Explore the ancient city in the clouds of Peru: a pilgrimage to Machu Picchu!

Machu Picchu, this ancient ruin known as the "lost Inca city", stands quietly on the Andes ridge at an altitude of more than 2,300 meters, overlooking the winding Urubamba River Valley. As one of the most famous relics of the Inca Empire, it consists of about 140 carefully designed buildings, including the majestic Temple of the Sun, exquisite royal residential areas, mysterious sacrificial sites and a staggered terrace system. Each stone is precisely cut and fit together perfectly, and can stand for hundreds of years without any adhesive, demonstrating the Inca people's amazing architectural wisdom. Starting from Poroy Station outside Cusco early in the morning, the more than three-hour train journey is like a visual feast. The narrow-gauge train slowly travels between the mountains. Outside the window, the Urubamba River rushes continuously, and the remains of Inca terraces flash from time to time on the steep cliffs on both sides. Traditional Andean music was playing in the carriage. The melodious panpipe sounds blended perfectly with the magnificent natural scenery outside the window, making people feel as if they were in a moving cradle, slowly "rocking" towards that mysterious ancient civilization. When the train passed a steep mountain road, you could see through the window those real explorers - they were hiking on the famous Inca Trail, making a arduous 70-kilometer trek over four days and three nights. Carrying heavy bags on their backs, these hikers climbed up the stone steps laid by the Incas, just for the shocking moment of overlooking the entire Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). In comparison, although we lacked the thrill of adventure by taking the train, we enjoyed more leisure. The moment we arrived at Machu Picchu, all the fatigue from the journey disappeared. Standing on the observation deck, you can have a panoramic view of the entire ancient city: the well-arranged buildings are built on the mountain, blending perfectly with the surrounding peaks; the carefully designed terrace system unfolds layer by layer along the steep hillside; the towering Huayna Picchu peak in the distance stands like a guardian god. The most amazing thing is the structure of the Temple of the Sun - every winter solstice, the sunlight will precisely shine through specific windows onto the stone slab in the center of the temple, showing the Inca people's deep understanding of astronomy. As one of the few dual cultural and natural heritage sites in the world, Machu Picchu is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World along with the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal of India. Its uniqueness lies in the perfect display of the harmonious coexistence of human civilization and the natural environment - the Incas did not change the shape of the mountain, but made the buildings conform to the terrain; they did not destroy the ecology, but created a sustainable agricultural system. This concept of "harmony between man and nature" is still amazing today! On the return journey, the train stopped at Ollantaytambo station in the twilight. It was completely dark outside the window, but the image of Machu Picchu became clearer in my mind. This ancient city hidden in the clouds is not only a tourist destination, but also an eternal mystery left to the world by an ancient civilization, waiting for people to explore and interpret.