If You Still Have Many Years of Work Ahead, Give Yourself a Long Break

We always say, "I'll travel once this busy period is over," but that period never seems to end. Work is like an invisible web, trapping us from Monday to Friday, dragging us from the start of the year to the end. Until one day, standing in the airport departure lounge, watching the delayed flights outside the window, I suddenly realized: life has already carried me this far. If I still have many years of work ahead, why not give myself a long break first?

So I turned off notifications from work groups, shouldered my backpack, and embarked on a 25-day journey. From Chengdu to Sêrtar, from Yunnan to Tibet, and finally back home via Chongqing. No meticulous plans, no must-visit attractions—I just wanted to give myself back my time.

Departure: The Story Begins with a Flight Delay

The plan was simple: fly from Shanghai Hongqiao to Chengdu, arriving at 9 PM. Instead, the flight was delayed until the early hours of the next morning. To save my appetite for Chengdu hotpot, I only had some convenience store oden and a drink for lunch, plus a can of lemon tea and a cup of cocoa before security. The result? I waited at the airport for an entire afternoon.

At that moment, I felt like I was waiting for a ship at an airport.

Still, the airline's boxed meal was surprisingly tasty—I devoured every bite. At 2 AM, I finally sat on a street in Chengdu, feasting on some takeout maocai (a spicy boiled dish). The little potatoes were amazing. Sure, the hotpot had turned into maocai, but the journey had begun.

Travel Tips: - Check the weather at your destination before departure, and consider buying travel delay insurance if needed - Taxis are available at Chengdu Airport, and the queue moves reasonably fast

Chengdu: Surprises in the Flea Market

I didn't get to sleep until 3 AM, so the first day naturally started with a lie-in. I woke up at noon and had a bowl of chaoshou (Sichuan-style wontons). Having visited Chengdu many times, I've learned that the chili here carries a subtle sweetness—do you agree?

In the afternoon, I went to a secondhand flea market I'd been wanting to visit for ages. There was so much stuff, all mixed together, requiring patience to dig through. I picked up a two-meter-long wooden door panel, which I later turned into a worktable and occasionally use as a photography backdrop. I also found a Phoenix-brand film camera at a reasonable price.

One shop in the market was filled entirely with vintage lamps. The owner was incredibly nice and didn't mind me taking photos. There was also a stall selling old-fashioned alarm clocks. I didn't buy any, but looking at those yellowed objects, I could almost hear time ticking away.

For dinner, I had chuanchuan (skewers boiled in spicy broth). This place wasn't the sweet-spicy type. The beef skewers were stuffed with chives, zhe'ergen (fish mint root), and celery—to me, they all tasted like beef, and they were all delicious. My must-orders were tofu skin and tripe. I drank too much Vivi soy milk and got full before eating much.

After dinner, I went to visit an elder. On the way, I stopped by the market to buy fresh eggs, duck eggs, and some plums. The plums were just okay, nothing special.

Chengdu: Getting Your Ears Cleaned and Sipping Tea

I had plenty of time in Chengdu, so I decided to go for tea. Unfortunately, it rained that day.

In the morning, I went to a dumpling shop that closes as soon as it sells out. The owner had set up two small tables on the roadside, and elderly folks, pregnant women—everyone was eating there. I ordered the lotus root filling, but I think the celery one was better—I bought some to cook later, and they were indeed good.

After eating, I wandered aimlessly on the bus. Passing a vegetable market, I saw figs for only 4 yuan per jin (about $0.30 per pound). I bought some to use as photo props.

I also dropped by the Sichuan Art Museum, which offers free entry with an ID card. But during summer break, there were too many kids, the exhibits were mediocre, and only a few galleries were open. Worth a visit if you're passing by, but not worth a special trip.

For lunch, I had Baijia Changfen (a famous rice noodle shop). The noodles were soft and tender. Since my digestion isn't great, I didn't feel much after eating. I stopped by a pharmacy for some Dashan Zhawan (hawthorn digestives)—oh my god, they were terrible.

In the afternoon, I got my ears cleaned and was talked into getting an ear wash. Honest advice: the ear wash is unnecessary—just go to a hospital for that.

Dinner—you might not believe me—I actually went to a Houston's (a Chinese steakhouse chain) in Chengdu and ordered pasta! Going to a chain restaurant in a food paradise like Chengdu? Even now, I want to slap myself. It wasn't good.

I got a WeChat message saying there was a rose exhibition at IFS in Chunxi Road, so I checked it out. I also visited the MUJI store in Taikoo Li—it's a huge one.

Chengdu: The Temptation of Xiaolongkan Hotpot

Finally, I had proper hotpot in Chengdu!

We chose Xiaolongkan Hotpot. I've always suspected this place is from Chongqing, because there's a subway stop called "Xiaolongkan" in Chongqing. Remember: hotpot is hotpot—not chuanchuan, not maocai, not malatang (spicy boiled skewers)!

We arrived at the restaurant around 2 PM, and there was still a wait. What can I say? Two words: absolutely delicious. The thousand-layer tripe and tofu skin are must-orders, and their crispy pork and spicy beef were excellent too.

In the morning, I strolled through Chunxi Road and bought a birthday gift for my niece. H&M had cute little swimsuits on sale, plus flowery skirts—so adorable! In the afternoon, I went to IKEA in Chengdu—I'm not really sure why I went to IKEA in Chengdu, to be honest. I was just tagging along. I was so full that I didn't even have the meatballs, which made me a bit sad.

Chengdu: The 154 Bus Food Challenge

Having been to Chengdu so many times, what I wanted most was to spend an entire day just eating. But I wasn't very confident in my stomach—I've never successfully finished a KFC Family Bucket. This time, though, there were three of us. Surely we could manage six or seven places?

Target: The 154 Bus Food Route

Stop 1: Guokui (stuffed flatbread). Just an appetizer to whet our appetite. But the braised pork had too much fat, so I only ate a bit of the bread. Thumbs down.

Stop 2: Yutian Restaurant. The three of us ordered four dishes, none of which were specialties. Verdict: a bit salty, good with rice. The prices didn't match the travel guides anymore either.

Stop 3: Huaxing Fried Egg Noodles. I ordered a small bowl of tomato noodles and forced myself to finish it.

And then... that was it. Three people, completely defeated by just three restaurants. So much for eating our way through the 154 bus route!

In the afternoon, I went to the flea market again as a companion. I had some bingfen (a jelly-like dessert) at the market—highly recommended. They sell it in bags at the supermarket so you can make it at home.

Sêrtar: A Place 30 Hours Away by Bus

Here's a greeting from Sêrtar. Even now, thinking about it gives me chills—not because of anything I encountered, but because I genuinely hate long bus rides. The scenery along the way? I was too exhausted to appreciate it.

On the way to and from Sêrtar, I spent the time sleeping and playing on my phone. I also got a nosebleed from altitude sickness. Despite all that, I managed to do a few things: visit the Buddhist academy, see marmots, photograph the night view, and watch a sky burial.

If you ask me: Is Sêrtar beautiful? Yes. Is it worth going? Yes. Do I want to go again? No.

Friendly reminder: Climbing long stairs at high altitude is exhausting.

We set off early in the morning, and the road was incredibly long. Halfway there, I regretted it—I just wanted to go back to Chengdu and eat good food. The UV rays were intense, but it made for great flower photos.

Seeing Sêrtar for the first time, I actually cried. It was the same feeling I had when I saw the Four-Faced Buddha—an inexplicable emotional response. Surrounded by a sea of red, friendly nuns and young novice monks with pure eyes.

Lying on my bed at the hostel with altitude sickness, I stared blankly at the sky outside my window at 7 PM. While photographing the night view, I also managed to capture some stars.

On the way to see the marmots, I met a Tibetan child. She led me to the marmots, played games on my phone, and took selfies. When it was time to leave, she gently kissed the back of my hand. My heart was completely melted.

And there were the marmots—fat, round, and bold enough to come right up to me begging for food.

The vultures at the sky burial. Why didn't I photograph the ceremony? Because the signs clearly say not to. Besides, it's someone's funeral—wandering around with a camera just feels wrong. Put yourself in their shoes, and you'd want to smash someone's camera too.

I probably won't ever go back to Sêrtar. Goodbye, my little Tibetan friend. Even though the drawing I made for you was really ugly, and I forgot to give you the stickers tucked in my notebook, thank you for keeping me company while we soaked up the sun and watched the marmots.

Chengdu: The Final Feast

Next stop was Yunnan, so I returned to Chengdu first to transfer.

Someone I know graduated from a flower arrangement course, and I attended their graduation photo session. A barbecue restaurant sent us some fresh food—I meant to take a photo to gross out my friends on social media, but I forgot to post it. Hope you don't mind me grossing you out now!

I also found some incredibly tasty plums and had five jin (about 6 lbs) shipped to Jiangsu. The delivery was super fast—shipped in the afternoon, arrived the next morning. They're called "shellless plums."

I was too busy eating to take many photos—mostly just phone pictures. I successfully got hooked on a certain brand's macchiato—and paid a heavy price for it.

We also went to Maojiao Huola (a famous spicy skewer restaurant). Arrived around 8 PM, with 62 groups ahead of us. We accidentally stumbled upon a new branch that had just opened and was offering discounts. We ate so happily. Tripe, pig brain, hotpot noodles, skewers... I won't go into detail—I just regret only having one meal there.

Friendly reminder: This place is just average, nothing special.

Setting Off Again: A Day of Fumbles

Heading to Yunnan, we dawdled along the way. First, we stopped to buy macchiato, then realized we hadn't eaten. Checking food reviews, we found a place serving Laoma Chaoshou (old-style wontons) and decided to get takeout. We spent nearly ten minutes looking for it—and successfully missed our train from Chengdu to Kunming.

So we bought plane tickets from Chongqing to Kunming and took a high-speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing. Arriving at Chongqing North Station, we spent an hour hunting down a decent bowl of noodles. Finally satisfied, we took the subway to the airport. At the check-in counter, the staff told me: "You bought the wrong tickets! Wrong date!"

And on the subway, some people got on, the doors closed, and others were left behind—awkward.

Never mind. To save money—well, not really—mostly because our flight was at 6 AM the next day, we decided to have a Chongqing hotpot first, then sleep at the airport. But then a certain baby-related incident happened that had the whole country buzzing, and we ended up not sleeping at all.

The culprit? That macchiato receipt.

Kunming: I Want to Marry a Yunnan Native

The morning sky in Chongqing was pink, just like in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

First meal in Kunming: a local-recommended xiaoguo mixian (small-pot rice noodles). Also had jisi liang mixian (cold rice noodles with shredded chicken)—which surprisingly contained mint.

At Dianchi Lake, there was a kid picking his nose and some overly posed young women. And you know what? The food was really good.

Ever since I visited Dounan Flower Market in Yunnan, I decided I want to marry someone from Yunnan. Can you guess how much three big bunches of flowers cost?

In the evening, I met up with a good friend. She works in Kunming and took me to eat amazing food—I was too busy eating to talk properly. Later, we took the train to Dali together. She even bought fried potatoes, coconut purple rice drink, and two boxes of freshly baked flower cakes. I love you, my lucky star! I'm confessing my love to you!

Dali: Oh, Dali!

Erhai Lake was blue. At the most intense moment of sunlight, you could see stars dancing on the water's surface.

The streams along Dali's roads sparkled with a soft glow. At that moment, I thought of your eyes.

Everyone is a story—you just need to tell it to the right listener.

Tibet: The Brightest Sun, the Bluest Stars

In the hazy passage of time, I ate a bowl of Tibetan noodles and drank a cup of sweet tea. Then I said goodbye to Tibet.

I'm so glad I didn't miss that pink sunrise. I'm so lucky you were there with me.

Chongqing: Heart Hands, Confessing to You

Chongqing was the last stop of my journey, chosen for convenient train connections—and, of course, to save money.

Honestly, if not for that travel blunder, I probably wouldn't have ended up here twice. But somehow, I've grown to love this quirky city.

I love the aroma of pickled vegetables drifting from noodle shops that stay open late. I love buildings where you have to go down five floors just to exit the subway. I love how every Uber driver I met was gentlemanly enough to help with luggage. I love the free samples at every fried dough shop in Ciqikou. I love the hotpot restaurants tucked inside air-raid shelters, where the thousand-layer tripe stays tender no matter how long you cook it, and the spicy beef sends you to heaven with every bite.

Because of flight delays, we arrived in Chongqing very late. Baidu Maps was basically useless—I didn't believe it until we spent ages circling what it claimed was our destination, unable to find the hotel. Finally, I understood: in Chongqing, navigation apps are useless.

We ordered late-night takeout. The shredded potatoes were amazing. I planned to have at least five meals the next day to make up for it, but I only managed two before giving up.

At a shop in Ciqikou, I bought a nice bag and decided I didn't need that Coach Swagger after all. Women are fickle.

Hotpot as the grand finale—it was really, really good. Now, whenever I think about going to Haidilao, I feel like I'm betraying Chongqing hotpot. Slap, slap, slap.

Some Rambling Thoughts

Seeing that some people replied to my travel journal, I suddenly felt a bit embarrassed—because by the end, I'd stopped writing and just uploaded pictures.

Writing proper articles was something I did five or six years ago, and even then, only for myself. I haven't read much lately, and it's been a long time since I wrote anything. I have so much more respect now for people who write detailed travel journals, and for those who truly put their hearts into their writing.

As I typed and deleted, typed and deleted, wondering what style to adopt—should I serve up a bowl of chicken soup for the soul, or craft a persona that's either sentimental or goofy? I didn't know myself. So I just wrote whatever came to mind—simple records, no deep emotions, no Wikipedia-style descriptions.

My travel story is long—25 days, from Chengdu to Sêrtar, through Yunnan to Tibet, and finally back home via Chongqing. I've tried to keep it brief, since everyone's busy. Besides, I'm a procrastinator with commitment issues—I might just stop writing halfway through.

Photography Equipment: Canon 5D Mark / Phone Post-processing: VSCO (color grading) Favorite Music: Haven't downloaded any yet, so none for now

If there's anything else you'd like to know, leave me a message. Or don't—either way, just remember to love me. Mwah.

Accommodation Recommendations

Practical Tips

1. Chengdu's flea markets are great for browsing
2. For Chongqing hotpot, check reviews—places with lots of customers and high ratings where people still queue are usually solid
3. For Chongqing noodles, any shop with a crowd is probably good
4. Even if you arrive late at the airport, there are buses to the city center
5. Getting your ears cleaned in Chengdu is worth trying; ear washing is pointless and just wastes money
6. Uber drivers in Chongqing are all super nice and provide excellent service
7. Don't buy flowers at Yunnan's flower market just because they're cheap—they'll only add weight to your luggage
8. There's a place called Huimin Xiaochi in Dali Ancient City with great food, but you usually need to get there before 10 AM
9. The lamb chops at Tibet's Snowy Region Restaurant are excellent, the yogurt cake is good too, but the potato buns are a bit greasy
10. Stage 1 Korean Restaurant in Dali Ancient City serves good food
11. Maojiao Huola in Chengdu—recommended
12. Taxi drivers in Tibet may overcharge and pick up other passengers along the way; drivers in Sêrtar are stubborn

In Closing

If you still have many years of work ahead, give yourself a long break.

Not to escape, but to find yourself again. Hunting for a door panel in a flea market, watching the stars on the Sêrtar plateau, eating hotpot in a Chongqing air-raid shelter, spending an afternoon just staring at Erhai Lake in Dali—these seemingly useless moments are precisely the most precious parts of life.

Work will never be finished, but youth will pass. So, while you can still move, go where you want to go, see who you want to see, eat what you want to eat.

After all, life is short—seize the joy while you can.