An Escape from the Peach Blossom Spring

In Chinese culture, the concept of 桃花源—Peach Blossom Spring, depicts an idealized utopian society, a paradise hidden among peach blossom trees, shrouded in mist. Isolated from the outside world, its members remain unaware of life beyond their borders, content with their harmonious way of living. Beneath this idyllic society lies an invisible hand, subtly guiding them forward without their awareness—no conscious choices, just an unspoken force silently shaping their behaviors.

Your childhood was a Peach Blossom Spring. This photo was taken on a vibrant spring day. Peach petals fell like gentle rain, blanketing the water beneath the wooden bridge. Brimming with joy, you wore your favorite dress and ran freely through the falling petals. Your childhood existed in an isolated little world—a realm devoted solely to joy. It’s a sanctuary of safety and bliss, where the pure-hearted innocence of childhood formed a natural barrier, shielding it from the outside world. 

As you grew older, the instinctive desire to follow societal norms extended such ‘barriers’, filling them with responsibilities prescribed by adults. “Studying is your only job as a student.” your parents reminded you, so you sacrificed your leisure time to earn that A+ on a test; “Well-performing students should help those who are struggling.” your teacher said, so you spent every class break tutoring your peers. You remained within your isolated Peach Blossom Spring, preserving it by blindly conforming to instructions. During this time, not a single choice was truly your own; instead, you were only driven by the instinctive fear of seeing disappointment in your parents’ eyes and the shallow satisfaction of earning your teacher’s praise in front of the class. You gave up the precious opportunity to choose for yourself, trading it for a fleeting smile on someone else’s face, unaware that the freedom to choose is infinitely more valuable than meeting anyone’s expectations.

A few years of peace passed by. Just as you imagined this peace would last, COVID-19 broke out. It was a global pandemic, a crisis that claimed tens and thousands of lives daily and a catastrophe beyond the comprehension of your 13-years-old mind. Watching the soaring number of infections, you were almost certain that the disease would befall you. Surprisingly, after a few weeks of quarantine, your initial fears and worries gradually faded away—those rocketing numbers seemed to come under control. In the midst of the worsening global pandemic, you witnessed a miracle—a miracle forged by the collective efforts of the Chinese government and its people. You discovered a new facet of your identity beyond yourself and your family: your country. You feel proud: proud of the thousands of medical workers that you have never met in real life, and proud of yourself for being part of this resilient community.

However, this sense of belonging gradually shifted into a sense of dependence—you began to make choices based solely on the stances of your country. Under the influence of social media and patriotic education, your sense of patriotism grew stronger, to the point of becoming irrational. Engulfed by the pro-Zero COVID mainstream public opinions, you started to believe that Western countries’ decision of completely lifting virus control measures was absolutely absurd and irresponsible. Numbed by the textbooks’ repeated emphasis on obedience to government directives, you never paused to question the policies in place. Behind a mist called patriotism, you let the flame of blind loyalty slowly consume your ability to assess facts objectively. You lost your freedom to believe—instead of choosing what to believe, you chose to conform to what the government and society wanted you to accept.

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—this mist was swept away by a powerful external force: the Shanghai lockdown. . Around March 2022, following another outbreak of COVID-19, the Shanghai government announced a citywide lockdown. On a sleepless night, you drew back the curtains and gazed at the silent city outside your window. The once bustling streets had long vanished, turning into an almost deserted city. Amid this profound stillness, the giant “Welcome to Shanghai” slogan atop the distant Shanghai Tower appeared painfully ironic. As you focused back on your surroundings, you noticed a delivery man lying on the ground across the road. He leaned against his motorcycle, wrapped only in a thin windbreaker, his hands limp at his sides, looking infinitely small against the vast emptiness of the streets. This sight shocked you, as you couldn’t find a reason why he would be sleeping on the street on a chilly spring night. Later, you discovered the grim truth: the government prohibited delivery workers from returning home to prevent potential virus transmission to their communities.

A deep sense of desolation took root. In the weeks that followed, more unimaginable tragedies unfolded. Delivery workers, risking infection to supply the city, were left homeless. Elderly individuals with chronic illness died due to a lack of timely medical care. Those struggling with mental health issues crumbled under the weight of isolation— some even took their own lives. Peaceful protests were swiftly suppressed, and voices exposing the harsh reality of the lockdown were silenced across the internet. 

All that remained was a haunting silence—one filled with struggle, despair, and profound disappointment. 

The government’s decision to impose a lockdown transformed a city filled with opportunities and choices into one with nothing but choicelessness—no choice to move, no choice to resist, and ultimately, no choice to even speak. This time, there was no mist—everything was laid bare—and you watched as your once-believed Peach Blossom Spring crumbled down before your eyes. For the first time, you turned to international media, realizing that the danger of COVID-19 has declined over time. For the first time, you acknowledged the mistakes made by the country you wholeheartedly love. And for the first time, you chose to step away from your Peach Blossom Spring. You chose to make choices for yourself—the choice to leave, the choice to change, and, ultimately, the choice to believe.

You, who once ran in the peach blossom rain, could never have imagined that ten years later, you would find yourself in a foreign country, developing deep friendships with people you once considered outsiders. Growing up is much like leaving behind your Peach Blossom Spring—a journey where the courage to step away becomes the key to unlocking the door to countless new possibilities. Perhaps this journey will challenge your spontaneous desires or shatter the beliefs you once held without question. But never close yourself off. Even when these voices feel harsh, they serve an irreplaceable purpose— clearing away the layers of mist before you and leading you toward a world far broader than you once imagined.  While being harsh, these voices would help to clear away the layers of mist before you, guiding you to explore a broader world. 

To the child who once ran through the peach blossoms, keep running freely. Run until you leave behind the endless peach blossoms, breaking through the thick layers of mist…