Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1715

After several hours of flight, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei finally arrived at BJ Capital International Airport. When they walked out of the airport, a unique Beijing atmosphere hit them. The sky was exceptionally blue, and the sun shone on them, making them feel exceptionally warm.

"We're finally in Beijing. It feels so great!" Zhang Yuedong opened his arms excitedly, as if he wanted to hug the entire city of Beijing.

Lin Yifei also smiled and said: "Yes, I have heard that BJ has a profound historical and cultural heritage. I must experience it this time."

Li Xiao took a deep breath and said, "That's right, let's go to the hotel to put our luggage first, and then start our BJ trip!"

They took the subway to the hotel they booked, which was located in the city center with very convenient transportation. After putting down their luggage, they took a short rest and couldn't wait to go to their first destination, the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City, this ancient and solemn palace, carries hundreds of years of historical memory. When they stood in front of the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, looking at the tall red walls and the majestic palace, they could not help but feel awe in their hearts.

"Wow, this is the Forbidden City, so spectacular!" Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

Lin Yifei raised his camera and kept pressing the shutter button to record this shocking moment. "Every brick and tile here seems to be telling a story of history," he said with emotion.

Li Xiao nodded and said, "The Forbidden City was the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Twenty-four emperors once lived and handled government affairs here. It is not only a treasure of ancient Chinese architectural art, but also an important symbol of the history and culture of the Chinese nation."

They visited the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony along the central axis. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, the largest palace in the Forbidden City, is magnificent and solemn. The golden glazed tiles sparkle in the sun, and the golden dragon throne in the hall shows the supremacy of the imperial power.

"Just imagine, the emperor sat on this throne and accepted the worship of officials. What a spectacular scene that must have been." Zhang Yuedong said as he imitated the emperor's sitting posture, making everyone laugh.

Lin Yifei carefully observed the decorations and carvings in the hall and said, "These carvings are so exquisite. Every detail reflects the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. Look at this dragon carving, it is lifelike and seems to be ready to take off at any time."

Li Xiao added: "The Hall of Supreme Harmony is not only the place where the emperor holds major ceremonies, but also a symbol of state power. In ancient times, it hosted countless political and cultural activities and witnessed many important historical moments."

Then, they visited the Qianqing Palace, Jiaotai Hall, Kunning Palace and other inner palaces. Compared with the outer palaces, these palaces are more exquisite and elegant, full of life. In Kunning Palace, they saw the bedroom layout of the ancient queen and felt the mystery and luxury of the harem life.

"I didn't expect that the life of ancient queens was like this. Although this palace is gorgeous, it also feels quite restrictive," said Zhang Yuedong.

Lin Yifei smiled and replied: "Of course, in the palace, every word and action has strict rules, unlike the freedom we have now."

Li Xiao showed great interest in the architectural style and layout of the palace. He said: "The architectural layout of the Forbidden City is very sophisticated. The functions of the outer court and the inner court are clearly divided, reflecting the ancient Chinese hierarchy and court culture. Moreover, the entire building complex is arranged symmetrically along the central axis, giving people a sense of balance and harmony."

During the tour of the Forbidden City, they also met a tour guide who was explaining the history and culture of the Forbidden City to tourists. They followed the tour guide and listened carefully to every story and detail. From the construction history of the Forbidden City to the court life of the Ming and Qing dynasties, from architectural art to cultural relics collection, the tour guide's explanation gave them a deeper understanding of the Forbidden City.

After visiting the Forbidden City, it was already evening. Their stomachs began to growl, so they decided to try Beijing's specialty food - Peking duck. They came to a famous roast duck restaurant, which was bustling with people and filled the air with the aroma of roast duck, making people salivate.

"Wow, this roast duck tastes so delicious, I can hardly hold it back." Zhang Yuedong kept swallowing his saliva.

After a while, the waiter brought a freshly roasted duck. The duck was bright red, with crispy skin and tender meat, exuding an attractive luster. The chef skillfully sliced ​​the duck into thin slices and neatly placed them on the plate.

Li Xiao picked up a pancake, put a few slices of duck meat, scallions and cucumbers on it, dipped it in sweet noodle sauce, rolled it up and put it in his mouth. "Well, it tastes great, the duck meat is tender and juicy, the duck skin is crispy and delicious, and paired with the refreshing scallions and cucumbers, it is simply a delicacy on earth." He praised it highly.

Zhang Yuedong also quickly tasted it and nodded repeatedly: "It's delicious. This is the best roast duck I have ever eaten. I have eaten roast duck in Shanghai before, but compared with this authentic Beijing roast duck, it is a world of difference."

While eating, Lin Yifei did not forget to use his camera to record this delicious moment. "Such a delicious roast duck, I must take a picture and show it to my friends when I get home," he said with a smile.

In addition to Peking duck, they also ordered some other Beijing specialties, such as Old Beijing Noodles with Soy Sauce, Fried Liver, Pea Yellow, etc. Each dish made them feel the unique charm of Beijing cuisine.

After dinner, they came to a theater to watch a wonderful Peking Opera performance. Peking Opera, as the quintessence of China, has a unique artistic charm. They walked into the theater, which was packed with people waiting for the performance to begin.

With the sound of exciting gongs and drums, the performance officially began. The actors, dressed in gorgeous costumes, appeared on stage. Their performance was delicate and vivid, and they were proficient in singing, reciting, acting and fighting, and every move showed their profound skills.

"This Peking Opera is so wonderful, and the actors' performances are amazing." Zhang Yuedong stared at the stage and exclaimed.

Lin Yifei was also attracted by the charm of Peking Opera. He whispered to Li Xiao: "Look at their singing, which is graceful and melodious, full of charm. And the movements, which are both hard and soft, are really a kind of beautiful enjoyment."

Li Xiao nodded and said, "Peking opera is not only an artistic performance, but also an important carrier of Chinese traditional culture. It combines music, dance, martial arts, literature and other elements, and through the performances of actors, it shows the historical stories and characters of ancient China."

During the performance, they also saw some classic Peking Opera clips, such as "Farewell My Concubine" and "The Drunken Concubine". The wonderful performances of the actors made them feel as if they had traveled through time and space and returned to the ancient times, feeling the changes and emotions of the characters in that era. After the performance, the audience responded with warm applause. They also stood up and applauded the actors for their wonderful performances.

"This Peking Opera performance really opened my eyes. I had only watched Peking Opera on TV before, but I didn't expect that watching it live would be so shocking," Zhang Yuedong said excitedly.

Lin Yifei also said with emotion: "Yes, Peking Opera is indeed the quintessence of China. This unique artistic charm really makes people intoxicated."

Li Xiao smiled and said: "If we have the chance in the future, we will watch more Peking operas to gain a deeper understanding of this art."

The next day, they came to Wangfujing Pedestrian Street in Beijing to buy some special products of Beijing. Wangfujing Pedestrian Street was crowded with people and lively, and there were all kinds of shops, which made people dazzled.

They first came to a time-honored preserved fruit shop, which was filled with all kinds of preserved fruits, including apricots, pears, peaches, hawthorns, etc., with bright colors and fragrant aromas.

"BJ's preserved fruits are very famous. Let's bring some back for our family and friends to try." Li Xiao said, and began to pick.

Zhang Yuedong picked up a bag of dried apricots, took a bite and said, "These dried apricots are moderately sweet and sour, and have a soft and sticky texture. They are really delicious. I have to buy a few more bags."

Lin Yifei also picked out some preserved fruits that he liked. He said: "These preserved fruits are made using traditional secret recipes from the imperial court. They retain the original flavor of the fruits and are very distinctive."

In addition to preserved fruits, they also bought some other specialties, such as Peking duck gift boxes, Fuling cakes, donkey rolls, etc. These specialties can not only be given as gifts to relatives and friends, but also as a commemoration of their trip to BJ.

While buying specialties, they also chatted with the store owner, who enthusiastically introduced to them the production methods and historical culture of various specialties, allowing them to have a deeper understanding of BJ's specialties.

"This time in BJ, I not only visited many famous attractions and tasted delicious food, but also watched wonderful Peking Opera performances and bought special local specialties. It was really a fruitful trip." Zhang Yuedong said with satisfaction.

Lin Yifei smiled and said, "Yes, BJ is really a charming city. Every place is so charming that you can't wait to share these experiences and photos with your friends."

Li Xiao looked at the specialty in his hand and said, "This is just the first stop of our trip. There are more cities waiting for us to explore. I believe there will be different surprises at each stop."

With fond memories of BJ and anticipation for the next stop, they ended their journey in BJ and prepared to embark on a new journey.

After finishing their trip to BJ, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei took a short break and then set off on a journey south to Suzhou and Hangzhou. They were full of expectations for these two cities full of Jiangnan charm, eager to experience the gentleness and delicacy different from the north.

After several hours of high-speed rail ride, they arrived in Suzhou. As soon as they got off the train, the moist air and the faint fragrance of flowers made them feel the unique charm of the Jiangnan water town. "This is Suzhou, it feels completely different from BJ, and there is a sense of refinement and elegance everywhere." Li Xiao took a deep breath and said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong also looked around excitedly, "Yes, I've heard that Suzhou's gardens are the best in the world. I must appreciate them this time."

Lin Yifei couldn't wait to take out his camera to capture every moment of Suzhou Station. "Such a beautiful city must be recorded with the camera."

After they arrived at the hotel they booked and dropped off their luggage, they headed straight to the Humble Administrator's Garden. The Humble Administrator's Garden, a representative work of Jiangnan classical gardens, is world-famous for its exquisite layout and unique landscape. When they walked into the Humble Administrator's Garden, it was as if they had entered a poetic world. The garden is surrounded by mountains and waters, shaded by green trees, and has pavilions and towers scattered in an orderly manner. Every scene is like a beautiful painting.

"Wow, this garden is so beautiful! It's like a paradise on earth." Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but exclaimed.

Lin Yifei kept pressing the shutter of his camera, wanting to capture all the beautiful scenery. "Every detail here is handled just right. It is worthy of being the mother of gardens in the world," he exclaimed.

Li Xiao carefully admired the layout and architectural style of the garden and said, "The Humble Administrator's Garden is centered on water, and the pavilions and terraces are all built by the water. This layout reflects the characteristics of the Jiangnan water town. Moreover, the rocks, ancient trees, green bamboos, and flowers in the garden complement each other, forming a remote and tranquil picture."

They strolled in the garden and first came to Yuanxiang Hall. Yuanxiang Hall is the main building of the Humble Administrator's Garden. It is ventilated on all sides and has a wide view. There is a large pond in front of the hall, which is full of lotus flowers. It is summer now, and the lotus flowers are blooming in red, pink, and white, vying for beauty and emitting bursts of fragrance. "The lotus leaves are endless and green, and the lotus flowers are particularly red in the sun. The lotus flowers here are so beautiful that they make people intoxicated." Li Xiao looked at the lotus flowers in the pond and recited Yang Wanli's poem.

Zhang Yuedong was also attracted by the beautiful scenery. He walked to the edge of the pond to appreciate the lotus flowers up close. "This lotus is not only beautiful, but also exudes a faint fragrance that makes people feel happy." He took a deep breath, with a satisfied smile on his face.

Lin Yifei stood aside, photographing the lotus flowers from different angles. He said as he took the photos: "These lotus flowers look even more beautiful under the sunlight. I must take photos of them in their most beautiful posture."

Then, they came to Xiangzhou. Xiangzhou is a stone boat surrounded by water on three sides. It has a unique shape, like a cruise ship about to set sail. They walked on the stone boat, feeling the breeze on their faces, as if they were really in the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains. "Standing here, I feel like an ancient scholar, traveling and enjoying the mountains and rivers. It's so pleasant." Zhang Yuedong closed his eyes and enjoyed the tranquility of the moment.

Li Xiao smiled and said: "The design of Xiangzhou is unique. It is not only a landscape in the garden, but also embodies the owner's yearning for freedom and leisurely life."

Lin Yifei looked around on the stone boat, looking for a shooting angle. "The scenery here is so beautiful. The stone boat blends into the surrounding mountains and waters, forming a beautiful picture." He said, pressing the shutter again.

During the tour of the Humble Administrator's Garden, they also visited Xuexiang Yunwei Pavilion, Wuzhu Youju, Xiaofeihong and other scenic spots. Each scenic spot has its own unique charm, which makes them linger. Xuexiang Yunwei Pavilion is surrounded by plum blossoms, which are in full bloom in winter and have a fragrant aroma; Wuzhu Youju is surrounded by green bamboos and has a quiet environment. It is a good place to cultivate one's body and mind; Xiaofeihong is a covered bridge, and the vermilion railings are reflected in the water, like a rainbow, which is beautiful.