In the following days at the reserve, as I gradually became more familiar with the surrounding environment, I began to take evening walks to relax and observe the natural beauty of the ecological reserve from a different perspective. During the day, as a member of the reserve staff, I viewed the environment from a professional standpoint, focusing on conservation and protection. But in the evenings, after dinner and just before bedtime, I was able to approach the natural world from the perspective of a visitor, appreciating its beauty purely for what it is.
During this time, the rain often visited, and the scent of dew hung in the air, leaving the entire forest feeling damp and refreshing. As dusk settled, birds gradually returned to their nests, and the sun quietly dipped below the horizon. Nightfall enveloped the landscape. From afar, the occasional call of a bird or the gentle sound of water droplets falling could be heard, as if nature itself were singing a soft lullaby. Everything around me exuded peace and tranquility.
However, within the depths of the darkened night, if one looked closely, a faint glow could be seen flickering among the trees—these were the fireflies of the mountain, dancing gracefully in the dark. Higher up, the stars blinked in the sky, like countless bright eyes quietly watching over the earth. Unlike the night sky in urban areas, where the stars are often obscured by city lights, leaving only the solitary moon to hover high above, here in the mountains, the sky displayed a vast array of stars, surrounding the bright moon in a serene, quiet scene. This tranquil image mirrored the sentiment found in a classical Chinese passage, where the vastness of the sky and the stillness of nature offer a respite from the complexities and burdens of daily life, allowing for a deep release of accumulated fatigue and worries.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we must protect our ecological environments. The beauty of nature is incomparable to that of human-made landscapes; it is not only a visual delight but also a balm for the soul. In moments of appreciating nature’s grandeur, we experience a pure and soothing calm, a power that alleviates our minds and prepares us to embrace the coming day. Our commitment to conservation lies in preserving this harmony between nature and humanity, ensuring that everyone can find a sense of peace and strength in the unspoiled wilderness. In this pristine environment, we are reminded that true beauty lies not in what we create, but in the natural world that sustains us.
