Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1698

They came to the ancient and charming Xi'an. As soon as they got off the plane, they were greeted by the unique and rich atmosphere of this ancient city.

"Wow, this is Xi'an. It feels like history is everywhere." Li Xiao opened his arms excitedly, as if he wanted to embrace the breath of this city.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Yes, this is the ancient capital of 13 dynasties, and it has a very rich historical heritage. We will have a lot to explore next."

Lin Yifei also nodded, with anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

They took the subway to the city center, and after settling in, they could not wait to go to the first attraction - the Xi'an City Wall. From a distance, the towering city wall looked like a giant dragon winding around, magnificent and imposing.

"This city wall is so spectacular. It's hard to imagine how people in ancient times built it." Li Xiao exclaimed.

When they approached the city wall and touched the ancient bricks and stones, they seemed to be able to feel the warmth of history.

After buying the tickets, they climbed up the city wall, which was wide and flat enough for two carriages to ride side by side.

Zhang Yuedong suggested: "Why don't we rent a bicycle and ride around the city wall so we can enjoy the scenery better."

"Good idea!" Li Xiao and Lin Yifei agreed.

So, Li Ming, Xiaoyan and Ajie rented three simple bicycles at the rental point at the foot of the city wall.

Li Ming skillfully got on the bicycle and adjusted the height of the seat; Xiaoyan carefully straightened the handlebars and tried the brakes; Ajie playfully rang the bell, and the crisp sound echoed in the air.

They pedaled slowly and started this special cycling trip along the ancient city wall. The breeze gently brushed across their cheeks, like a pair of gentle hands, bringing a hint of coolness and instantly dispelling some of the spring heat.

At just the right intervals, there is a tower on the city wall. The flying eaves and brackets are like an eagle spreading its wings and ready to fly. The stacked brackets are exquisitely constructed, and the antique charm is overwhelming. The mottled bricks and stones seem to be silently telling the story of the years.

As they rode leisurely, they enjoyed the completely different yet equally charming scenery inside and outside the city walls.

Inside the city wall is the old city full of life. The old houses are densely packed and scattered, and the blue-gray tiles are shining with a simple light in the sun. Occasionally, a few melodious Qinqiang operas can be heard from the deep alleys. The high-pitched and passionate tunes are full of the city's profound cultural heritage, which makes people unable to help but indulge in it.

Outside the city wall, there is a prosperous modern city, with tall buildings standing side by side and glass curtain walls reflecting dazzling light.

The wide road was filled with traffic, cars were constantly flowing, horns and engines were intertwined, playing a vibrant urban movement. On this city wall, they seemed to have traveled through time and space, witnessing the perfect blend of history and modernity.

"It feels great. On one side is the ancient past, and on the other side is the modern prosperity. They are perfectly integrated here at the Xi'an city wall." Lin Yifei said with emotion.

Li Xiao also smiled and said: "Yes, this feeling of blending the past and the present can only be experienced in Xi'an."

After riding around the city wall, they arrived at Yongning Gate. An entry ceremony was being held here, with actors in ancient costumes singing and dancing to welcome visitors from all over the world. They watched the ceremony with great interest and felt the warmth and hospitality of the city of Xi'an.

After coming down from the city wall, they came to the famous Muslim Street. It was crowded and bustling. The aroma of various delicacies filled their noses, making their stomachs growl.

"Wow, there are so many delicious foods, I don't know which one to eat first." Li Xiao looked at the dazzling array of food stalls with a conflicted look on his face.

“Let’s try Roujiamo first. It’s a specialty of Xi’an.” Zhang Yuedong said, pointing to a Roujiamo restaurant with a long queue.

The three of them waited in line for a while and finally bought the delicious Roujiamo. The steamed bun was crispy and the meat was fragrant. One bite into it and you felt full of happiness.

"Well, this roujiamo is so delicious, it really lives up to its reputation." Lin Yifei praised it while eating.

Then, they tasted cold noodles, steamed buns with mutton, and zongzi, etc. Each of them left them with an unforgettable aftertaste.

After eating delicious food, they continued to walk around the Muslim Street. There are not only delicious food here, but also various special handicrafts and souvenirs. They walked into a small shop filled with exquisite terracotta warriors and horses models.

"These Terracotta Warriors are so lifelike. Let's take a few back as souvenirs." Li Xiao picked up a Terracotta Warrior model and looked at it carefully.

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also thought it was good, so the three of them each picked out a few of their favorite Terracotta Warrior models.

After leaving Huimin Street, they learned that there was a musical fountain show at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square. So they hurried to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. When they arrived, the square was already crowded with people. After a while, music started, and the fountain rose and fell with the rhythm of the music, changing into various gorgeous patterns. Under the light, the fountain was like a dream, magnificent and beautiful.

"This musical fountain is so stunning. I didn't expect to see such a wonderful performance in Xi'an." Li Xiao said excitedly.

After watching the musical fountain show, the sky gradually darkened. They returned to the hotel with a sense of satisfaction, ready to have a good rest and prepare for the next day's journey.

The next day, they went to the Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, which is known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The large-scale Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit in the museum opened their eyes. Thousands of terracotta warriors and horses were neatly arranged in the pit, with different expressions and lifelike. Some held weapons and looked majestic; some smiled, as if telling stories from the past.

"These terracotta warriors are so spectacular. It's hard to imagine that the wisdom and skills of the ancients were so superb," ​​exclaimed Zhang Yuedong.

Lin Yifei also said: "Yes, this is a treasure of the Chinese nation and a world cultural heritage."

They followed the guide and listened carefully to the history and culture of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. They learned that these Terracotta Warriors and Horses were buried with the Emperor Qin Shihuang and were meant to continue to protect the Emperor Qin Shihuang's rule underground.

After visiting the Terracotta Warriors Museum, they came to the nearby Huaqing Palace. Huaqing Palace is built on the mountain with its back to the mountain and its face to the Wei River. It is built on a large scale and has magnificent architecture. When they walked into the Hall of Eternal Life, they seemed to see the scene of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Guifei's love here.

"It's really touching that such a romantic love story happened in such a beautiful place," Li Xiao exclaimed.

Then, they visited Jiulong Lake, Furong Lake and other scenic spots. The ancient buildings and well-arranged gardens in Huaqing Palace made them feel as if they had traveled back to ancient times.

After leaving Huaqing Palace, they tasted the local specialty, Lintong pomegranates. The pomegranates were plump and juicy, making them enjoy the food. After the trip to Xi'an, they took the high-speed rail to their next stop, Chengdu. Chengdu, a city full of fireworks, is famous for its unique food and leisurely pace of life.

As soon as they arrived in Chengdu, they felt the enthusiasm of the city. The aroma of hot pot filled the streets and alleys, making people salivate.

"Chengdu is indeed the capital of food. I can smell the delicious hotpot as soon as I arrive." Li Xiao took a deep breath, looking intoxicated.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Then let's quickly find a place to eat hotpot and try the authentic Chengdu hotpot."

So, under the recommendation of the locals, they came to an old hot pot restaurant. The restaurant was bustling with people. The waiter greeted them warmly and recommended the restaurant's special dishes to them.

Soon, the hot pot base was served. The red base, with a thick layer of chili and Sichuan pepper floating on it, made people's appetite increase. They ordered various special ingredients such as tripe, duck intestines, beef, and yellow throat.

"Come, try this tripe. It tastes the best after it is simmered up and down." Lin Yifei put the tripe into the pot skillfully.

Li Xiao also followed Lin Yifei's example and put the tripe into the pot and rinsed it for a few times. When he took the tripe out and put it into his mouth, the spicy and fragrant taste instantly spread in his mouth.

"Wow, this tripe is so delicious, crispy and spicy, so satisfying!" Li Xiao kept praising while eating.

They ate hot pot and chatted, and the steam from the hot pot made their faces flush.

After eating hot pot, they came to Kuanzhai Alley. Kuanzhai Alley is composed of Kuanxiang, Zhaixiang and Jingxiang arranged in parallel. Here, they felt the old flavor of Chengdu. On both sides of the alley are quaint western Sichuan buildings, and there are many shops selling various special snacks, handicrafts, and teahouses.

They walked into a teahouse and sat down. The waiter served them tea in covered bowls and performed tea art for them. The waiter held a long-mouthed copper kettle and poured tea for them skillfully. His superb skills won rounds of applause from them.

They drank tea while enjoying the Sichuan Opera face-changing performance in the teahouse. The wonderful performance of the actors dazzled them, and they couldn't help but applaud every time the actors changed a new face.

"This Sichuan Opera face-changing is so magical, it's simply unique." Li Xiao exclaimed.

After coming out of the teahouse, they continued to stroll in Kuanzhai Alley and bought some Chengdu souvenirs, such as panda dolls and Shu embroidery.

The next day, they went to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This is a world-renowned giant panda protection and research institution, and a must-visit place for tourists to Chengdu. As soon as they entered the base, they were attracted by the cute giant pandas. They saw that the giant pandas were cute, some were eating bamboo, some were sleeping, and some were playing.

"These giant pandas are so cute. They simply melt my heart." Li Xiao looked at a giant panda eating bamboo with a look of fascination.

They followed the tour route and visited the Moon Delivery Room, Sun Delivery Room, Baby Giant Panda Villa, Adult Giant Panda Villa and other areas in turn. In the Moon Delivery Room, they saw the newly born red pandas, their small bodies, eyes closed, very cute.

"These red pandas are so small. I hope they can grow up healthy and happy," said Zhang Yuedong.

During the visit, they also watched the keepers feeding the giant pandas. The keepers placed fresh bamboo and bamboo shoots in front of the giant pandas, and the giant pandas immediately gathered around and ate with relish.

After leaving the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, they came to Jinli Ancient Street. Jinli Ancient Street is quaint and has a special charm at night. The red lanterns are hung high, making the ancient street particularly beautiful. There are also various delicacies and special products here. They tasted delicacies such as rabbit heads and sugar-coated fruits, and also appreciated the production process of folk handicrafts.

Their trip to Chengdu made them linger, they tasted delicious food, watched wonderful performances and felt the unique charm of this city.

After leaving Chengdu, they took a plane to their next stop, Hangzhou. Hangzhou, known as the "Paradise on Earth", is famous for its beautiful West Lake scenery.

As soon as they got off the plane, they felt the freshness and beauty of Hangzhou. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers, which made people feel particularly comfortable.

"Hangzhou is so beautiful! It really is a paradise on earth." Li Xiao exclaimed.

They took the subway to the West Lake. The West Lake was like a bright pearl inlaid on the earth, with emerald green water and sparkling waves. The mountains in the distance were rolling and shrouded in clouds and mist, like an ink painting.

"Wow, the scenery of West Lake is absolutely amazing, even more beautiful than what I saw in the photos." Zhang Yuedong said excitedly.

They strolled along the lake, enjoying the beautiful scenery of West Lake. The willow trees by the lake swayed in the wind, as if welcoming their arrival. Along the way, they saw many famous attractions, such as Broken Bridge with Residual Snow, Bai Causeway, Su Causeway, etc.

"The name of Broken Bridge and Residual Snow sounds very poetic. I wonder what it will look like when it snows here in winter." Lin Yifei said.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Then let's come to Hangzhou next winter, maybe we can see the beautiful scenery of the Broken Bridge covered with snow."

They came to Baidi, where peach blossoms were in full bloom, alternating between pink and green, and were extremely beautiful. Walking on Baidi, it felt like being in a sea of ​​flowers.

"The scenery of Baidi is so beautiful. No wonder Bai Juyi left the poem 'I love walking along the white sand embankment in the shade of green willows on the east side of the lake the most.'" Li Xiao said with emotion.

Then, they visited Su Causeway. The six bridges on Su Causeway have different shapes and are simple and elegant. They stood on the bridges, overlooking the beautiful scenery of West Lake and feeling the breeze.

After a day of sightseeing by the West Lake, they came to the nearby Hefang Street. Hefang Street is an ancient street with many time-honored shops and special snacks. They tasted Dingsheng cake, scallion wrapped cypress and other delicacies, and also bought some Hangzhou specialties, such as West Lake Longjing tea and silk.

The next day, they went to Lingyin Temple. Lingyin Temple is located at the foot of Lingyin Mountain in West Lake, Hangzhou, with Beigao Peak behind it and Feilai Peak in front of it. The temple's architecture is magnificent and solemn. When they walked into the temple, a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere hit them. Incense was curling in the temple, and believers were worshiping the Buddha statues devoutly.

"The atmosphere of Lingyin Temple is so solemn that it calms people's hearts." Li Xiao said softly.

They visited the main buildings such as the Heavenly King Hall, the Great Hall of the Buddha, and the Medicine Buddha Hall, and admired the exquisite Buddha statues and murals in the temple. In Lingyin Temple, they felt the strong Buddhist cultural atmosphere.

After leaving Lingyin Temple, they came to Jiuxi Yanshu. Jiuxi Yanshu is one of the new ten scenic spots of West Lake. Here, the mountains are undulating, the forests are dense, and the gurgling streams run through them. They strolled along the path beside the stream, listening to the gurgling sound of the stream and feeling the beauty of nature.

"The scenery here is so peaceful and quiet, like a paradise on earth." Lin Yifei exclaimed.