Zhangye Danxia – Mythological Picture Book
Besides its own charm, Zhangye Danxia also has legends about its beauty. Legend has it that one year, the Seven Fairies went to the Heavenly Palace to congratulate the Queen Mother on her birthday.
The Seven Fairies flew over to Zhangye, which was at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, and saw that the area was lush with vegetation and vast in scale, with blue skies and white clouds and a simple folk culture. They descended from heaven to enjoy a visit to the mortal realm.
In ancient times, Zhangye was a dazzling gem on the Silk Road, a small Jiangnan (Southern Jiangsu) in the wilderness. The streets were bustling with merchants and abundant with goods, with melons and fruits fragrant and enticing, making people linger and not want to leave. The fairies spent several days tasting delicious food, admiring beautiful scenery, wandering through the forests and small roads, and playing happily by the banks of the Black Water River.
Suddenly, they remembered the approaching Queen Mother's birthday and hurriedly flew west. In their haste, they dropped a rainbow-like seven-colored ribbon at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, which transformed into a colorful mountain, remaining in Zhangye.
Author: Zhang Xiaomei'er, a native of Zhangye, Gansu, a 90-year-old literary youth, graduated from Hubei University of Literature and Sciences, and her works include the illustrated collection 'Zhangye Fat Fairy' and the picture book 'Watercolor Zhangye' and 'God Mountain Mythology'.
