The Daming Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level scenic spot and a provincial geological park, located in the southwestern part of Lin’an County. It’s also known as “Qianmu Tian,” meaning “Thousand-Mu Field,” because its mountaintop is remarkably flat and spans an area of about a thousand mu. Within a radius of more than ten square kilometers, the Daming Mountain Scenic Area features a dramatic topographical variation of over a thousand meters, with towering peaks, deep valleys, and layered mountain ranges. The landscape is dotted with picturesque streams, and its natural wonders include extraordinary pines, bizarre rock formations, and breathtaking sea of clouds. In particular, the thousand-mu meadow atop the 1,100-meter-high peak, the sprawling ten-thousand-meter-long cave system, and the stunningly beautiful Daming Lake at high altitude are truly unique—ranked among the finest sights not only in Jiangnan but throughout China. The vast, undulating, and pristine secondary broadleaf forest that stretches endlessly across the scenic area transforms Daming Mountain into a verdant ocean, lush and green, with exceptionally fresh air. The concentration of negative oxygen ions here is a hundred times higher than in Hangzhou, making it an ecological living environment of the highest caliber—a premier leisure and vacation destination featuring both mountains and waters in the Hangzhou region. On April 14, 2017—a day brimming with spring vitality and boasting crystal-clear skies—we, the “EK People,” set off slowly, filled with anticipation and longing for the emerald lake, the secluded valley stretching ten li, the cascading waterfall soaring a hundred zhang, the thousand-mu meadow, and the ten-thousand-meter-long cave system. Along the way, everyone laughed and chatted joyfully, buzzing with excitement and eagerness for this journey! Soon enough, we arrived at our destination, officially kicking off the curtain on our spring excursion.

After arriving at our destination, we first settled our luggage and took a short break to unwind and shake off the fatigue from our journey. Around 8 p.m., we headed together to a specialty restaurant in Daming Mountain—the Daming Shan GouGou Farmhouse Cuisine. It’s not easy to find a restaurant in the scenic area that serves delicious food at affordable prices, but this one truly delivers. Before the meal, they serve a plate of sunflower seeds as a welcome treat. Almost every table orders the farmhouse stewed bamboo shoots—especially during peak season, when these tender shoots are at their most flavorful! The other dishes are also exceptionally well-prepared. What’s more, the staff here are incredibly warm and polite, making guests feel right at home.

On the 15th, to catch an early glimpse of the picturesque scenery—deep valleys, cascading waterfalls, and rocky caves—we all got up early. After enjoying a hearty breakfast at the hotel and packing plenty of water and snacks, we set off toward our destination! Under the skilled guidance of the bus driver, we experienced a thrilling “Initial D”-style drift ride. The mountain road wound its way through countless hairpin turns, and those sudden, sharp 180-degree bends kept us on the edge of our seats. As the minibus swerved left and right, we found ourselves bobbing from side to side, with some passengers letting out shrieks of excitement—this was even more exhilarating than riding a roller coaster! The driver expertly navigated every twist and turn, and our colleagues couldn't help but shout, “The Driving God of Akina Mountain!”—a spontaneous tribute to the driver’s superb driving skills.

Led by the “God of the Road,” we reached the foot of the mountain in the blink of an eye, moving at lightning speed. Standing at the base of the mountain, we gazed upward at its towering peaks piercing the clouds. This sight ignited our spirit of adventure and firmly planted in our hearts the determination to reach the summit—no true hero would turn back before reaching the top. Two little friends eagerly volunteered to fire the first shot. And so, armed with our resolve to conquer the summit, we set off on our climbing journey!

Along the way, everyone would occasionally stop to take a closer look or rest and snap photos. Although each of us was drenched in sweat, no one gave up. Those who were climbing faster kept going ahead while also pausing to wait for those behind, cheering them on. Even those climbing more slowly at the back picked up their pace and caught up with us. As we strolled along, chatting animatedly, we marveled at the extraordinary beauty of the Daming Mountains—their undulating peaks, craggy summits resembling sword sheaths, bizarre rock formations, and unique flora and exotic trees—and deeply felt the essence of this place.

The magical allure of nature. At each scenic spot, everyone stopped to admire the view and take photos as souvenirs. After walking along the thousand-meter-long suspended boardwalk, we then entered a ten-kilometer-long mountain cave. Of course, the cave was filled with an intense chill; from a safety standpoint, everyone kept an eye on one another, dressed warmly, and paid close attention to their safety.

It’s worth mentioning that after arriving at Daming Lake, the children were incredibly sweet—carefully crushing the bread and cookies from our bags and feeding them to the goldfish in the lake. Meanwhile, our colleagues took a break in the rest area, enjoying some snacks to grab a bite for lunch and recharge their energy. Led by Manager Lan, our team gathered together to play the game of “Mafia.” Everyone chatted animatedly, bursting into laughter, pondering intently, skillfully concealing their true identities, and meticulously analyzing each other—all doing their utmost to play their roles perfectly: killer, police officer, or civilian. After several rounds, everyone’s fatigue seemed to vanish like smoke, leaving us feeling recharged and brimming with energy once again.

To enjoy the spectacular view of Daming Mountain from above, we chose to take the cable car down the mountain. The ride from the base of the mountain to the top takes just six minutes. Once you’re up in the air, the breathtaking scenery unfolding along the way is truly dazzling and endlessly captivating.

That evening, we went to another restaurant to continue savoring the delicious mountain cuisine. Since our hike had left us utterly exhausted, we ordered a wide variety of meat dishes that night. Our colleagues clinked glasses, exchanged toasts, and filled the air with laughter and cheerful conversation—sharing hopes and looking forward to creating an even brighter future for EK!

The next day, everyone chose to rest a bit longer to recover from the fatigue of hiking. Around 9 o'clock, we set off together to stroll along the country lanes, each of us buying some local specialties to take home. At the same time, we left behind our joyful laughter and smiles—and, of course, our final group photo as a memento.

The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful—yet it’s right here, nestled within these “mountains.” This outing has strengthened our employees’ sense of unity and enriched our collective life. Here, let us join hands and move forward together, writing a new chapter for EK!