Chapter 61: Arriving at Sunlight City
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
In a mere four days, Zhou Chao and his companion had covered the distance and reached their destination – Sunlight City via the 318 National Road. Currently, both of them were peacefully slumbering on the hotel bed.
Last night, they drove through the night to reach Sunlight City, arriving after 1 a.m.
They slumbered until the afternoon, stirring awake at last. After a brief freshening up, they stepped out of the hotel. By this time, Zhou Chao and his companion were experiencing quite the hunger pangs. Throughout their journey, they procured a multitude of snacks and beverages, generously sharing some with local children and passersby. Consequently, as they reached Sunlight City, their snack stash had significantly diminished.
“Wow, Boss, this hotpot is really something,” Lin Wu exclaimed as he savored a piece of yak meat.
“Of course, Tibetan hotpot has its unique flavor,” Zhou Chao replied. He had already stacked up five plates of yak meat in front of him. This highland beef had a distinct taste, especially when combined with various Tibetan herbs added to the hotpot for seasoning, resulting in a delicious and fragrant dish.
They indulged in 12 plates of yak meat before finally stopping this culinary feast.
“Burp, Boss, should we go see the Potala Palace?”
“Not just yet. We should leisurely explore the sights of Sunlight City for now. We can save the visit to the Potala Palace for tomorrow.” Zhou Chao, as he concluded the payment, took a moment to contemplate and opted to first wander through the city and reserve the Potala Palace excursion for the following day.
Barkhor Street
Entering from the entrance of Barkhor Street, one would arrive at the famous Jokhang Temple, around which many Tibetan residents were spinning prayer wheels.
“So many people.” Zhou Chao and Lin Wu found themselves surrounded by the bustling crowd as soon as they arrived at Barkhor Street. Shops on both sides of the street exuded Tibetan style, preserving the traditional appearance and way of life of the ancient city.
Originally, Barkhor Street served as the path for pilgrims circling the Jokhang Temple. With time and urban development, Barkhor Street expanded significantly. Each building and every piece of stone pavement here had its own story.
Walking along the main road of Barkhor Street, they encountered many tourists taking photos. The unique Tibetan style attracted numerous photography enthusiasts.
“Boss, would you like to try this?” Lin Wu was suddenly holding a dessert in his hand, devouring it. Zhou Chao glanced at it and shook his head, continuing to walk forward. Lin Wu quickly finished the dessert and hurried to catch up.
Zhou Chao wandered into a shop with rich Tibetan characteristics. Upon entering, he saw a painting of a Zoma. Tibetan special products were displayed on both sides. Zhou Chao purchased some black goji berries, saffron, and shawls. He carefully selected three shawls he thought were nice, intending to give them to his sister and Third Aunt when he returned to Fog City. The remaining one would be for Jiang Li.
After an additional hour of looking around, apart from their initial acquisitions, nothing else managed to capture their attention. They headed back to the hotel.
In the blink of an eye, the second day arrived. Early in the morning, they left the hotel. The tickets for the Potala Palace were limited each day, and fortunately, there were still available tickets when they arrived.
Located on Marpo Ri Hill, the Potala Palace was a palace-style complex consisting of the Red Palace and the White Palace. The entire palace had a Tibetan architectural style, standing 200 meters tall and appearing as a 13-story structure, although it had only 9 actual floors. Built halfway up the mountain, the extensive stone walls merged seamlessly with the mountain, creating a magnificent presence.
Climbing the stairs along the outer wall of the White Palace, the white exterior was coated with a mixture of milk and sugar, emitting a faint scent of milk during the ascent. Even with their physical fitness, it took them several minutes to reach the top.
Passing through the inner halls required them to present their tickets. Once they had their tickets checked, they proceeded inside. Roughly half an hour later, having thoroughly explored the palace, they started making their way down the stone steps they had ascended earlier. This excursion satisfied Zhou Chao’s long-held dream.
“Boss, why do you seem a bit lackluster?” Lin Wu asked curiously.
“It’s slightly different from what 1 had envisioned, yet it’s still the realization of a dream I’ve cherished for many years.” Zhou Chao stood in the square of the Potala Palace, gazing at the majestic structure.
“Speaking of dreams, do you have any, Lin Wu?”
“Are you asking about my dreams, Boss? My dream is to find a beautiful wife and make my parents grandparents as soon as possible,” Lin Wu said with a grin.
“Indeed, settling down is important to find a sense of belonging.”
Lin Wu scratched his head. He wanted to ask Zhou Chao what was going on with him today, given his contemplative mood, but he decided against it. After all, it was the Boss’s personal matter.
“Let’s head over to Chagpori. It’s a fantastic place for photography,” Zhou Chao suggested, leading the way towards Chagpori located near the Potala Palace.
Many people came to Chagpori for photography. The place wasn’t very large, and many visitors came here to capture a photo resembling the image on the 50 yuan banknote.
They spent about half an hour at Chagpori before returning to the hotel. They felt they didn’t have much desire to explore further; perhaps they had reached their final destination.
A journey along the 318 is an essential experience in a lifetime. It offered the chance to witness all four seasons, relax, and feel a deeper connection with the sky.
After lunch, the two of them began arranging their journey back. Lin Wu found a professional trailer logistics company online and sorted out all the relevant paperwork. They would tow the car back to Modu City.
In the afternoon, instead of staying at the hotel, they drove to Yangba Jing, which was located 100 kilometers from Sunlight City. They mainly wanted to experience soaking in a hot spring while enjoying the boundless blue sky, distant snowy mountains, and mist-covered peaks.
“Wow, this is really something.” Zhou Chao, submerged in the hot spring, looked at the azure sky and couldn’t help but sigh.
“It feels like a paradise on Earth.”
As evening approached, the two of them reluctantly set off on the journey back to Lhasa. It was already close to 7 p.m. when they arrived at Sunlight City. Lin Wu parked the car at the logistics company, arranged for the vehicle, and then returned to the hotel.
A quiet night.
Early the next morning, Lin Wu woke Zhou Chao from his sleep. Glancing at the time, it was almost 9 a.m. Reluctantly, Zhou Chao got up from the bed, quickly took a shower, changed into fresh clothes, and grabbed his luggage. Seeing this, Lin Wu quickly took the luggage from Zhou Chao’s hands and carried it himself.
They booked a flight for noon, and it would take about an hour to reach the airport from Sunlight City. They hailed a taxi and headed towards the airport.
“After this trip, I feel quite tired. I’ll need a few days to rest once we’re back.”
“Boss, are you planning to stay in Fog City for a few days?”
“I’ll stay for a few days first. If there’s nothing urgent, 1 might make another trip to Rain City. As for today, once we arrive in Fog City, you should go straight back to visit your parents. If they find it difficult to adjust to Fog City, you can take them back to Xiangxi.”
Lin Wu nodded, indicating that he understood.
“Boss, it’s time to board.”
“Let’s go.” Zhou Chao stood up from his chair and walked towards the boarding gate..