Xianggong Mountain: The Photo I Never Posted

Everyone climbs Xianggong Mountain for the sunrise shot—those perfect karst peaks, the Li River curling below. I did too. But standing there, shoulder to shoulder with strangers at 5AM, all of us clutching our phones, I felt weirdly hollow. No one talked. We just waited for the light, then snapped the same photo, then shuffled back down. I thought I’d feel awe, but mostly I felt like a spectator in my own trip. I never posted the photo. It’s still on my camera roll, a reminder that sometimes the most beautiful places can leave you feeling invisible. #Travel #TravelExpectationVsReality #UnfilteredJourneys