A Morning Ascent to Tianchi
The winter morning began in quiet solitude at the water's edge. A solitary figure was visible in the distance, a small silhouette against the muted landscape, before I began my hike up.
The Forest's Subtle Palette
The ascent through the forest was a study in color and texture. A vividly red-dyed leaf stood out sharply against the blurry green backdrop. Closer inspection revealed a small green leaf adorned with perfect, glistening water droplets—a tiny world of moisture. Further up, a yellow leaf rested on a rock, framed by the pale, hazy sky.
Treasures of the Trail
The path steepened. I passed another hiker beginning his ascent, the way marked by a sharp yellow triangular sign in the foreground. The trail offered a host of small discoveries: the red of a Silene Virginica flower pushing through the subdued colors, and a bush of bright yellow Heptapleurum Arboricola blooms. I paused to look up at a massive, silent rock face hidden within the trees.
Even the fallen leaves told stories. One had yellow spots, beautifully illuminated by a brief burst of sunlight. I stopped for a close-up look at a tree trunk thick with crystallized resin. Nearby, a delicate fern leaf caught the light, and an old stone stairway led deeper into the woods.
Nearing the Summit
As I neared the top, the colors intensified. A red leaf, its hue vivid, lay on one rock, followed by a red creeper leaf growing resolutely on another. A final, detailed study showed a yellow leaf marked by a tiny crimson detail at its edge. Looking skyward, a maple tree glowed with yellow leaves beneath a cloudy blue expanse.
The Destination: Tianchi
The last section of the trail led to the summit and the reservoir. On a dirt patch, a cluster of beehives provided a strange, comforting sign of life in the quiet wilderness. And then, the goal was reached: the dam over the reservoir, marked by a sign simply reading "Tianchi" in Chinese, concluding a morning of quiet observation and ascent.
Gears & Settings | Figures |
Camera | Sony A6700 |
Lens | Sony E 30mm F3.5 Macro |
Creative Style | VV2 |
Date | 20 December 2025 |
Location | Qingxi County, Dongguan, Guangdong, China |
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#: 1 | SS: 1/200s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A man is walking in distance around a body of water |
#: 2 | SS: 1/125s | ISO: 200 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A red died leaf is sitting on a branch with a blurry background in the forest |
#: 3 | SS: 1/125s | ISO: 200 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A small green leaf with water droplets on it |
#: 4 | SS: 1/125s | ISO: 250 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A yellow leaf is laying on a rock with a blurry sky in the background |
#: 5 | SS: 1/640s | ISO: 100 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A man walking into the mountains with a yellow triangle sign in the fore |
#: 6 | SS: 1/125s | ISO: 125 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A red Silene Virginica flower with a green background | #: 7 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A dam over a reservoir with a sign on it says “Tianchi” in Chinese |
#: 8 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A bush of yellow Heptapleurum Arboricola flowers | #: 9 | SS: 1/1000s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A steep rock in the woods |
#: 10 | SS: 1/640s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -1.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A leaf with yellow spots under the sunlight | #: 11 | SS: 1/125s | ISO: 500 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -1.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A close up of a tree with lots of resin on it |
#: 12 | SS: 1/200s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -1.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A fern leaf in the forest under the sunlight | #: 13 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A stone stairway in the woods |
#: 14 | SS: 1/200s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A red leaf laying on a rock with a blurry background |
#: 15 | SS: 1/125s | ISO: 125 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A red creeper leaf growing on a rock with a blurry background |
#: 16 | SS: 1/125s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A close up of a yellow leaf with a tiny part in red | #: 17 | SS: 1/2500s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A maple tree with lots of yellow leaves and a cloudy blue sky |
#: 18 | SS: 1/640s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A bunch of beehives sitting on a dirt area in the woods |
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