Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1680

With anticipation for tomorrow, the three of them gradually fell asleep, and their trip to Chengdu was just the beginning of this wonderful journey.

After spending a pleasant and fulfilling time in Chengdu, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei were full of expectations for the next journey. After packing their bags, they boarded the train to Guilin. Along the way, the three of them excitedly discussed Guilin, and the famous saying "Guilin's landscape is the best in the world" kept emerging in their minds, and they were full of yearning for the picturesque landscape.

"I heard that the Li River in Guilin is as beautiful as a fairyland. The mountains are of various shapes, the river water is crystal clear, and sitting on a bamboo raft to tour it is like walking into a landscape painting." Li Xiao said excitedly while looking at the Guilin travel guide on his mobile phone.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, and Guilin also has many unique karst landforms, which are the work of nature. We must experience them this time."

Lin Yifei looked at the scenery passing by outside the window and thought: "I can't wait to use my camera to record every beautiful scene in Guilin. The mountains and rivers there will surely be able to make many great films."

After several hours of driving, they finally arrived in Guilin. As soon as they got off the car, fresh air hit them in the face, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of soil and grass, as if welcoming their arrival.

After a short rest, the three headed straight to the Li River and started their Guilin landscape tour. The Li River, known as the "Hundred Miles Gallery", attracts tourists from all over the world with its unique landscape. It is a typical representative of Guilin's karst landforms, with strange peaks on both sides of the river in various shapes, clear water winding through it, and mountains and rivers interdependent, forming a series of picturesque scenery. In September 2024, Guilin Karst was selected into the second batch of 9 World Geological Heritage Sites, and its unique geological landscape and natural charm have been recognized by the world.

They came to the bamboo raft dock and prepared to take a bamboo raft to tour the Li River. At this time, there were already many bamboo rafts moving slowly on the river, and the laughter of tourists echoed between the mountains and rivers. Li Xiao jumped on the bamboo raft excitedly and shouted, "Come on, we are going to cruise the Li River!" Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also boarded the bamboo raft with a smile and found a good seat.

The bamboo raft moves forward slowly, and the breeze blows on your face, bringing a slight coolness. Looking ahead, the mountains on both sides are undulating, some are like sharp swords piercing the sky, some are like fairies standing tall, and some are like camels carrying heavy loads. Each mountain seems to be a work of art carefully carved by nature.

Under the sunlight, the mountains show different colors, some are golden, some are emerald green, and some are gray, which contrasts beautifully with the clear river water.

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"Wow, the scenery is so beautiful! I feel like I'm dreaming." Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh.

Zhang Yuedong was also shocked by the beautiful scenery. He said: "Seeing is believing. Guilin's landscape is indeed well-deserved. This unique karst landform is hard to see in other places."

Lin Yifei kept pressing the shutter of his camera, wanting to record the beautiful scenery one by one. He said: "Every scene is so beautiful that I don't know which one to take a picture of first. This is simply a paradise for photography enthusiasts."

The bamboo rafts paddled across the calm river surface, creating ripples. The river water was so clear that you could see the sand and rocks at the bottom of the river and the small fish swimming around. Occasionally, a few water birds flew over the water, and their graceful figures added a bit of agile beauty to the tranquil landscape.

Li Xiao curiously asked the rafting master: "Master, do these mountains have names?"

The master smiled and replied, "Of course there is. The mountain in front that looks like nine horses is the famous Nine Horses Painting Mountain. Legend has it that anyone who can see the nine horses will win the top prize in the imperial examination."

When Li Xiao heard this, he immediately observed carefully. He looked and counted: "One, two, three... How come I only see five horses?"

Zhang Yuedong was also watching carefully. He said, "I saw seven horses. It seems that I am still a little far from the top prize."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "I think the magic of this nine-horse painting mountain is that everyone sees a different horse, and this is also its charm."

Continuing on, they arrived at the Huangbu Reflection Scenic Area. The river here was exceptionally calm, like a huge mirror, perfectly reflecting the peaks on both sides of the river in the water. The blue sky, white clouds, green mountains and green trees all formed clear reflections in the water. It was hard to tell whether the mountains were in the water or the water was on the mountains, as if entering a dreamlike world.

"This is simply a natural ink painting, so magical." Li Xiao exclaimed.

Zhang Yuedong also said with emotion: "Yes, nature is really a magical painter, using its magic to create such beautiful scenery."

Lin Yifei said excitedly: "I must take more photos here. The reflection is so beautiful. Any photo I take will be a great one."

During the tour of the Li River, the rafting master also enthusiastically introduced the history and culture of Guilin and local customs to them. They learned that Guilin not only has beautiful landscapes, but also has a long history and rich cultural heritage. This is where the Zhuang, Yao, Miao and other ethnic minorities live. Each ethnic group has its own unique culture and traditions, adding a strong cultural atmosphere to this land.

Before they knew it, the bamboo raft trip was coming to an end. The three of them stepped onto the path along the shore with a lot of good memories and countless beautiful photos in their cameras. At this time, their stomachs began to growl, so they decided to try Guilin's specialty food - Guilin rice noodles.

They walked into a local rice noodle shop, which was filled with the rich aroma of rice and brine. The shop was full of diners, all of whom were eating with relish and satisfied smiles on their faces. "Boss, give me three bowls of Guilin rice noodles." Li Xiao shouted loudly.

Soon, the steaming Guilin rice noodles were served on the table. The snow-white rice noodles were in the bowl, covered with a layer of tender beef, golden crispy skin, crispy peanuts, emerald green onions, and a spoonful of bright red brine, which made people salivate at the sight.

Li Xiao couldn't wait to stir the rice noodles, so that each rice noodle was coated with the brine, and then took a big bite and put it into his mouth. "Wow, this rice noodle is so delicious! It's smooth and tender, the brine is rich and mellow, and with these side dishes, the taste is very rich." Li Xiao praised it while eating.

Zhang Yuedong also tasted it and nodded in agreement: "It's really delicious. The taste of Guilin rice noodles is indeed unique. The brine is the soul of Guilin rice noodles. It is said that each store has its own unique recipe. After a long period of simmering, it has such a rich fragrance."

Lin Yifei savored the flavor of Guilin rice noodles. He said: "This rice noodle not only tastes good, but also carries Guilin's food culture. Every bite can feel the unique charm of this city."

While tasting Guilin rice noodles, they also learned that the production process of Guilin rice noodles is very particular. The rice noodles are made of high-quality rice, which is soaked, ground, drained, kneaded, cooked, pressed and other processes to make this delicate, smooth, flexible and elastic rice noodles. The brine is made of a variety of spices and ingredients such as pig skulls, cow bones, grass fruits, cinnamon, licorice, star anise, etc., which are boiled for a long time. It has a strong aroma and is salty and delicious. The side dishes are also rich and varied, such as sour bamboo shoots, sour beans, barbecued pork, crispy braised beef, etc., which add a rich taste and layering to Guilin rice noodles.

After eating Guilin rice noodles, the three of them came to the performance venue to watch the large-scale Guilin landscape live performance - "Impression of Liu Sanjie". This performance was jointly created by famous directors Zhang Yimou, Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue, and is the pioneer of Zhang Yimou's "Impression" series. It takes the Lijiang River landscape as the stage and the culture of Guangxi's ethnic minorities as the soul. It innovatively combines Liu Sanjie's classic folk songs, ethnic customs and Lijiang fishing lights and other elements together, presenting a visual and spiritual feast for the audience.

When night falls, the performance officially begins. Lights gradually light up on the surface of the Li River, and twelve towering peaks are illuminated by the lights, like a huge landscape painting slowly unfolding. A group of actors in ethnic costumes slowly walk out of the water, and their melodious singing seems to bring people into the ancient and mysterious world of Liu Sanjie.

As the performance progressed, various wonderful scenes continued to appear. The actors sang and danced on the river, showing the unique customs of Guangxi's ethnic minorities. The Zhuang folk songs, Yao weddings, Dong songs, Miao celebrations and other ethnic minority life scenes along the Li River were vividly presented to the audience through large blocks of freehand paintings, making people feel as if they were in a colorful world of ethnic culture.

The lighting and special effects in the performance were also very stunning. On the surface of the Li River, the lights and smoke intertwined to form a series of dreamlike pictures. The actors' figures were looming in the light and shadow, as if they were in a fairyland. And when the fishermen paddled bamboo rafts, lit fishing fires, and slowly moved forward on the Li River, the whole scene was even more beautiful, making people feel the tranquility and harmony of life on the Li River.

"This performance is so shocking! It perfectly combines landscape, culture and art. It is really a feast for the eyes and ears." Li Xiao said excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong was also deeply moved by the performance. He said: "Yes, through this performance, we have a deeper understanding of the ethnic minority culture in Guangxi and feel its unique charm. This is not only a performance, but also an inheritance and promotion of culture."

Lin Yifei kept using his camera to record the wonderful moments of the performance. He said: "Such a wonderful performance must be recorded well so that more people can understand and appreciate it."

After the performance, the audience burst into thunderous applause and cheers. The three of them left the venue with full of emotion and shock. As they walked, they recalled the wonderful moments in the performance and gained a deeper understanding of Guilin's cultural heritage.

On the last day in Guilin, the three of them came to the local specialty market, ready to buy some specialties to bring back to their relatives and friends. The market was bustling with a wide variety of specialties, which made people dazzled.

They first saw Guilin Maojian. Guilin Maojian is a new star among Chinese green teas, with tight and thin strips, visible white hairs, emerald green color, lasting fragrance, bright green soup color, and mellow and refreshing taste. Li Xiao picked up a pack of Guilin Maojian and smelled it carefully. The tea fragrance was so fragrant that he said, "This Guilin Maojian tastes really good. I'll take it back to make tea for my dad. He will definitely like it."

Zhang Yuedong also picked a few packs of Guilin Maojian. He said: "Guilin Maojian not only tastes good, but also has health benefits. It is very suitable as a gift for the elders."

Then, they were attracted by the Yangshuo painted fans. Yangshuo painted fans are one of the characteristic handicrafts of Yangshuo County, Guilin. They are made by combining traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting with fans. The fan bones are made of local bamboo, and the fan surface is made of rice paper or silk. Then, it is made through painting, dyeing, mounting, pasting, threading, and lacquering. The pictures are accompanied by poems, calligraphy, and seals. It integrates poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seals, and has high artistic and ornamental value.

Lin Yifei picked up a painted fan with a vivid landscape of Guilin on it. He said, "This Yangshuo painted fan is so exquisite, each one is like a work of art. I will buy a few more to hang at home as decorations, or give them to friends who like art."

Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong also picked out a few of their favorite painted fans. They felt that these painted fans could not only serve as souvenirs, but also allow more people to understand Guilin's culture and art.

In addition to Guilin Maojian and Yangshuo painted fans, they also bought Guilin fermented bean curd, Lipu taro, Yongfu monk fruit and other specialties. Guilin fermented bean curd is golden in color, delicate in taste and delicious, suitable for seasoning various dishes; Lipu taro is large, delicate in texture, and glutinous in taste, rich in various nutrients; Yongfu monk fruit is large in fruit, full in flesh, and sweet in taste, and has the effects of clearing heat and moistening the lungs, relieving cough and reducing phlegm.

The three ended their trip in Guilin with a lot of gains. In these few days in Guilin, they enjoyed the picturesque landscape, tasted the delicious and unique Guilin rice noodles, watched the soul-stirring performance of "Impression of Liu Sanjie", and bought the unique local specialties. Everything in Guilin left a deep impression on them and became an unforgettable memory of their trip.

"Guilin is such a beautiful and magical place. This trip has given me a deeper understanding of the wonders of nature and China's traditional culture," Li Xiao said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, every trip is a time of growth and gain. I believe that the next journey will be even more exciting."

Lin Yifei said with anticipation: "What kind of beautiful scenery and surprises will we encounter at the next stop? I can't wait."