When the evening breeze shatters Erhai Lake into a sea of glittering diamonds, we'll set out

As the wind turns clouds into translucent veils, Erhai Lake is steeping the last rays of sunlight into the color of orange soda. No need to check the watch—when the cicadas pause their chorus, the reeds along the shore begin swaying and waving. An evening stroll in summer was never meant to be rushed. Walking across sun-warmed stone paths, the night wind suddenly sweeps in with a misty coolness, carrying the fresh scent of reeds and algae, washing away the day's lingering heat on your skin. The lake surface looks like spilled molten gold foil, its shimmering light warming your gaze, while distant mountains slowly deepen into indigo, their peaks still tinged with faint pink. Strolling along the lake, you'll stumble upon charming fragments of life: a girl in a floral dress chasing after an ice cream, an old man sitting on stone steps smoking as he watches his fishing rod, the caramel aroma wafting from a grilled milk fan stall, mingling with the guitar strums of a nearby folk singer. If you pause and crouch down, you might spot underwater plants swaying gently, like strands of hair floating in a glass tank. It's best to walk hand in hand, your steps slow enough to count the pebbles beneath your feet. Talk about trivial things—"Does that cloud look like an unpeeled potato?"—or say nothing at all, just listening to the waves lapping the shore like the earth humming a lullaby. Occasionally, a Bai ethnic auntie's tricycle passes by, its bell jingling, startling a few waterbirds that skim the surface, leaving delicate silver trails in their wake. By the time the horizon's orange fades into lavender and the opposite shore's lights string into a necklace, you'll notice sand from the lakebed dusting your shoes. The breeze carries a hint of chill, yet you can't bring yourself to quicken your pace—because the most comforting moment of summer isn't hiding in an air-conditioned room eating watermelon, but standing shoulder to shoulder with someone, watching Erhai Lake crumble into diamonds under the evening wind, while time trickles leisurely from your feet into the night. Erhai Lake · Dali City