Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei are old friends who have known each other for many years. During the holiday, the three of them hit it off and started a casual tour of China. The first stop was the ancient and leisurely Hangzhou.

Arriving at the West Lake, the morning light cast a layer of gold on the lake surface, and the breeze blew gently, rippling the lake water. Li Xiao couldn't help but open his arms and take a deep breath: "It is said that 'If you want to compare the West Lake to Xi Shi, light makeup or heavy makeup is always suitable'. Only after seeing it with my own eyes did I realize how appropriate this poem is."

Zhang Yuedong was fiddling with his camera and responded, "That's right. Any shot of this scenery will turn it into a masterpiece." He took several photos and even took Li Xiao and Lin Yifei to take a photo under the weeping willows by the lake.

Lin Yifei stared at the Broken Bridge in the distance and asked curiously, "Why is it called the Broken Bridge?" Li Xiao smiled and explained, "There are several theories. One is that after the winter snow, the snow on the top of the bridge melted, and from a distance, the bridge looked like it was broken but not broken. Another theory is that it is related to the legend that Xu Xian and White Snake met on this Broken Bridge, which adds a lot of romance to it."

After visiting West Lake, their stomachs started to growl. They found a time-honored Hangzhou restaurant and ordered West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork, and Longjing shrimp. Zhang Yuedong looked at the bright red Dongpo pork and swallowed his saliva: "This Dongpo pork looks tempting, fat but not greasy, melts in the mouth, worthy of being a famous dish." Li Xiao picked up a chopstick of vinegar fish, the fish meat was tender, and the sweet and sour sauce spread on the tip of the tongue instantly: "Try this vinegar fish, the freshness of the fish and the aroma of vinegar are just right."

In the evening, they went to see a folk performance by the West Lake. On the stage, Yue Opera actors were graceful and their singing was melodious. Lin Yifei was fascinated by the performance: "This tune is so charming, soft and lingering." Zhang Yuedong also nodded: "Traditional culture is infinitely charming, and it is more profound than those pop music." After the performance, the three of them bought some Longjing tea and silk handkerchiefs as local specialties in a nearby shop.

The next stop is Chengdu, which is full of fireworks. As soon as we stepped into Jinli Ancient Street, red lanterns were hung high, and the quaint buildings were sandwiched between cobblestone roads, which was very lively. Zhang Yuedong excitedly shouted: "I love this atmosphere, full of fireworks."

They plunged into the sea of ​​food stalls, and the spicy and fresh aroma hit them in the face. Li Xiao saw a bunch of red rabbit heads and was eager to try: "How can you come to Chengdu and not eat rabbit heads? I heard that they are spicy and tasty, and the more you chew, the more delicious they are." Lin Yifei was a little hesitant: "This looks too spicy." Zhang Yuedong urged: "What are you afraid of? Since you are here, try something new." After taking a bite, Li Xiao exclaimed that it was addictive: "It's spicy and spicy, so refreshing, and the meat is firm and chewy."

After visiting Jinli, they went to Wuhou Temple. Ancient cypresses towered into the sky and the temples were magnificent. Zhang Yuedong stood in front of the statue of Zhuge Liang with a look of reverence: "Prime Minister Zhuge's life was legendary. Standing here, I can seem to feel the turbulent times back then." Lin Yifei looked at the inscription and sighed: "The wisdom and loyalty of the ancients are really admirable."

As night fell, they went to watch the Sichuan Opera face-changing performance. Amid the sound of gongs and drums, the actors waved their hands and fanned their faces, and the facial makeup changed instantly. Li Xiao's eyes widened: "It's too fast. I can't see how it changes. It's amazing." After watching the performance, they returned home with several bags of hot pot base and Sichuan embroidery sachets, and headed for the next city's exciting journey.

After bidding farewell to the hot Chengdu, the three of us headed for Lijiang in the south of the colorful clouds. As soon as we stepped into the ancient city of Lijiang, it was as if we had stepped into an old dream. The bluestone road meandered under our feet, and the gurgling water flowed happily along the ditches on the street, making a crisp sound, which intertwined with the laughter coming from the traditional Naxi buildings on the street.

Li Xiao closed his eyes in ecstasy and took a deep breath of the air with the fragrance of flowers: "This place is so healing, it feels like time has slowed down." Lin Yifei looked around and pointed to a wooden bridge with carved beams and painted rafters in the distance and asked: "That bridge looks unusual, let's go and take a look." Zhang Yuedong looked at the travel guide in his hand and nodded: "It should be the big stone bridge. It is said to be quite old and has witnessed the changes of the ancient city."

They walked on the bridge, stroking the railings that had been polished over the years. Under the bridge, water plants danced with the waves, and a group of koi fish swam freely. Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but sigh: "The ancients' bridge-building skills were really superb. After so many years, it is still stable."

After a long walk, their stomachs protested. Following the aroma, they entered a small shop and ordered cured pork ribs hot pot, Naxi grilled fish and chicken bean jelly. When the steaming cured pork ribs were served, Lin Yifei couldn't wait to pick up a piece and take a bite. His eyes lit up: "This cured meat is so authentic, salty and fragrant, with a special smoky flavor." Li Xiao put the side dishes into the pot and agreed: "Let's add some vegetables to absorb the soup, it will definitely be a must."

When night falls, Sifang Street lights up brightly. The Naxi dance performance begins with a lively performance. Men, women, old and young, dressed in bright ethnic costumes hold hands, form a circle, stomp their feet and spin happily. Zhang Yuedong was pulled into the team by the enthusiastic locals, and hurriedly followed the rhythm and shouted: "Come on, it's so fun!" Li Xiao and Lin Yifei also joined in with a smile, and soon they were sweating profusely. After the dance, they carefully selected and bought several colorful Dongba paintings and hand-woven shawls as a souvenir of this wonderful journey, and set off for the next city, Guilin, with full of expectations.

As soon as they arrived in Guilin, the landscape of the Li River was like a slowly unfolding ink painting. Lin Yifei was stunned and murmured: "It is said that 'Guilin's landscape is the best in the world', and it is really worthy of its reputation. These mountains and waters are exactly the same as in the painting." Li Xiao rented a bamboo raft, and the three of them swayed on the raft. The raftsman held the long pole, and the river water was rippling. Zhang Yuedong stretched out his hand to poke the river water and joked: "If I could become a fish, it would be so pleasant to swim in this river every day." After getting ashore, they walked into a street shop hungry and ordered Guilin rice noodles and Lipu taro braised pork. Li Xiao added a spoonful of soul chili oil to the rice noodles, stirred it vigorously, and sipped it: "The smooth and chewy rice noodles with this sour and spicy brine are so appetizing." Lin Yifei tasted the braised pork and praised it highly: "This braised pork is soft, glutinous and sweet, and the taro is also full of meat fragrance, it's amazing."

At night, they came to Yangshuo West Street, where the folk performance was a lively Zhuang song and dance. The actors' smart dance and loud singing drew cheers from the crowd. After the performance, Zhang Yuedong picked out several unique Zhuang brocade sachets, Li Xiao picked out several bottles of Guilin chili sauce, and Lin Yifei bought some hand-painted Lijiang scenery postcards. With nostalgia and new expectations for the journey, they rushed to the next stop of unknown scenery. Continuing to leave the beautiful mountains and rivers of Guilin, the three of them came to Xi'an, the ancient capital of 13 dynasties. As soon as they left the train station, the ancient and heavy atmosphere came to their faces. The city walls stood tall, like a silent giant, quietly guarding the thousand-year memory of this city.

"Wow, this city wall is so impressive!" Zhang Yuedong looked up, his eyes full of shock. "Just standing here, I can imagine the scenes of war in ancient times." Li Xiao also nodded and said with a smile: "We must go up and take a walk to overlook the whole picture of this ancient city." So they climbed up the city wall, the strong wind whistled past, the brick and stone road was flat and wide, and as far as the eye could see, it was a regular city layout like a chessboard, with modern high-rise buildings and quaint houses intertwined. Lin Yifei trotted back and forth excitedly: "The feeling of walking on the city wall is so wonderful, it feels like traveling back to the Tang Dynasty."

After touring the city wall, their stomachs started to growl, so they headed straight for Huimin Street. As soon as they entered the street, the aroma of all kinds of food hit them: sizzling lamb skewers, soft and sweet zongzi, and spicy and refreshing sesame sauce stuffed skin. Zhang Yuedong spotted a Pao Mo restaurant and said proudly: "If you come to Xi'an, you must try the authentic mutton Pao Mo!" The three of them imitated the locals, broke the steamed bun into pieces, and handed it to the chef to cook. After a while, the steaming hot Pao Mo was served on the table. Li Xiao blew on it, scooped a spoonful and put it in his mouth: "This steamed bun absorbs the freshness of the mutton soup, and with the tender mutton, it is absolutely delicious, warming the body and satisfying the appetite."

When the lights came on, the square in front of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was bustling with people, and Asia's largest musical fountain was about to start. They squeezed to the front row in the crowd, and Lin Yifei asked curiously: "Such a spectacular fountain, coupled with our Big Wild Goose Pagoda with its ancient charm, must be amazing at night, right?" As soon as he finished speaking, the music started, and the water column rose and fell with the rhythm, swaying gracefully, and the colorful lights reflected on it, like a dream. The crowd around exclaimed, and Zhang Yuedong shouted at the top of his voice: "It's worth it! This is the charm of the combination of culture and technology!" After the performance, they collected some shadow puppets and ancient folding fans in a nearby shop, and rushed to the next stop, Xiamen, with an intoxication of the charm of the ancient capital.

When they first arrived in Xiamen, the salty and humid sea breeze embraced them warmly. Walking along the Ring Road, the blue sea, blue sky, coconut groves and beaches were full of a fresh holiday atmosphere. Li Xiao opened his arms and cheered, "This is what a coastal city should look like. It's so comfortable." They strolled on the beach, and the waves rushed ashore again and again, gently caressing their ankles. Lin Yifei picked up shells and said, "These shells are of different shapes. It's just right to take them back as souvenirs."

Near noon, we walked into a Minnan restaurant and ordered shacha noodles, oyster omelet and ginger duck. Zhang Yuedong looked at the tempting oyster omelet and couldn't wait to take a bite: "It's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the oysters are fresh and sweet, and the sweet and spicy sauce is a perfect match!" Li Xiao slurred the shacha noodles and said incoherently: "The shacha sauce is rich and mellow, the noodles are smooth, and there are so many side dishes, I'm super satisfied."

At night, they went to see the Minnan puppet show. On the small stage, the puppets came alive under the control of the artists, interpreting stories of joys and sorrows. After watching the show, they picked a few exquisite marionettes and a few bags of fragrant Tieguanyin tea. With the comfort of the seaside trip in mind, they began to think about the next place they wanted to go. After bidding farewell to the literary and romantic Xiamen, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei rushed to Zhangjiajie, known as the "fairyland on earth". As soon as they stepped into Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the mountains were shrouded in clouds and mist, and the strange peaks and rocks seemed to have drilled out of the ink painting and reached the sky. Lin Yifei couldn't help but take a breath of cool air: "This is simply where the gods live. These mountains are so shocking. Nature is the best sculptor."

Li Xiao took the map and pointed to the winding mountain road ahead: "It is said that if you walk along this road, you can see more beautiful scenery. Let's go!" Along the way, the Golden Whip Stream gurgled, the stream water was clear and the fish swam nimbly. Zhang Yuedong squatted down, scooped up a handful of stream water, and felt the refreshing coolness: "This water is really cool. Staying here, the summer heat is gone in an instant." The deeper you go, the "Hallelujah Mountain" of Yuanjiajie comes into view. Surrounded by mountains, the mountain pillar stands proudly. Li Xiao excitedly shouted: "Look, does it look like the floating mountain in the movie? It's so dreamy."

After half a day of sightseeing, I was already hungry. At a restaurant near the scenic spot, I ordered Tujia three-pot and Xiangxi grandma's dish. When the steaming three-pot was served on the table, it was full of tempting colors. Lin Yifei picked up a piece of bacon and praised it: "This bacon is so fragrant, with a strong smoked flavor and firm meat." Zhang Yuedong stuffed a spoonful of grandma's dish into his mouth and ate it with rice with relish: "It's a great dish to go with rice, salty and delicious, I can eat several more bowls of rice."

As night fell, they found a folk performance venue and watched the Tujia hand-waving dance. The bonfire was burning, and the Tujia brothers and sisters dressed in gorgeous costumes waved their hands happily and spun in circles. Zhang Yuedong was infected by the enthusiasm and joined the dance circle with the crowd, shouting while dancing: "It's so energetic, this atmosphere is amazing!" After the end, the three bought a few Tujia brocade wall hangings and hand-carved wooden ornaments, and headed towards the next stop - Qingdao, with reluctance to leave the beautiful mountains and rivers.

Arriving in Qingdao, the sea breeze carried a faint aroma of beer. The pier lay across the sea, and seagulls circled and cried in the air, interweaving with the sound of the waves into a seaside melody. Li Xiao put on sunglasses and said with high spirits: "This is the signature scene of Qingdao. Let's go to the pier first." They strolled on the pier and looked at the Huilan Pavilion in the distance, which was elegant and solemn. Zhang Yuedong took pictures and clicked: "This angle will give me some material for my Moments."

Near noon, we went into a seafood restaurant and ordered spicy fried clams, Spanish mackerel dumplings, and braised prawns. Lin Yifei tasted the dumplings and his eyes lit up: "These Spanish mackerel dumplings are so fresh, they taste like the sea, and the filling is solid." Li Xiao slurped the clams and nodded in praise: "The clams are cleanly processed, and the slightly spicy taste is especially appetizing."

In the evening, we went to see the folk stilt-walking performance in Qingdao. The actors were on stilts, but they could still perform various thrilling movements flexibly, and their appearance was also very humorous. Li Xiao laughed so hard that he fell backwards: "This technology content is too high, and it looks festive." After watching the performance, they took a few boxes of Qingdao beer, a few bags of seaweed and other specialties, and planned the next journey with full expectations. Continuing to leave the beautiful seaside of Qingdao, the trio headed towards the Pearl of the Northern Frontier - Hohhot. As soon as we got off the train, the high and vast blue sky came into view, and the air was filled with the faint scent of grass and milk. (End of this chapter)