Winter Serenity and Contemplations over Life

I n the winter season,over the layers of rolling mountains,the misty clouds fade away from their rims portrayed in a gouache.The winding mountain road is like an icy dragon.The ice crystals of the trees and the snow ridges constitute this jade world.When you step into it,you can feel quietness both in the vague distance and in the limpid vicinity,and any random glimpse will bring you fascinating beauty.

When northern China is covered in snow and ice,Shennongjia is transparent,and some plants here still remain green and red.All the colors are still bright,and some are even more splendid.When it snows, the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey becomes the most beautiful animal.Under the white snow,the monkeys look dazzling and intoxicating.

The beautiful realm of sky, snow,mountain,and forest is filled with a cosmic spirit,demonstrating the magic and grandeur of heaven and earth,and it makes you feel quite small suddenly.This world seems like an earthly heaven,and the people in it would just relax and calm down.

Youngerpeople have differentways of amusing themselves. In silver-covered Shennongjia,besides snowmen making and snowball fighting,the largest,highest natural alpine ski resort lies here,which boasts best snow quality and excellent facilities.You can ride on a sled to challenge yourcourage;oryou can bring a camera with you and go together with a ranger to the snowfield,trying to find traces ofwild animals.Maybe you would just like to stand before the window;looking out into the translucent elegance snow world while the flakes are falling slightly,you may admire the nobility of its purity.And don’t forget to brew a pot ofgood tea with snow water and cook delicious dishes with extremely cold ingredients.Waiting for spring quietly is also a state of mind,lifting you to a romantic realm.

According to Professor Zhan Yahua,Shennongjia is an ideal and suitable place for healthy living.Some experts are even researching the suitability of certain groups of people and the “best”season for them for their healthy vacation in Shennongjia.The research aims to link modern healthy resources and knowledge with Chinese medicine theory,so as to benefit more people.

雪趣（史建文摄）Games in the winter(Photo by ShiJianwen)

冬静好卧思考人生

冬季的神农架银装素裹，错落起伏的山峦层层叠叠，烟雾般的云层如水粉画般向外淡淡化开，蜿蜒的盘山公路更如一条矫健的冰龙横卧山巅。千树万树的冰晶，千峦万嶂的雪岭，铺展出一派冰清玉洁的仙境。步入其中，凝神静品，远处隐约空蒙，近处清明沉静，不经意地举首回眸间，都能让你揽得一怀令人心醉的美。

北方的冰封世界是白色的，严严实实，而神农架的冰封则是透明的，绿的依旧绿着，红的依旧红着……一切色彩依然鲜艳，只是变得更加晶莹夺目。瑞雪时节，也正是这儿金丝猴一年中毛色最为艳丽的时候，在皑皑白雪的衬托之下，耀眼夺目，让人大饱眼福。

这天雪林合一的大美境界，宇宙精神充盈其中，展现着天与地的神奇与宏大，令人顿感自身的渺小，喧嚣的心智也渐归宁静。

除了堆雪人，打雪仗，这里还有整个华中地区规模最大、海拔最高、雪质最优、功能最全的天然高山滑雪场。你可以踩上雪橇，锻炼胆识，也可以请上护林员，背上相机，到雪地里寻找野生动物的踪迹。当然，站在窗前，看着窗外清丽的雪花纷纷扬扬，感受它冰清玉洁的姿态，也不失为一种好选择。但也别忘了撮一盆瑞雪化水，沏一壶好茶，用极寒的食材烹制出美味的佳肴。静静地等待春天，那也是一种修炼，一种情怀。

雪塑冬俏（袁玉祥摄）Nature-made beautiful scenery (Photo by Yuan Yuxiang)

正如中药专家詹亚华教授所说，一年四个季节到神农架都可以养生。什么人适合在什么季节到神农架进行康养度假，专家们正在研究之中，只为让神农架无限的康养资源与中医药理论交融，造福人们。