Have you ever looked up at the sun and wondered what it would be like to catch it? Well, a very, very long time ago, there was a giant named Kua Fu, and he had that exact idea!

Kua Fu was incredibly tall, so tall he could almost high-five the clouds. He had legs as strong as ancient trees and a heart full of curiosity. One bright morning, Kua Fu looked at the sun blazing in the sky and thought, "I'm going to race you, Mr. Sun! I want to see where you go at night!"

So, as the sun began its daily journey across the sky, Kua Fu started to run. And oh, how he ran! He zoomed past tall mountains that looked like little hills to him. He leaped over wide rivers as if they were small streams. The sun was fast, but Kua Fu was determined.

He chased the sun all day long. The sun got hotter and hotter, and Kua Fu got thirstier and thirstier. His throat felt like a dry desert. "I need water!" he panted.

Luckily, he came to the great Yellow River. Kua Fu knelt down and drank, and drank, and drank, until the whole river was nearly empty! But guess what? He was still thirsty!

So, he ran on and found another big river, the Wei River. Again, Kua Fu drank and drank, gulping down so much water that this river, too, almost disappeared. But even after drinking two whole rivers, Kua Fu’s thirst was too big.

"I know!" he thought. "There's a giant lake, a huge marsh far to the north. That will surely have enough water for me!"

With new hope, he turned and ran towards the north, still chasing the sun which was now beginning to set. He ran as fast as his giant legs could carry him, but the lake was very far away.

Sadly, just as he could almost see the shimmering water of the great marsh in the distance, Kua Fu was too tired and too thirsty. He stumbled and fell to the ground. He had chased the sun with all his might, but he couldn't run anymore.

But even though Kua Fu didn't catch the sun or reach the lake, something wonderful happened. The wooden staff he had been carrying, his big walking stick, fell beside him. And right there, where his staff touched the earth, a beautiful, lush forest of peach trees sprang up. The trees were full of juicy peaches and provided cool shade for tired travelers.

And so, even though Kua Fu didn't finish his race, his great effort turned into something lovely that helped others for many, many years to come.

2039 Views