Alone, but not lonely

Mountaintop dweller lives life on his terms away from the hustle and bustle, Yang Feiyue reports.

A hermit's existence, with just animals and greenery for company. Leaving the rat race and getting to be at one with Mother Nature, Zhang Erdong, in a very real sense, is his own man.

The 33-year-old artist, poet and author from Central China's Henan province has been living his solitary existence on Zhongnan Mountain, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, for seven years. Five years ago, he became an online celebrity, drawing in numerous followers with his account of mountain life. His new book, his third one so far, Seven Years on a Mountain, was released this year, attracting yet more enthusiasts among the younger generation who hanker for life away from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

Zhang resides in a yard he has rented on a mountaintop that is about 900 meters high and practically lives off the land.

He usually wakes up to the barking of dogs and the honking of geese at 6 am and feeds them before breakfast. Then, Zhang waters his plants and vegetables in the yard. He might then take a break lying on a couch, or begin to prepare lunch if he feels hungry.

Zhang spends the rest of his day picking fruit and digging herbs on the mountain, or taking care of his bonsai. He writes poems and prose, creates oil paintings and practices calligraphy.

"It is an ideal world and everything I ever wanted," Zhang comments on his current life, which, he says, suits his personality. "It doesn't matter where people live, as long as they can find themselves in that place."

To him, living on the mountain was his choice.