By Nazreen Daud, Malay web consultant and marketer in Singapore · Originally shared on LinkedIn, 10 October 2026
The short answer: in September I spent six hours in Jiuzhaigou National Park in China, over 3,000 metres above sea level, beside lakes so clear they reflected the mountains back at you. My takeaway as a business owner: step away from the screen once in a while and go see the real thing. You come back with fresh eyes and a lot more gratitude.
What is it like to visit Jiuzhaigou?
Last month I stood in front of a MacBook wallpaper. Except it was real.
Jiuzhaigou is a national park in Sichuan province, in south-western China, known for its blue and green lakes, waterfalls and mountains. It's listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. (UNESCO: Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area)
The air up there is fresh, at over 3,000 metres above sea level. And the lakes are so clear that they reflect the mountains right back at you. I could have stared at them for hours.
How do you make the most of a short visit?
We had six hours to explore, so the business owner in me killed a few birds with one stone:
- I tracked my steps. The park is huge, and you feel it in your legs by the end of the day.
- I had good conversations with friends. Some of the best conversations happen when nobody is looking at a phone.
- I got some good footage. As someone who creates content, I can't help myself.
- I simply took in the view. This was the most important one, and the easiest to forget.
Alhamdulillah. I'm grateful I got to see it.
Why does a place like this hit differently when you live in Singapore?
Living in Singapore, we don't have many places like this. We have beautiful parks and green spaces, but not mountains reflected in alpine lakes.
Sometimes you don't realise how much you've been longing for that kind of beauty until you're standing in front of it.
Why should business owners step away from the screen?
Most of my working day happens on a screen: websites, search results, dashboards, messages. I suspect yours does too. Screens are where the work gets done, but they're also where everything starts to look the same.
Here's what I think stepping away does for a business owner:
| On the screen | Away from the screen |
|---|---|
| You react to the next notification | You notice what actually matters to you |
| Problems look urgent and endless | Problems shrink back to their real size |
| Ideas come from the same feeds as everyone else's | Ideas come from conversations and real places |
| Gratitude gets squeezed out | Gratitude has room to come back |
None of this needs a flight to China. A walk, a long conversation with a friend, or an afternoon somewhere green can do some of the same work. The point is to look at something real for long enough to remember what "real" feels like.
My small takeaway
Step away from the screen once in a while and go see the real thing. You come back with fresh eyes, and a lot more gratitude.
For me, that means I come back to my work at Roquepress and Mulacan a little calmer, and a little clearer about what's worth doing.
Want to chat about your business, screens and all? Book a call with me.
Where's the last place that made you stop and stare?
FAQ
Where is Jiuzhaigou National Park? Jiuzhaigou is in Sichuan province in south-western China. It's known for its clear blue and green lakes, waterfalls and mountain scenery, and it's a UNESCO World Heritage site. Parts of the park sit at high altitude, over 3,000 metres above sea level.
How long do you need in Jiuzhaigou? We had six hours, which was enough to see a lot of the park while tracking steps, talking with friends and filming. The park is huge, so plan your route and comfortable shoes. Many visitors choose to spend longer.
Why should business owners take breaks from screens? Time away from screens helps you see problems at their real size, notice what matters and come back with fresh ideas. It doesn't need to be a big trip; a walk or a long conversation can help too.
Next step
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