Xing sang along and danced lightly.
Li Fugui brewed steaming fragrant butter tea. Zhang Tingjian gazed at the tranquil Bomi under the starry sky and said softly, "Everywhere I go, it feels like home. This 318 is a journey to find my roots."
Everyone nodded, immersed in the gentle night of Bomi amid the crackling sound of firewood. Their fatigue and expectations were all integrated into this secret place in southern Tibet. The unknown journey tomorrow was quietly sprouting in their hearts.
Time goes back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. At that time, the situation in Tibet was turbulent, power struggles continued between tribes and the royal family, and smoke of gunpowder filled every inch of land on the plateau.
The ancient Tubo Kingdom was caught in the vortex of war, with various forces competing with each other, and killing and conquest became the cruel footnotes of that era.
Xia Chi, a descendant of the royal family, was forced by fate to escape the ruthless killing and wandered all the way to this mysterious place east of Gongbu.
Here, mountains and rivers are close to each other, and river valleys are crisscrossed, making it like a paradise. Xia Chi and his descendants stopped traveling and took root here. With their tenacity and wisdom, they established the Garan Dynasty after several generations of management.
That was the first regime in Bomi's history that shone with the dawn of civilization. Under the protection of the primeval forest, the Garan Dynasty started the long construction of local culture and ruling order. People practiced slash-and-burn farming, raised livestock, fished and hunted, and painted a picture of simple life among the mountains and rivers. The story of the dynasty was passed down from mouth to mouth among the people, becoming the initial pride deep in the memory of the Bomi people.
As the wheel of history rolled into the Song and Yuan dynasties, Bomi was also involved in a larger historical narrative.
In 1240 AD, the leader of the largest tribe in Tibet, Zuo Silu, made a far-reaching move - paying tribute to the Song Dynasty and becoming a vassal. This act was not only a political dependence, but also symbolized the beginning of close ties between Tibet and the Central Plains dynasty.
The tribal territory of Zuosiluo was changed into a county in the Song Dynasty in accordance with the trend of the times. Although Bomi was located in a remote area, it was also on the edge of the cultural and political radiation of the Central Plains. It was quietly undergoing subtle changes in concepts and lifestyles, and the seeds of trade and cultural exchanges were quietly planted in secret.
During the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongolian cavalry swept across the Eurasian continent with great force, and the snowy Tibetan area was officially incorporated into the territory of the Yuan Dynasty of China. As a part of Tibet, Bomi ushered in a new development opportunity under the unified pattern.
The rulers of the Yuan Dynasty implemented a series of management measures in Tibet and established institutions such as the Xuanwei Office to strengthen control. Under this strict system, Bomi had more diverse channels for communication with the outside world. Plateau specialties were transported along official roads, and advanced production technologies and craft products also slowly flowed in, nourishing this ancient land.
The Qing Dynasty marked a transformative period in Bomi's history. In 1832, the Lhasa Kashag government, motivated by the need to consolidate its rule and unify its policies, dispatched troops to suppress Bomi.
At that time, Bomi, with the aftereffects of the Garan Dynasty and the persistence of local forces, had a unique governance ecology and folk traditions, but it was ultimately unable to resist the strong military actions of the Kashag government.
Zhabu and his son, as representatives of the local power in Bomi at that time, fought hard but were eventually executed. From then on, Bomi was initially incorporated into the rule of the Kashag.
After that, the Qing government continued to deepen its management of Tibet. Under the interweaving of multiple governance models such as the integration of politics and religion and the chieftain system, Bomi moved forward in a tortuous process of cultural integration and social class reshaping. Traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture flourished, with temples standing in large numbers and the sound of lamas chanting echoing in the valleys, becoming the spiritual pillar for consolidating people's beliefs and regulating social morality. The chieftains held actual local power and managed land, taxes, and population. Under the framework of feudal rule, Bomi's economy was mainly based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Barley and wheat swayed in the wind in the fertile river valleys, and herds of yaks and sheep roamed in the mountains. The people lived in tranquility and simplicity and also experienced many hardships.
The sound of a gunshot during the Xinhai Revolution was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing a thousand waves. The situation in Tibet changed dramatically, and Bomi was no exception.
The Bomi local king seized the opportunity and attempted to restore his former power and make a comeback in the chaotic times.
It was not until 1928 that the Kashag government once again gathered its forces and sent troops to pacify Bomi. This turmoil, which was a mixture of internal and external unrest, plunged the people of Bomi into deep suffering.
The border troops and Sichuan troops fought together and defeated the Bomi local king with advanced weapons and military strategies. In order to completely stabilize the situation and facilitate management, the entire Bomi was divided into three counties and incorporated into the jurisdiction of the Sichuan Border Special Administrative Region. Bomi thus entered a stage of modern administrative division adjustment and governance innovation. New ideas and new systems gradually penetrated into this traditional land like spring rain.
New-style schools quietly emerged, providing the younger generation with a window to access outside knowledge and culture. Commercial markets became increasingly prosperous, with foreign goods filling the shelves, and local specialties also gained access to a wider market.
After the founding of New China, Bomi ushered in a new life like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
In 1954, the three clans of Quzong, Yigong and Qingduo ended their previous decentralized management structure and were integrated under unified jurisdiction, joining forces to gather strength for development.
In December 1959, a milestone moment arrived - Bomi County was officially established and affiliated to Nyingchi Prefecture. This vicissitudes of life land embarked on the journey of socialist construction.
With the strong support of the state, roads extend into the mountains like living blood vessels, breaking the shackles of traffic; the agricultural collectivization movement is booming, advanced farming techniques are being promoted and popularized, and grain production is rising steadily; medical and health conditions have improved significantly, and epidemics that once raged have been effectively prevented and controlled, and people's faces are filled with healthy smiles.
Although the ownership has been adjusted and changed since then, each change has been in line with the development of the times and aimed at seeking welfare and breakthroughs for Bomi.
In 1986, Bomi returned to the jurisdiction of Nyingchi Prefecture. Leveraging its regional advantages, Bomi has seen its cultural tourism industry flourish. Its primeval forest hiking routes and glacier exploration tours have attracted many tourists from home and abroad.
After being placed under the jurisdiction of Nyingchi City in 2015, under the guidance of the concept of coordinated progress between ecological protection and economic development, Bomi has strictly adhered to the ecological red line and protected natural resources such as snow-capped mountains, forests, and rivers, making it an ecological landmark in southern Tibet.
On the other hand, with the help of e-commerce and deep processing of characteristic industries, special products such as Matsutake and Gastrodia elata are promoted nationwide. In the tide of the new era, the ancient Bomi is continuing its glory with a high-spirited attitude, and is moving towards a brighter tomorrow in the blend of historical sedimentation and modern vitality.