A Frosty Reunion: Winter Morning in Southern Hubei

March 17, 2026

A Frosty Reunion: Winter Morning in Southern Hubei

Reliving a Childhood Memory Through the Chill and Mist

Having worked in Guangdong for many years, it has been a long time since I last experienced the frosty beauty of a winter morning in the southern Hubei mountains. In my childhood memories, on the cold mornings of every late autumn and winter, on the way to school, as the sun rose, I would always see the natural scenery of various plants covered in ice and frost. If it happened to coincide with a dense fog, the view was even more uniquely enchanting.

This time returning to my hometown, I specifically chose a cold, clear day. As soon as the alarm went off, I struggled to get out of my warm quilt, determined to relive this childhood memory. I hope you can feel the chill of winter with me through my lens.

Putting on gloves and a hat, I stepped out of the house. The first sight that greeted me immediately captivated me: the sun had not yet risen, and the foot of the mountain was a vast expanse of white. The weeds and vegetables in the fields were covered with a thin layer of hoarfrost. Taking a closer look, the crystal-clear ice crystals wrapped around the various plants, forming strange and wonderful shapes, each one unique.

The dense fog had not yet completely dispersed. The cables on the towering utility poles along the roadside were faintly visible, quietly disappearing into the mist at the end of the road.

The sun finally climbed slowly, peeking out from behind the bamboo forest in the eastern mountains. Because of the enveloping fog, the sunlight was no longer blinding, and it had lost the golden hue of a usual sunrise, instead presenting a pale, delicate white. Whether from between the tree forks or atop the weeds, it was easy to find a pleasing angle for viewing.

After sunrise, the temperature gradually rose, allowing me to continue exploring the scenery along the way. Patches of withered yellow weeds, a bird's nest covered in white frost, and a string of needle-like ice crystal seed pods all brought back a flood of childhood memories.

Accompanied by the sound of a local villager's tricycle, I concluded this early morning exploration. The memories of childhood will also slowly drift away, just like the morning mist gradually dissipates after the sun rises.