Because of my attitude that morning, Pan Xiaodong did not comment on my request and quickly took us to see a private tour guide.
The tour guide's name is Liu Bo. He looks to be around forty years old and has reportedly been a tour guide here for over ten years. He is very familiar with the Wudalianchi scenic area.
After Liu Bo met us, he heard that I was going to Yaoquan Mountain and looked at me curiously: "Boss, have you been to Wudalianchi before?"
I shook my head: "No."
Liu Bo scratched his nose: "So you came here for the mountain spring?"
I was a little curious: "Why do you ask that?"
"That's strange! Because in the Wudalianchi Scenic Area, Yaoquan Mountain is not the most famous place. Yaoquan Mountain is the smallest and lowest in altitude among the 14 volcanoes in Wudalianchi. It is located in the southern part of the Wudalianchi volcanic group, with an altitude of 355 meters, 60 meters above the ground. The bottom of the crater is flat, and there are many mineral springs at the foot of the mountain."
This mountain is famous for its mineral springs, which have been used for medicinal purposes for over a century and are known as the sacred spring. Aside from its famous spring water, the scenery of Yaoquan Mountain is less impressive compared to other mountains; from a distance, it resembles a low, earthen hill.
When recommending routes, I almost never take guests to Yaoquan Mountain, except for those who come specifically for the mountain springs. If you want to see volcanic landforms, Longmen Stone Village, Huoshaoshan Mountain, and Heilongshan Mountain are the best choices. After seeing these iconic sights, going to Yaoquan Mountain is really not very interesting.
Liu Bo paused for a moment: "However, Wudalianchi City is located in the transition zone between the Lesser Khingan Mountains and the Songnen Plain. It is said that Yaoquan Mountain is also in the dragon vein of the Greater Khingan Mountains, which is quite interesting!"
I don't understand feng shui, but having worked as a tour guide for so long, I've seen quite a few famous mountains and rivers. I don't understand why Yaoquan Mountain is considered a dragon vein, while other majestic and beautiful mountains have no connection to dragon veins.
When I heard Liu Bo mention feng shui, I wondered if he had guessed something. He replied in a calm tone, "I'm a student majoring in water quality science. I came here for tourism and wanted to do some research. Everyone says that the water in Yaoquan Mountain is very special, and I want to go and see what makes it so special."
“So you’re researchers, that makes sense. Over the years, I’ve hosted quite a few scientists! Those who study water conservancy, geology, astronomy, and also painters, writers, directors and the like who come here for inspiration.”
Liu Bo smiled at me and said, "Wudalianchi is a place with a special spirit. I suggest you don't just do research. Since you're here, take a good look around. You can't see this kind of beautiful scenery everywhere."
"Okay, if I have the chance, I'll stay a few more days."
I glanced at my watch: "I have some things to take care of tonight, and it's getting late, so let's set off now."
...
Wudalianchi is located in northern Heilongjiang Province and is my country's only volcanic relic geological park.
As I walked along, all I saw were mountains and water, and only green and blue colors.
The mountains here are all covered by lush forests, and apart from the water and the ground made of volcanic rock, you can hardly see any color other than green.
Led by Liu Bo, we quickly arrived at Yaoquanshan Scenic Area by car.
This place has a strong commercial atmosphere. There is a huge parking lot at the entrance, many food stalls around it, and a huge archway.
After passing the archway, you'll find the driveway and highway leading up the mountain.
Standing in front of the archway, Liu Bo pointed to the steps behind it and said, "There is a famous ancient temple on Yaoquan Mountain. If Mr. Duan is interested, I can take you in to offer incense later."
Looking at the bustling tourists in the square, I smiled at Liu Bo and said, "No need to trouble yourself. From now on, I'll walk the rest of the way myself."
"You're going to leave by yourself? Mr. Duan, is there something I did that displeased you?"
Liu Bo looked at me with a bewildered expression: "You promised to hire me as a tour guide, so why are you firing me before we've even entered the mountain gate?"
"You misunderstand. It's not that you did a bad job, but that our research topic is top secret and we can't let any third party get involved."
I smiled at Liu Bo: "Don't worry, we won't let you work for nothing. We'll pay you double your salary for a month. During this month, you need to be on standby at any time. If we need you, we'll contact you again."
"Hey, that startled me. I thought I had done something wrong."
When Liu Bo heard that he could not work and would receive double the salary, he happily agreed: "Mr. Duan, I do not live nearby, so if you need to contact me, you should give me at least half a day's notice."
Before I came here, I didn't know that Pan Xiaodong had arranged a tour guide. The reason I met with him was to learn about the local situation.
When I told him to be on standby at any time, I was just trying to fool him; I was just afraid he would ruin our plans.
The reason he asked me to contact him in advance was actually just to get freelance work.
Everyone just keeps quiet about this kind of thing.
The Wei family members we brought with us this time are all burly men. With so many of them standing together, they stand out, and tourists coming and going can't help but stare at us.
I felt uncomfortable being stared at by those people, so I waved my hand and said, "There are too many of us. It's too conspicuous if we all gather together. Let's split up in pairs."
Upon hearing this, Pan Xiaodong dismissed the people he had brought and said to me, "Mr. Duan, although I am the manager of the Heilongjiang branch, I have never been to Wudalianchi before. If you send the tour guide away, then no one here will be familiar with the area."
“That tour guide is an outsider, and I don’t really trust him. The main thing is that even if he stays, he can’t help us much, because the places I want to go are inaccessible to tourists.”
I walked over to a food stall and bought a plate of grilled cold noodles. While eating, I said to Pan Xiaodong, "I'm going to avoid the roads tourists take and head into the mountains. The journey ahead is going to be quite difficult, so you shouldn't come with me. Stay outside and wait for my call. If you need anything, I'll call you."
“Mr. Duan, isn’t it too dangerous for you to go into the mountains alone? This is a nature reserve, and there are quite a few wild animals, including some ferocious beasts.”
Pan Xiaodong looked at me with concern: "What if something happens to you? How am I supposed to explain this to President Wei?"
"Your task is to cooperate with me, not to protect me. Even if something happens to me, the responsibility will not fall on you."
I waved my hand and said, "That's settled then. Everyone can buy their own food and have lunch here. After resting, we'll set off."
Seeing that he couldn't persuade me otherwise, Pan Xiaodong sighed helplessly: "What do you need me to do?"
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