Shenzhen Huayuan Display arranged a 3-day trip for its employees to Fenghuang Ancient Town.

Three Days in Fenghuang: An Ancient Town, A Team

At six in the morning, the company lobby was already bustling with activity. Those usually dressed in suits and ties were now dressed casually, suitcase wheels rolling lightly on the floor. Xiao Li from the administration department, holding a small blue flag, was counting heads, a much gentler smile on her face than usual. This was our company's annual team trip, our destination—Fenghuang Ancient Town in Xiangxi.

Day 1: First Encounter with the Tuojiang River

After a five-hour drive along winding mountain roads, a cluster of buildings with blue-tiled roofs and wooden walls gradually came into view. The Tuojiang River, like a green ribbon, gently embraced the ancient town. Stilted houses stood by the water, their weathered wooden walls gleaming warmly in the afternoon sun.

After checking into the riverside inn, we couldn't wait to step onto the cobblestone streets. Zhang, from the marketing department, was constantly snapping photos, saying the footage was enough for a month's worth of promotional planning; Xiao Wang from the technical department, on the other hand, was fascinated by the Rainbow Bridge's architecture, bombarding the local guide with questions.

As evening fell, we boarded a traditional Tujia boat. The boatman, punting with a long pole, sang melodious Tujia folk songs. The warm glow of lanterns gradually lighting up on both banks reflected on the water, creating a feeling of stepping back in time. Suddenly, several young people from the R&D department burst into song, a song they had composed for the company's anniversary celebration. At first, only a few joined in, but then the entire boat joined in, their voices echoing on the Tuo River, drawing applause from the tourists on the shore.

The next day: Exploring the Ancient City

The second day combined free exploration with team activities. In the morning, we were divided into groups to complete a "treasure hunt in the ancient city"—finding specific time-honored brands, learning a line of a Miao song, and tasting three local delicacies. Colleagues who didn't usually interact much across departments naturally teamed up for the task, and the meticulousness of the finance department and the boundless imagination of the creative department sparked unexpected synergy.

In the afternoon, we visited a Miao village on the edge of the ancient city. Miao girls, their silver ornaments jingling, taught our female colleagues how to weave colorful ribbons, while the male colleagues tried to learn simple drum dances. When Sales Director Lao Chen clumsily imitated the dance steps and almost fell, the whole room burst into good-natured laughter. His sheepish grin was captured in a photo, becoming one of the most memorable moments of the trip.

At the team sharing session that evening, Xiao Zhou, a newcomer who had recently joined the company, stood up: "I've been with the company for three months, and today I'm finally getting to know everyone." As she spoke, wishing lanterns were being released outside the window, their warm glow flowing downstream, as if carrying everyone's wishes to distant places.

Day Three: Farewell and Departure

On the morning of the last day, I woke up early alone and saw Sister Liu from the HR department already sitting quietly by the river. Pointing to the local women washing clothes on the opposite bank, she said, "Look at them, living here by the river day after day, while we are just passersby. But sometimes, it is precisely this brief stay that makes us understand the meaning of normalcy."

At breakfast, everyone exchanged their treasures: ginger candy, batik, and Miao silver jewelry. Project Manager Da Wu showed off a stack of postcards he'd collected, saying he wanted to send them to colleagues who couldn't join the trip due to work.

On the return journey, some people chatted at first, but gradually everyone quieted down. Some flipped through photos, others gazed at the fleeting scenery outside the window. Unlike the excitement of the arrival, the quiet now held a profound sense of peace.

Our three-day trip to Fenghuang brought back more than just photos in our cameras and souvenirs in our luggage; it also brought a renewed sense of understanding. The cobblestone streets we walked together, the Miao songs we listened to, the river lanterns we released together—these have become part of our shared memories, bringing a smile to our faces when we occasionally recall them amidst our busy work lives.

Fenghuang Ancient Town still stands quietly on the banks of the Tuojiang River, welcoming the next group of travelers. And our team, carrying the spirit of the ancient town's landscape, continues to write our own story amidst the city's buildings. Some journeys, seemingly far removed from work, actually give work a deeper connection and meaning. This is probably the power of walking—allowing us to rediscover familiar people in unfamiliar landscapes and to rediscover the meaning of moving forward.