Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1661

Lin Yifei was busy photographing the wonderful moments on the stage. He hoped that through the photos, more people would feel the charm of Kunqu Opera: "Such a beautiful performance must be recorded to let more people know about Kunqu Opera and Suzhou's traditional culture."

After the performance, the three of them strolled in the night of Pingjiang Road, recalling the good times of the day. The moonlight sprinkled on the bluestone road, shining with silver light, and the weeping willows by the river swayed in the wind, as if whispering the story of Suzhou to them. Li Xiao said with emotion: "Today's trip to Suzhou is so unforgettable. The ancient charm of Pingjiang Road, the beauty of the Humble Administrator's Garden, the delicious Suzhou cuisine, and the charm of Kunqu Opera, each of them intoxicated me.

This city is like a beautiful poem, which makes people linger on the memory." Zhang Yuedong also smiled and said: "Yes, the beauty of Suzhou lies not only in its natural scenery, but also in its profound historical and cultural heritage. Every garden, every performance, and every delicacy carries the wisdom and emotions of our ancestors and is worth our careful appreciation."

Lin Yifei looked at the photos in the camera and said with satisfaction: "I took a lot of satisfactory photos. I must organize them well when I go back and share the beauty of Suzhou with more people. There will be more exciting things waiting for us tomorrow. Let's go back to the hotel to rest and refresh ourselves to continue exploring this Jiangnan water town." Accompanied by the moonlight, they returned to the hotel, and the story of Suzhou continued to be written...

Bidding farewell to the tenderness of Suzhou's water town, the three embarked on a journey to LS with a vision of the holy land of the plateau. The plane slowly landed at Gongga International Airport. Li Xiao excitedly looked out the window. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the mountains in the distance were rolling like a magnificent painting. She said excitedly: "Finally arrived in LS, this mysterious plateau, I can't wait to unveil its veil!"

Zhang Yuedong could not hide his excitement. He pushed up his glasses and said, "Yes, LS. This is the holy land of Tibetan Buddhism. Every inch of land here carries a profound religious and cultural heritage. It will definitely bring us a soul-stirring journey."

Lin Yifei quickly took out his camera and pressed the shutter button at the scenery outside the window, muttering: "This light, this color, it's amazing, I feel like I can take a lot of great photos."

After leaving the airport, they took a car to the city. Along the way, Li Xiao's eyes were fixed on the window, looking at the unique plateau scenery along the way, her heart full of novelty. In the distance, the snow-capped mountains shone silver under the sunshine, contrasting with the blue sky; nearby, on the vast grassland, groups of yaks graze leisurely, like a peaceful and idyllic painting. She couldn't help but sigh:

"The scenery is so beautiful, completely different from the places I've been to before. I feel like my soul has been purified." Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "LS's natural scenery is unique and magnificent. It is located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with a high average altitude. This plateau landform creates its unique scenery. In addition, the religious atmosphere here is strong. We will be able to feel it when we get to the city later."

After arriving at the hotel and dropping off their luggage, they took a short rest and then headed straight to the Potala Palace. When the magnificent palace complex came into view, the three of them were deeply shocked. The Potala Palace was built on the mountain, with overlapping buildings, towering majestically on the Red Mountain.

The white palace walls are like holy hadas, surrounding the entire palace and shining in the sunlight; the red palace is like a burning flame, showing solemnity and majesty. Li Xiao looked up at the Potala Palace with amazement in his eyes: "This is too spectacular, it is worthy of being the pearl on the roof of the world. Just looking at it makes people feel a kind of sacred power." Zhang Yuedong was also full of emotion:
"The history of the Potala Palace can be traced back to the 7th century AD. It was built by Songtsen Gampo to marry Princess Wencheng. Later, it was expanded and renovated by many dynasties to form its current magnificent scale. It is not only a palace, but also a symbol of Tibetan history and culture."

They walked up the long steps and entered the Potala Palace. Inside the palace, the dim lights gave off a mysterious and ancient atmosphere. The walls were covered with colorful murals, each vividly depicting the life scenes, religious stories and historical changes of the Tibetan people.

Li Xiao stood in front of a mural, looking at it carefully, and couldn't help but sigh: "These murals are simply a living history book. Through them, we can see the past of the Tibetan people and feel their beliefs and wisdom." Zhang Yuedong whispered the story behind the murals, allowing Li Xiao and Lin Yifei to have a deeper understanding of Tibetan culture.

Continuing forward, they came to various halls. Inside the halls, solemn and majestic Buddha statues stood in front of them. In front of the Buddha statues, believers knelt down and prayed devoutly, turning the prayer wheels in their hands and chanting. Lin Yifei used his camera to record this shocking scene. He said softly:

"Here, I can truly feel the power of faith. It is so powerful that it can comfort one's soul." Li Xiao was also deeply touched. She closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and silently made a wish, hoping that this sacred land could bring her more insights and strength.

After visiting the Potala Palace, the three were already hungry. They came to a Tibetan restaurant to taste the local specialties. The restaurant was decorated in a strong Tibetan style, with exquisite thangkas hanging on the walls and traditional Tibetan tableware on the tables.

The waiter enthusiastically recommended butter tea and barley cakes. Soon, the steaming butter tea and golden and crispy barley cakes were served.

Li Xiao picked up a bowl of butter tea and took a sip. At first, the strong butter flavor made her a little uncomfortable, but soon, the fragrance of tea and the richness of butter spread in her mouth. She felt a warm current in her heart and couldn't help saying:

"Although this butter tea tastes a little special, it warms your whole body after you drink it. I heard it can also relieve altitude sickness." Zhang Yuedong explained with a smile: "Butter tea is a must-have drink for Tibetan people every day. It can not only replenish physical strength, but also resist the cold of the plateau. Making butter tea is not easy. You have to mix butter, tea leaves, salt and water first, and then stir repeatedly with special tools until they are blended."

Then, Li Xiao picked up a piece of highland barley cake and took a bite. The highland barley cake was crispy, with a light aroma of highland barley and a hint of sweetness. She gave a thumbs up:

"This highland barley cake is also delicious, with a solid texture. The more you chew, the more fragrant it is. I heard that highland barley is rich in nutrients and is very suitable for eating on the plateau." Lin Yifei ate and photographed the food. He joked, "I am enjoying the food while recording the beauty. This trip to LS is really a double feast for taste and vision."

After dinner, as the sky gradually darkened, they came to Zongjiaolukang Park to watch the local folk performance - Guozhuang dance. Many people had already gathered in the park, and it was very lively. In an open space, a group of dancers in bright Tibetan costumes formed a circle and danced to the rhythm of cheerful music. The male dancers moved boldly and unrestrainedly, like eagles spreading their wings and soaring high. They swung their long sleeves and stamped their feet, showing the beauty of strength; the female dancers were graceful and danced lightly, with handkerchiefs in their hands flying like colorful butterflies, and their faces were filled with happy smiles.

Li Xiao was infected by the cheerful atmosphere and pulled Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei to join the dancing crowd. She imitated the dancers and swung her body. Although her movements were a little unfamiliar, she was full of enthusiasm. She smiled and said to her companions: "This Guozhuang dance is so contagious. After dancing, I feel that all my fatigue is gone and I feel particularly happy."

Zhang Yuedong also danced to the rhythm. He said with emotion: "Gongzhuang dance is a Tibetan folk dance, which means 'circle dance' in Tibetan. It is an indispensable part of the lives of the Tibetan people. During every festival celebration, everyone will gather together to dance Gongzhuang to express their love for life." Lin Yifei was busy shooting this lively scene. He hoped to use the camera to record this energetic moment so that more people can feel the charm of Tibetan folk culture.

After the performance, they went to the specialty store next to the park to pick up souvenirs. The store was filled with a wide variety of Tibetan jewelry, including exquisite turquoise necklaces, colorful Tibetan shawls, and unique yak bone handicrafts.

Li Xiao was attracted by a shawl embroidered with the auspicious eight treasures. The shawl was soft, with exquisite patterns and auspicious meanings. She couldn't put it down and tried it on. She looked at it left and right in front of the mirror and said with satisfaction: "This shawl is so beautiful. It has both ethnic characteristics and is very practical. It's perfect for me to take it back as a souvenir."

Zhang Yuedong picked out several books about Tibetan Buddhism and XZ history and culture. He smiled and said, "Reading these books slowly when I get home will allow me to have a deeper understanding of this mysterious land and enrich my knowledge base." Lin Yifei bought several mobile phone cases and camera bags with Tibetan elements, preparing to decorate his photographic equipment and give them the LS mark.

With full harvest and touched, the three returned to the hotel. In the room, Li Xiao lay on the bed, recalling the experience of the day, and his heart was full of emotion: "Today's LS trip was so shocking. The sacredness of the Potala Palace, the unique flavor of butter tea and barley cakes, and the cheerful enthusiasm of the Guozhuang dance, each of which made me unforgettable.

This city is full of mysterious charm, which makes people want to explore it in depth." Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the beauty of LS lies not only in its natural scenery, but also in its profound religious and cultural heritage and unique folk customs. Here, you can feel the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, man and faith, which is a very rare experience." Lin Yifei was sorting out the photos in the camera with a satisfied smile on his face:
"I took a lot of wonderful photos. I must organize them well when I get back and share the beauty of LS with more people. There will be more surprises waiting for us tomorrow. Let's go to bed quickly and get enough rest to continue our journey of exploring the plateau." In anticipation of tomorrow, they gradually fell asleep, and the story of LS continued to be written...

As the journey progressed, the three of them gradually headed back home. In the waiting hall of LS Gongga International Airport, sunlight shone through the huge French windows onto the ground, forming patches of bright light. Li Xiao sat on the suitcase, flipping through the photos he had taken along the way on his phone, his eyes full of nostalgia:

"This trip feels like a beautiful dream. I really don't want to wake up like this." Zhang Yuedong sat aside, holding a book about Tibetan Buddhism bought from LS, and responded with a smile: "Yes, we have seen so many beautiful scenery and felt the unique culture of each place along the way. Every place is unforgettable."

Lin Yifei squatted on the ground, carefully wiping the camera lens, muttering: "These photos are all my treasures. I have to organize them well when I go back and hold a photography exhibition to let more people see the beautiful mountains and rivers of our motherland."

It was time to board the plane, and they dragged their suitcases and slowly walked towards the boarding gate. At the moment the plane took off, Li Xiao looked out the window at the snow-capped mountains of the plateau that were gradually receding, and felt deeply moved: "This trip not only allowed me to see beautiful scenery, but also allowed me to learn a lot of knowledge. More importantly, sharing these beautiful things with you made the journey even more unforgettable." Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement:

"Yes, we learned from each other and helped each other during the trip, and everyone grew up. For example, in LS, facing the solemn and majestic Potala Palace, I gained a deeper understanding of history and religious culture; in Qingdao, I learned about the modern history of the lease, which also gave me a new understanding of the country's development."

Lin Yifei also joined the conversation: "And the delicacies, every bite is full of local flavor. BJ's noodles with soybean paste, Chongqing hot pot, Suzhou's Suzhou cuisine... I'm so hungry just thinking about it now. I must learn to cook a few of them when I go back."

The plane flew steadily above the clouds. The sunlight penetrated the clouds, casting an orange-red glow. The entire sky was like a huge orange cotton ball.

The three people's thoughts were still immersed in the journey.

Li Xiao said with longing: "In the future, we will go to more places together, go to Xinjiang to see the vast deserts and grasslands, go to Yunnan to experience the colorful ethnic customs, and go to the Northeast to appreciate ice sculptures and snow scenes..." Zhang Yuedong responded with a smile:

"Okay, as long as we have time, we will continue to travel. Every trip is a baptism of the soul, which makes us love this land more and cherish the beauty of life." Lin Yifei waved his arms excitedly: "Next time I travel, I will definitely take more shocking photos to show the beauty of our motherland to the fullest!"

As the plane slowly landed, they returned to the familiar city. Although the journey was over, those beautiful memories and profound insights were deeply engraved in their hearts.

With a lot of gains, they look forward to the next departure, continuing to explore the endless charm of the motherland and write their own travel stories.