En Español

I am on a boat in China. We are crossing the longest river in that country. Rain falls, and water tosses us around. Rocks dot the water. Fallen trees rush by. Will they crash into us? I try to stay calm.

Here in southwest China, there are few roads. The river is the best way to get around. Still, my ride is scary. We reach land. I take a deep breath and get out of the boat. We made it!

Rain is still falling. It is beautiful here. The mountains have snowy tops. I see misty clouds. Wildflowers dot the valley floors with color.

I am here to meet the mountain people. They live in ethnic groups. Each group speaks its own language. Each group also shares practices and beliefs. China has many different ethnic groups.

Many people speak Chinese as a second language. So I take someone who knows Chinese. That helps me meet and talk with people. Using Chinese, I can learn about life here.

The groups are different. Yet they have one thing in common. They all love the mountains. The land gives people food, water, and more.

In one village, a little girl follows me. Her name is Wang Teng. She and I cannot understand each other. So we just smile a lot.

Her people have lived here for thousands of years. They live in villages on the mountains. Their houses are made of stone or wood.

They grow crops, such as potatoes. Some raise sheep, horses, yaks, and cows. People also collect things from the forest. I see a man walk from the woods. He brings firewood to the village. Making fires is how people here cook and stay warm.

Later, the villagers sit by a fire. They tell me of a beast from a legend. It is big. It looks like a man in some ways. Yet it has long brown fur and fangs.

I take out a book. It shows a rare monkey. It is what they are talking about. It is the only monkey nearby.

The monkey does look scary. Its teeth are sharp. Its small eyes seem a bit creepy. It also has pointy ears and big lips. But I know it is also shy. It eats only plants.

I decide to look for the monkeys. The next morning, I hike into the forest. I sit and wait, snacking on cold dough.

Hours pass slowly. Then the leaves rustle. I pick up my camera. I point it at the noise. Monkeys jump out of the shadows. I start snapping photos.

I count at least 80 monkeys. They leap through the trees. One stands on two legs. I see clearly why people fear them. The monkeys act up for 30 minutes. Then they run away.

I head back. The village is filled with activity. It is a party for me! People come from all over.

Women wear colorful robes and shiny tops. They wear cloth rings on their heads. The men wear big fur hats. They have colorful shirts and wear skirts over their pants.

People start to dance. Colors spin as they move. Everyone is happy and smiling. I feel lucky to take part. My misty mountains visit ends perfectly.

Article by Cristina Mittermeier. Top-of-page photo by Xi Zhinong. "People of the Misty Mountains" appears on pages 14-19 of our January-February 2007 issue.