Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1732

Zhang Yuedong also said with emotion: "Yes, the vastness and depth of the sea make people feel particularly comfortable."

Lin Yifei looked at the sea view in the distance, his eyes full of intoxication: "I have always liked the sea. Its tolerance and mystery always fascinate people. Every time I see the sea, I feel that all my troubles are thrown away."

They admired the sea view and took photos to capture this beautiful moment forever. At the end of the pier, they boarded the Huilan Pavilion and stood on the attic, overlooking the entire Qingdao Bay. The high-rise buildings in the distance and the blue sea and sky complemented each other, forming a beautiful city picture; on the nearby sea, ships came and went, and it was very lively. The sea breeze gently brushed across their cheeks, bringing a hint of coolness, making them feel the gentleness and romance of the sea.

After leaving the trestle, they came to Badaguan, where there are many buildings of different styles, including Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, etc. Each building seems to be telling a unique history, making people feel like they are in a palace of architectural art, so it is known as the "International Architecture Expo".

They strolled along the quiet streets, with lush trees on both sides of the road, shielding them from the summer sun. Occasionally, a breeze blew, and the leaves rustled, as if telling them the story of Badaguan. Exquisite buildings were scattered on both sides of the street, some of which were simple and elegant, while others were full of modern atmosphere. They blended with each other to form a unique aesthetic.

"These buildings are so beautiful, and each one has its own characteristics." Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the buildings in front of him.

Li Xiao nodded in agreement: "Yes, and these buildings have rich historical and cultural connotations behind them. It is said that most of the buildings here were built by foreigners in the early 20th century. They have witnessed the historical changes of Qingdao."

Lin Yifei is very interested in architecture. He carefully observed the details of each building: "Look, the spires and stained glass windows of this Gothic building are so delicately designed. And the arches and columns of the Romanesque building are full of classical charm."

While appreciating the buildings, they discussed the historical background and style characteristics of different buildings. In Badaguan, they felt the profound historical and cultural heritage of Qingdao and appreciated the charm of the fusion of Eastern and Western architectural art. Every building here is a work of art, carrying the memory of history and showing the unique style of this city.

After a day of shopping, the three of them were hungry, so they decided to try Qingdao's special seafood. They came to the local seafood market, and as soon as they entered the market, all kinds of seafood came into view, dazzling. Lively shrimps, crabs with claws and teeth, colorful shellfish... Every kind of seafood exudes the breath of the sea, making people salivate.

"Wow, there are so many seafood here. I want to eat every one of them." Zhang Yuedong looked at the seafood in front of him excitedly.

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Then let's pick a few more dishes. We must eat to our heart's content today."

Lin Yifei carefully selected the seafood: "I heard that the crabs and shrimps in Qingdao are very fresh. Let's buy some more."

They selected fresh shrimps, crabs, shellfish and other seafood, and then went to a nearby restaurant to ask the chef to help them prepare them. After a while, delicious seafood dishes were served on the table. The crabs were full of roe, and the delicious crab roe spread in the mouth with a gentle bite, and the rich aroma made people intoxicated; the shrimp meat was tender and chewy, with an excellent taste, and it was even more flavorful when dipped in a little sauce; the shellfish meat was delicious and original, making people taste the gift of the sea.

"This seafood is so delicious, it's simply the most delicious thing on earth." Li Xiao praised the crabs while eating them.

Zhang Yuedong also ate with gusto: "Yes, this fresh seafood is different, the taste is so delicious."

Lin Yifei said with a smile: "Eating seafood in Qingdao is really a pleasure. This seafood feast made me feel the unique charm of Qingdao cuisine."

They tasted seafood, drank Tsingtao beer, and felt the food culture of this coastal city. They had a pleasant dinner time with laughter and joy.

After dinner, they came to a folk performance venue to watch the Jiaozhou Yangko performance. Before the performance began, the atmosphere was lively and the audience was looking forward to the performance.

As the cheerful music sounded, the actors dressed in colorful costumes walked onto the stage with light steps. Holding fans and handkerchiefs in their hands, they performed gracefully and smoothly, showing the unique charm of Jiaozhou Yangge. The actors' faces were filled with bright smiles, and their enthusiastic performances infected every audience, filling the entire scene with a joyful atmosphere.

"This Jiaozhou Yangge is so wonderful, and the actors' performances are so professional." Zhang Yuedong clapped his hands excitedly.

Li Xiao was also deeply attracted by the performance: "Yes, the dance moves are light and graceful, with a full sense of rhythm, which makes people dazzled."

Lin Yifei said with a smile: "I feel that Jiaozhou Yangge is full of vitality and passion. It is not only a dance, but also a vivid embodiment of Qingdao's folk culture."

The actors' performances were full of climaxes, and their wonderful movements and expressions won rounds of applause and cheers from the audience. The three were also infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere of the performances, and they clapped along with the rhythm, with happy smiles on their faces. At this moment, they seemed to be integrated into the folk culture of Qingdao and felt the unique charm of this city.

After watching the performance, they came to the specialty store to pick some specialties to take home. There are a wide variety of specialties in the store, including Tsingtao beer, Tsingtao fat residue, sorghum candy, etc. Each specialty has the characteristics of Qingdao.

"When you come to Qingdao, you must bring back a few bottles of Tsingtao beer." Li Xiao picked up a bottle of Tsingtao beer and looked at it carefully. "This Tsingtao beer has rich and delicate foam, rich malt aroma, and mellow taste. It is the iconic specialty of Qingdao."

Zhang Yuedong also picked up a few bottles of beer: "Yes, take them back and share them with friends, so that they can also taste the taste of Qingdao."

Lin Yifei was very interested in Qingdao fat residue: "I heard that Qingdao fat residue is very famous and tastes crispy and delicious. Let's buy some."

They also bought other specialties, such as sorghum candy, Laoshan green tea, etc. Each specialty carries the memory and culture of Qingdao, and they hope to bring the good memories of Qingdao back home through these specialties.

With the enthusiastic introduction of the specialty store owner, they learned about the production process and characteristics of these specialties. While selecting, they exchanged their views on these specialties and gained a deeper understanding of Qingdao. On this day in Qingdao, they felt the romance and vitality of this coastal city. The beautiful sea view of the pier, the international architecture of Badaguan, the delicious seafood feast, the wonderful folk performances and the rich specialties all left a deep impression on them. With a full harvest and expectations for the next stop, they returned to the hotel and prepared for a new journey.

After spending a pleasant time in Qingdao, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei set off for Qufu with great anticipation. Qufu, a city with a profound Confucian cultural heritage, is an important stop on their trip to Shandong. They are eager to explore the roots of Confucian culture here and experience the unique charm of the sage's hometown.

"Qufu is the hometown of Confucius. The Confucius Temple and Confucius Mansion there are important symbols of Confucian culture. I have been looking forward to visiting them for a long time." Li Xiao said excitedly, his eyes sparkling with a desire for knowledge and culture.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, it is a rare opportunity to be able to visit the hometown of the saint and experience the influence of Confucian culture firsthand."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Perhaps in Qufu, we can learn a lot of principles of dealing with people."

As soon as they stepped into Qufu, they were overwhelmed by the rich cultural atmosphere. The ancient city walls and quaint streets seemed to bring them back to the era of a hundred schools of thought. They first came to the Confucius Temple, a temple dedicated to Confucius that has gone through more than 2,000 years of wind and rain, and is still solemn and majestic, exuding a unique charm.

The gate of the Confucius Temple is majestic and magnificent, with red walls and yellow tiles, and it looks particularly solemn under the sunlight. Walking into the Confucius Temple, the towering ancient cypresses and green trees seem to isolate the noise of the outside world. Walking along the central axis, they visited the Lingxing Gate, Shengshi Gate, Hongdao Gate, Dazhong Gate, Tongwen Gate and other buildings in turn. Each gate has a unique historical and cultural connotation, which makes people sigh at the wisdom and ingenuity of the ancients.

"These buildings are so imposing, and each one contains profound cultural heritage." Li Xiao looked up at the buildings in front of him and said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but admire: "Yes, from the layout and decoration of these buildings, we can feel the profound influence of Confucian culture on ancient Chinese architecture."

Lin Yifei carefully observed the carvings and paintings on the building and said: "These carvings and paintings are not only exquisite, but also contain rich Confucian thoughts and moral concepts. It is really beneficial."

Continuing forward, they came to the core building of the Confucius Temple - Dacheng Hall. The Dacheng Hall is magnificent, with nine ridges and double eaves, yellow tiles covering the roof, carved beams and painted buildings, showing the royal style. The ten dragon pillars in front of the hall, with high reliefs of coiled dragons and clouds entwined around the pillars, have beautiful and vivid shapes, exquisite carvings, vigorous knife skills, and lifelike dragon postures, which are breathtaking.

Entering the Dacheng Hall, there is a statue of Confucius, sitting 3.35 meters tall, wearing a twelve-tassel crown, a twelve-chapter royal robe, and holding a scepter in his hand, just like the ancient emperor's etiquette, solemn and awe-inspiring. On both sides are the four companions, the east one facing west is Yan Hui, the sage of restoration, and the west one facing east is Zeng Shen, the sage of the clan, and Meng Ke, the second sage. Outside are the twelve philosophers, whose statues are also lifelike, with different expressions.

"The moment I saw the statue of Confucius, I seemed to feel his wisdom and teachings traveling through time and space and rushing towards me." Li Xiao looked at the statue of Confucius with reverence in his eyes.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, Confucius's thoughts have influenced China for thousands of years, and to this day, they still have important value and significance."

Lin Yifei fell into deep thought: "I was wondering how Confucius used his wisdom and perseverance to establish the Confucian school and spread his ideas?"

At this time, the tour guide came over and explained Confucius' thoughts and life in detail. From Confucius' thoughts on "benevolence" and "propriety" to his educational philosophy and political propositions; from his travels around the countries to his writings in his later years, the tour guide's vivid explanation gave them a deeper understanding of Confucius.

During the visit, the three of them exchanged their understanding of Confucian culture from time to time.

"I think the 'benevolence' in Confucian culture means caring for others and respecting others, which is still very important in today's society," said Li Xiao.

Zhang Yuedong also expressed his own views: "I think the 'ritual' in Confucian culture not only refers to etiquette norms, but also a kind of social order and moral code, which enables people to live in harmony in society."

Lin Yifei added: "Moreover, the personal cultivation and moral self-discipline emphasized by Confucian culture can also enable us to constantly improve ourselves and become better people."

They lingered in the Confucius Temple and felt the profoundness of Confucian culture. Every stone tablet, every building, and every statue seemed to be telling a story of history and conveying the spiritual connotation of Confucian culture.

After leaving the Confucius Temple, they came to the Confucius Mansion, where Confucius' eldest grandson lived. Together with the Confucius Temple in Qufu and the Confucius Cemetery, it is known as the "Three Confucius Mansions" and is known as the "No. 240 Family in the World". The Confucius Mansion has a three-way layout, nine courtyards, covers an area of ​​463 acres, and has a total of halls, halls, buildings, and rooms. It is the largest and oldest feudal aristocratic manor in China, and is also one of the outstanding representatives of ancient Chinese architectural art.

Walking into the Confucius Mansion, the courtyard is deep, the buildings are well-arranged, and it is full of cultural atmosphere. The front of the middle road is the government office, and the back is the inner house; the front of the east road is the East School, the west road is the West School; the back is the garden. They first visited the government office, where the Duke of Yansheng handled official business and clan affairs. The hall, the second hall, the third hall and other buildings are solemn and majestic, showing the majesty and power of the Duke of Yansheng.

"I didn't expect the Confucius Mansion's government office to be so grand. It feels like a small imperial court." Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the building in front of him.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, from the scale and decoration of these buildings, we can see the social status of the Confucius Mansion at that time."

Lin Yifei was very interested in the carvings and paintings on the buildings: "These carvings and paintings are not only exquisite, but also contain rich cultural connotations, which are really pleasing to the eye."

Then, they came to the inner house, where Duke Yansheng ate, lived and slept, and the architectural style was more warm and elegant. The front hall and back hall and other buildings were well preserved, and many precious cultural relics and furniture were displayed inside, showing the luxury and wealth of the Confucius Mansion.

During the visit, the tour guide told them about the history and culture of the Confucius Mansion. From how the descendants of Confucius inherited Confucian culture to the status and role of the Confucius Mansion in successive dynasties; from the family traditions and teachings of the Confucius Mansion to the food culture of the Confucius Mansion, the tour guide's explanation gave them a more comprehensive understanding of the Confucius Mansion.