Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1646

Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei are good friends who have known each other for many years. They are busy with their own lives and rush to different cities for life. However, their yearning for distant places and cherishing the time they spend together made them hit it off and decided to start a spontaneous trip to China.

Li Xiao is a warm and cheerful girl with a strong interest in history and culture, and she always has a heart to explore the unknown; Zhang Yuedong is calm and thoughtful, and all the trivial matters during the trip are arranged in an orderly manner in his hands; Lin Yifei is a real food lover, and he can be found wherever there is food, and he is the one who discovers all the special delicacies along the way.

They decided to make their first stop in BJ, a capital city that carries countless historical memories and modern prosperity. When the plane slowly landed at BJ Capital International Airport, the excitement and anticipation in the hearts of the three people became stronger. After leaving the airport, Zhang Yuedong stopped a taxi and went straight to the homestay near Nanluoguxiang that he had already booked. Along the way, Li Xiao was like a happy little bird, lying on the car window and looking at the busy scene outside, muttering to himself: "We are finally in BJ, I really want to see Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City as soon as possible!" Lin Yifei smiled and responded: "Don't worry, we have plenty of time to stroll along the way. Put your luggage away first. I can't wait to try Beijing roast duck."

Soon, the car stopped at the entrance of an alley full of old BJ style. The B&B was renovated from a quadrangle, with gray tiles and red walls, full of ancient charm. After completing the check-in procedures and taking a short rest, they officially started their BJ trip.

In the early morning, the sun shone through the skylight of the courtyard. Li Xiao got up early and excitedly woke up Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei who were still sleeping: "Hurry up, we are going to the Forbidden City today, we can't miss the opening time." Zhang Yuedong sat up with sleepy eyes and said with a smile: "Don't worry, the Forbidden City will not run away. Let's wash up and have breakfast and then set off."

After the three of them packed up, they ate a bowl of old Beijing noodles in the alley and headed towards the Forbidden City. Along the way, Li Xiao, like a tour guide, introduced everyone to the knowledge she had learned about the Forbidden City last night: "Do you know? The Forbidden City was formerly known as the Forbidden City. It was the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are more than 9,000 rooms in total. If you visit one by one, it will take several days." Lin Yifei joked, "Then we must wear a pair of comfortable walking shoes today, otherwise we will be exhausted."

Soon, the magnificent Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City came into view. The vermilion walls were tall and majestic, and the golden glazed tiles on the towers sparkled in the sun. Li Xiao couldn't help but stop and look up in amazement: "Wow, this is so spectacular, it feels like I have traveled back to ancient times." Zhang Yuedong also nodded and said with emotion: "Yes, this is the accumulation of hundreds of years of history. Let's feel the majesty of the royal family today."

Memories of the Forbidden City

After buying the tickets and passing through the Meridian Gate, they seemed to have stepped into another time and space. In front of them was the Hall of Supreme Harmony, with its golden glazed tiles, vermilion pillars, and exquisitely carved beams and painted buildings, all of which showed the luxury and majesty of the ancient royal family. Li Xiao ran in front excitedly, his eyes wide open: "This is the Hall of Supreme Harmony. I often see it on TV, but I didn't expect it to be even more shocking to see it with my own eyes." Zhang Yuedong followed behind and said with a smile: "The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the first of the three major halls in the Forbidden City. It is the place where major ceremonies are held. Look at the ridge beasts on the roof of this hall. They are the most numerous and of the highest specifications." Lin Yifei held up a camera at the side and kept taking pictures: "I have to take more pictures and show them to my friends when I go back. It's simply magnificent."

Walking along the central axis, they visited the Zhonghe Hall and the Baohe Hall in turn. Each palace has its own unique charm and profound historical stories. Behind the Baohe Hall, Li Xiao was attracted by a huge cloud dragon stone sculpture. She squatted down and carefully touched the lines on the stone sculpture: "How heavy is this stone? How did the ancients transport it? It's incredible." Zhang Yuedong also squatted down and explained: "It is said that this was mined from Fangshan. It took tens of thousands of migrant workers and a long time to transport it to the Forbidden City. This is the crystallization of the wisdom and sweat of ancient craftsmen."

Then, they walked into the six east and west palaces, which were more quiet and elegant than the grand three main halls. The palace walls were high and the courtyards were deep, as if one could hear the echo of history. In the Yanxi Palace, Li Xiao looked at the ruins of the Western-style buildings and asked curiously, "Why is this palace different from the others? It feels like a combination of Chinese and Western styles." Zhang Yuedong pushed his glasses and said, "The Yanxi Palace suffered a fire in the late Qing Dynasty. Later, it was rebuilt in a Western architectural style. Unfortunately, it was not completed and became what it is now. It is also unique."

After visiting the East Six Palaces, the three of them were a little tired, so they sat down in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden to rest. Lin Yifei took out a few bottles of water from his backpack and distributed them to everyone: "This Forbidden City is too big. My legs are almost broken after visiting it, but it's really worth it." Li Xiao drank a sip of water and looked at the surrounding flowers, trees, pavilions and towers: "The Imperial Garden is so beautiful. This should be the place where the concubines in the harem relax. Imagine them enjoying flowers, drinking tea and chatting here. It's also a comfortable life." Zhang Yuedong stood up and stretched: "We have rested enough. Let's go to the Treasure House and the Clock House. There are many rare treasures there."

Roast duck and Beijing flavor

It was already afternoon when they came out of the Forbidden City, and the three of them were so hungry that their stomachs growled. Lin Yifei excitedly suggested: "Let's go and eat Peking duck. I've been craving for it for a long time." Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong readily agreed and followed Lin Yifei to a time-honored roast duck restaurant.

The interior of the restaurant is decorated in an antique style and filled with the aroma of roast duck. As soon as we sat down, the waiter enthusiastically brought a pot of chrysanthemum tea: "Have some tea first, the roast duck will be ready soon." After a while, a reddish, shiny roast duck was served on the table. The chef skillfully sliced ​​the duck meat, and the paper-thin duck skin and tender duck meat were neatly placed on the plate. Zhang Yuedong smiled and introduced to Li Xiao and Lin Yifei: "This Beijing roast duck is very particular. The traditional way to eat it is to roll the duck meat, scallion shreds, and cucumber shreds with pancakes, and then dip it in sweet noodle sauce. It is so fragrant when you take a bite."

Li Xiao did as Zhang Yuedong said, picked up a pancake, put duck meat, shredded green onion and cucumber on it, dipped it in sweet noodle sauce, rolled it up gently, took a bite, and his eyes suddenly lit up: "Wow, this is so delicious, the duck skin is crispy, the duck meat is tender, and the taste of the sweet noodle sauce is just right, it's amazing." Lin Yifei didn't bother to speak, his mouth was full, and he gave a thumbs up vaguely.

The three of them were enjoying the roast duck while sharing what they saw and heard in the Forbidden City today. Laughter and joy echoed in the restaurant. After eating the roast duck, they ordered a few plates of old BJ snacks, such as pea yellow, donkey rolls, and Aiwo Wo. Every bite was full of rich Beijing flavor.

The beauty of folklore
As night falls and the lights come on, BJ's night has a special charm. The three heard that there was a wonderful folk performance near Houhai, so they went there with great interest.

The lights on the shore were reflected on the surface of Houhai Lake. Melodious songs came from the bar, intertwined with the sound of gongs and drums not far away. They followed the sound to a square, where they saw a group of people wearing bright clothes and walking on stilts, performing a wonderful show. Li Xiao pulled Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei's arms and said excitedly, "Come on, come on, this is the stilt show, it's so interesting."

The performance team included various characters such as Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie. They performed various difficult movements, which attracted cheers from the audience. Lin Yifei was fascinated and kept saying, "This must have taken a long time to practice. Their sense of balance is so good." Zhang Yuedong explained, "Stilts are a traditional folk custom of old BJ. Most of these performers are folk artists, and their skills have been passed down from generation to generation." In addition to stilts, there were also dragon and lion dance performances, with giant dragons flying and lions jumping. The atmosphere was very warm. The three of them were immersed in this joyful atmosphere and felt the unique charm of the folk culture of old BJ.

Specialty exploration
The next day, the three of them came to Qianmen Street, where various Beijing specialty shops are gathered and it is a good place to choose local specialties.

Walking into a Daoxiangcun store, the dazzling array of pastries dazzles the eyes. Li Xiao picked up a piece of jujube paste pastry and smelled it: "This Daoxiangcun pastry is famous. I heard that the ingredients are very particular. Let's buy some and bring them back for our family to try." Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, like this jujube paste pastry, it uses Cangzhou golden silk jujubes, which have a strong jujube fragrance and are sweet but not greasy. There are also ox tongue biscuits, which have a salty and sweet filling and a crispy and soft crust, which are also very good."

With the recommendation of the store clerk, they selected several boxes of pastries and also bought some preserved fruits, Fuling cakes and other specialties. Looking at the full shopping bags, Lin Yifei smiled and said, "This is a great return. Our trip to BJ not only allowed us to see the beautiful scenery and eat delicious food, but we can also bring these delicacies home. It's worth it."

When leaving BJ, the three were reluctant to leave. This ancient yet modern city left a deep impression on them. But they knew that this was just the beginning of the journey. There were more cities waiting for them to explore and more beautiful things waiting for them to discover. Sitting on the train to the next stop, they began to look forward to the next journey...

Bidding farewell to the ancient charm of BJ, the three took the high-speed rail and headed south to Shanghai, which is full of modern charm. The train slowly pulled into Shanghai Hongqiao Station. Li Xiao looked out the window excitedly, his eyes flashing with anticipation for this oriental magic city: "Finally arrived in Shanghai. I heard that there are high-rise buildings everywhere, and there is also a super beautiful Bund night view. I can't wait to see it!" Zhang Yuedong took the luggage with a smile: "Don't worry, let's go to the hotel to put our things first. There are a lot of fun things along the way." Lin Yifei fiddled with the camera on the side, muttering: "I have to take more photos to record the prosperity of Shanghai."

They took the subway to the hotel near Nanjing Road, and after a short rest, they headed straight to the Bund. After exiting the subway station, the three were instantly attracted by the prosperity of the city. The high-rise buildings were lined up one after another, and the hustle and bustle of the city was full of the hustle and bustle of the city. The pedestrians were dressed fashionably and walked hurriedly, as if everyone was chasing their dreams.

The Bund Dream
The Bund, a riverside avenue known as the "World Architecture Expo", carries the history and glory of Shanghai for a hundred years. Li Xiao and his friends strolled along the Bund. On the left were European-style buildings of different styles, each with a unique story; on the right was the surging Huangpu River, with cruise ships coming and going on the river, creating ripples.

Li Xiao pointed at the building in front of him and said excitedly to his companions: "Look, the tower-like building is the Customs Building. I heard that its bell has a loud sound. It used to be one of the iconic sounds of Shanghai. And the one with a green dome next to it is the HSBC Building. It is said that the murals on the dome are super exquisite." Zhang Yuedong pushed his glasses and added: "Most of these buildings were built in the early last century after Shanghai opened its port. They integrate Gothic, Baroque and other architectural styles, and have witnessed the development of Shanghai from a small fishing village to an international metropolis."

As the sky gradually darkened, the lights of the Bund lit up one by one, decorating the entire riverside like a dream. The Oriental Pearl TV Tower was like a bright pearl, shining with colorful light, and the surrounding skyscrapers such as the Jinmao Tower and the Shanghai Tower complemented each other, forming a beautiful skyline painting. Li Xiao excitedly took his mobile phone and kept taking pictures: "This is too beautiful, it feels like walking into a dream world, I want to share these beautiful views with my friends." Lin Yifei was not to be outdone, fiddling with the camera, looking for the best shooting angle: "Such a beautiful night view, you have to take a few more pictures, and you can make an album when you go back."

The three took many photos on the Bund and asked passers-by to help take group photos. Everyone had a happy smile on their face. The river breeze blew gently, bringing a hint of coolness. They sat on the bench by the river, quietly admiring the prosperous night view and feeling the unique charm of Shanghai. Zhang Yuedong said with emotion: "Shanghai is really a magical city. It has a profound historical heritage and such a modern side. People can't help but sigh at the changes of the times." Li Xiao nodded in agreement: "Yes, here you can see the fusion of the past and the present, and every landscape seems to be telling a story. I really want to know more about the past here." Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Then let's take a good walk these few days and dig out all the stories of Shanghai."

Fried rice with sesame oil
After walking around for a long time, the three people's stomachs began to growl. As the foodie, Lin Yifei immediately suggested: "Let's go, I know there is a delicious shengjianbao shop nearby, let's go and try it." Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong readily agreed, followed Lin Yifei through several alleys, and came to a time-honored shengjianbao shop.

The aroma filled the store, and diners sat around the table, savoring the shengjian with gusto. They found an empty seat and sat down. After a while, a basket of steaming shengjian was served on the table. The bottom of the shengjian was fried golden and crispy, and sprinkled with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, which looked very beautiful. Li Xiao couldn't wait to pick up the chopsticks, picked up a shengjian, took a bite, and the delicious soup burst in his mouth instantly: "Wow, this soup is too rich, the meat filling is so fresh, and the skin is crispy and soft, so delicious." Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "This shengjian is a specialty snack in Shanghai. It's all about the delicious soup and crispy skin. Look at the folds of the bun, they are all hand-kneaded by the master, very particular."

Lin Yifei was eating with his mouth full of oil, and said vaguely: "I spent a long time researching to find this restaurant. The taste is very authentic. You should eat more." The three of them ate Shengjian and ordered a few bowls of beef soup. They ate Shengjian and hot soup with great pleasure. The atmosphere in the restaurant was lively and warm. The local Shanghainese around them chatted in the soft Wu dialect, which made them feel more integrated into the city.

Shanghai Style Show
After eating and drinking, they heard that there was a Shanghai folk performance nearby, so they went to watch it with great interest. The performance venue was an antique small theater. When they walked into the theater, they could feel the rich Shanghai cultural atmosphere.

On the stage, actors dressed in traditional Shanghai costumes performed classic plays such as farce and monologue. The humorous performances of the farce actors drew bursts of laughter from the audience. They interpreted small stories in life in Shanghai dialect, which made people laugh. Li Xiao laughed so hard that he fell backwards: "This Shanghai farce is so interesting. It feels like watching the life of old Shanghai. Although I don't understand some of the words, the sense of humor is the same." Zhang Yuedong explained on the side: "Funny is one of the traditional operas in Shanghai. It combines various performance forms such as crosstalk and sketches. It reflects social reality in a humorous way and is very popular among Shanghai people."

Next, there was a beautiful Shanghai opera performance. The actors' graceful singing and delicate performances fully displayed the charm of Shanghai opera. Although Lin Yifei didn't know much about opera, he was also attracted by the melodious singing: "This Shanghai opera sounds really good, and it feels very charming. It is very different from our northern opera." Li Xiao nodded and said: "Shanghai opera is a representative opera in Shanghai, with a profound cultural heritage. Its singing, costumes, and performances are very exquisite. I am so lucky to be able to see it live today."

After the performance, the three were still reluctant to leave, so they bought some small items about Shanghai folk culture in the souvenir shop outside the theater, planning to take them back as souvenirs.