Night food streets allow people to enjoy the Golden Week. Heping Lu Tianjin 2019 [Photo by Bruce Connolly/chinadaily.com.cn]

By the autumn of 1997, I had returned to continue my life in China, along with a strong passion for travel. Starting off from Beijing, on what became known as 'A Journey to the Lake of Heaven', by late September I had reached Urumqi in Xinjiang. On Oct 1, traveling by bus along with many visitors from across the country I finally reached Tianchi, the Heavenly Lake. It was a glorious, sunny autumn morning. Snow high up on Bodga Shan Mountain glistened while around the tranquil waters trees whose leaves were turning golden adorned its shoreline. National Day 1997, yes I truly felt in heaven!