The legendary "Noah's Ark landing site" is right in front of us

The central emblem of the Armenian coat of arms features a mountain. The snow-capped mountain in the top left corner of my cover photo❶ is the "holy mountain" depicted on the coat of arms, known as Mount Ararat (with various translations, such as "Mount Ağrı"). Since ancient times, Mount Ararat has been not only a spiritual symbol for Armenians but also a sacred mountain in the eyes of Christians, attracting numerous pilgrims. Legend has it that Armenia is the resting place of Noah's Ark as mentioned in the Bible; when the great flood receded, Noah's Ark struck Mount Ararat and came to a halt, and Noah's family, along with various animals, settled down here. It is said that Armenia was founded by one of Noah's great-grandsons. This "final resting place of Noah's Ark" even preserves a fragment of the Ark, according to legend, and people believe that the savior Noah was the first resident here. Armenia also became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity. Although Armenia is currently surrounded by a host of Islamic nations, it remains an unequivocal Christian country. However, due to repeated territorial disputes, the weak nation has always been at a disadvantage, and today the holy mountain is no longer within the territorial scope of Armenia. Nevertheless, from most parts of Armenia (including the capital), one can still gaze upon the eternal totem in the hearts of Armenians. Near the road to the Khor Virap Monastery, our guide brought us to the best vantage point to look up at Mount Ararat. The ancient architecture and the snowy peaks reflect each other, presenting a picture where culture and nature blend harmoniously. The explorer Sven Hedin, who had been to Xinjiang, described his trip to Armenia as follows: "Never in my life have I had anything else to compare with it. We are surrounded by the great mountains of the Caucasus, with the handsome cliffs revealing strange sights, backed by the snow-covered peaks." Today, I took one photo after another of the majestic "holy mountain," as if following the captivating text, searching for the mysterious "Ark" legend. The "Khor Virap Monastery" at the foot of the snow mountain is not large; legend has it that Saint Gregory the Illuminator was once thrown into a deep pit here by the then pagan king. The pit, 6.5 meters deep and 4.5 meters in diameter, was full of venomous creatures. Saint Gregory was imprisoned here for 14 years, surviving by divine power and the secret aid of a woman. Later, the king repented and led the entire nation to convert to Christianity. I did not go down into the pit, but I took photos of the snow mountain and the monastery from various angles time and again. Our local guide, Xia Tong (Chinese name), exclaimed in amazement when she saw the photo of my cover image❶: "This could enter an Armenian photography competition": The pristine new snow, the red-roofed church, and the ripe crops, along with the clear blue sky, made for a clear and beautiful shot. Guide Xia Tong has taken many people here for photos, and she said she has never seen such a vertical panoramic beauty. Even though my endorphins were soaring at the time, it seemed that my heart was more concerned with the Noah's Ark that once symbolized redemption here. In these tumultuous years, hasn't humanity been constantly calling for "Noah's Ark"? Noah's Ark perfectly interprets people's dreams; a better life really does need more dreams.