Read, then roam

World Book Day serves as the backdrop for a series highlighting Chinese authors and their influential works, beginning with Qi Jinnian’s *Wandering the Hengduan Mountains*. This non-fiction account chronicles her three-year journey through a geologically dynamic and biodiverse region of southwestern China, emphasizing the value of human connection and the "pendulum" between the stillness of writing and the expansiveness of travel. The conversation shifts to the tension between urban development and nature, specifically in Shenzhen. Residents’ complaints regarding nighttime darkness in Shenzhen Bay Park—a measure to protect migratory birds—and a student’s frustration with birdsong during exam preparation spark a debate on coexistence. Ultimately, the discussion advocates for human restraint, suggesting that nature is not a curated backdrop for convenience but an indifferent, wild force that requires adaptation rather than control.