Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1647

Zhang Yuedong picked up a badge with a burlesque pattern and said with a smile: "These little items are very meaningful. Seeing them reminds me of today's wonderful performance and the unique style of Shanghai."

On their last day in Shanghai, they came to Yuyuan Shopping Mall, which houses a variety of Shanghai specialty products and is an excellent place to buy local specialties.

Walking into a time-honored Shanghai food store, the dazzling array of specialties dazzled one's eyes. Li Xiao picked up a box of pear paste candy and looked at it carefully: "This pear paste candy is a traditional Shanghai delicacy. I heard that it has the effect of relieving cough and asthma, and it tastes sweet and delicious. Let's buy some back for our family to try." Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, and this five-spice bean is also a Shanghai specialty. It is made from broad beans and has a soft and sticky texture. The more you chew, the more fragrant it is."

Lin Yifei was attracted by the Gaoqiao pancakes nearby. He picked up a pancake and smelled it: "This pancake looks very tempting, with a crispy crust and rich fillings. It must be delicious." The clerk introduced enthusiastically: "Our Gaoqiao pancakes are carefully made with refined white flour, cooked lard, soft white sugar and other ingredients. They come in a variety of flavors and are sweet but not greasy. They are a favorite snack for Shanghai people."

The three of them picked up a lot of specialties in the store, and also bought some Shanghai-style silk scarves, refrigerator magnets and other souvenirs. Li Xiao looked at the full shopping bag and said happily: "This is a great harvest. These specialties are not only gifts for family and friends, but also beautiful memories of our trip to Shanghai." Zhang Yuedong smiled and responded: "Yes, each specialty carries the culture and customs of Shanghai. Bring it back so that everyone can also feel the charm of Shanghai."

When they left Yuyuan Shopping Mall, the afterglow of the setting sun fell on them, coating their figures with a layer of gold. The city of Shanghai left a deep impression on them, with the prosperity and magnificence of the Bund and the fireworks in the alleys; the deliciousness of the pan-fried buns and the unique charm of folk culture. They embarked on the journey to the next stop with full of memories and expectations, and they didn't know what kind of surprises the next city would bring them...

After leaving Shanghai, the three of them rushed to Chongqing, their next destination full of passion and excitement. When the plane slowly landed at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, Li Xiao said excitedly, "I've heard that Chongqing is an '8D Magic City', and I can't wait to experience it!" Zhang Yuedong smiled and replied, "Yes, I heard that the terrain here is very unique, and there are too many delicacies to count. We are in for a treat these days." Lin Yifei fiddled with his phone and looked up Chongqing's food guide, "I've already picked out a few hot pot restaurants, and we must go and try the authentic Chongqing hot pot."

After leaving the airport, they took the light rail to the hotel near Jiefangbei. Along the way, Li Xiao looked at the scenery outside through the window and couldn't help but exclaimed: "This light rail can actually pass through the building, it's amazing! And this road, sometimes uphill and sometimes downhill, feels like riding a roller coaster." Zhang Yuedong smiled and explained: "This is the characteristic of Chongqing. Because of the undulating terrain, these unique transportation methods and architectural layouts have been created. Isn't it interesting?" Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "It is indeed very special. I feel that this city is full of vitality, and there are people coming and going everywhere, and it is very lively."

Hongya Phantom
After arriving at the hotel and dropping off their luggage, they headed straight to Chongqing's iconic attraction, Hongya Cave. When night fell and the lights came on, Hongya Cave looked like a dreamy castle in the sky, standing on the bank of the Jialing River. Li Xiao and his friends stood on the Qiansimen Bridge, overlooking the entire Hongya Cave, and were shocked by the beautiful scenery. Hongya Cave is dominated by stilt houses with the traditional architectural features of Bayu, built along the mountain and along the river. The layers of lights outline the entire building beautifully, as if it were a fantasy scene in a Hayao Miyazaki animation.

Li Xiao excitedly took out his mobile phone and kept taking pictures: "This is so beautiful, it feels like walking into a fairy tale world. I must take more pictures to keep this beautiful moment." Zhang Yuedong also praised: "Hongyadong is worthy of being the business card of Chongqing. It not only shows the traditional architectural style of the Bayu region, but also integrates modern lighting art, making people feel the fusion of the city's history and modernity." Lin Yifei added: "Look, the water of the Jialing River is sparkling under the reflection of the lights, and it sets off the Hongyadong. It is simply a beautiful picture."

They walked along the steps into Hongya Cave, which was even more lively, with people coming and going, and a variety of specialty shops. There were shops selling Chongqing specialty snacks, handicrafts, and some bars and restaurants. Li Xiao was attracted by a shop selling Chongqing specialty postcards. She walked into the shop and selected a few exquisite postcards to send to her friends far away: "These postcards are very unique, with the beautiful scenery of Chongqing printed on them. Friends will be very happy to receive them." Zhang Yuedong was reading some books about Chongqing's history and culture. He was very interested in Chongqing's history and wanted to know more about the city's past: "Chongqing has a long history and rich cultural heritage. These books record many interesting stories. It seems that I have to study them carefully in the next few days." Lin Yifei was not in the mood to read. His nose had long been hooked by the aroma of a hot pot restaurant. He pulled Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong into the store: "Don't worry about these, let's go have a hot pot first, I'm almost starving."

Hotpot Feast
Walking into the hot pot restaurant, a strong spicy aroma hit them in the face, instantly igniting their appetite. The restaurant was bustling with people, and diners sat around the hot pot, eating enthusiastically. The waiter came up to them warmly, arranged for them to sit down, and handed them the menu: "Teachers, our hot pot here has red soup, clear soup and shuangxiang pot, and the dishes are also very rich. Take a look and see what you want to eat." Lin Yifei said without hesitation: "Of course I want red soup. You have to eat authentic spicy hot pot when you come to Chongqing." Although Li Xiao was a little afraid of spicy food, he didn't want to miss this authentic delicacy, and nodded in agreement: "Okay, then red soup, but I have to prepare a cup of spicy drink first." Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "Don't worry, if you can't stand the spiciness later, there will be desserts to relieve the spiciness."

After a while, the hot pot was served. The red soup in the pot was boiling, the aroma of butter was overflowing, and there were dense peppers and chilies floating on it, which made people salivate. Then, the waiter brought the dishes they ordered one after another, tripe, duck intestines, yellow throat, tender beef, duck blood... filling the table. Lin Yifei picked up the chopsticks skillfully, picked up a piece of tripe, put it into the pot, and simmered it a few times according to the formula of "seven ups and eight downs". The tripe curled up slightly, and he quickly picked up the tripe and put it in his mouth. After chewing it a few times, a satisfied expression appeared on his face: "Wow, this tripe is crispy and tender, spicy and fresh, so addictive!" Li Xiao watched Lin Yifei eat so happily, and also plucked up the courage to pick up a piece of duck intestines and simmered it like him. After putting it in his mouth, he was instantly stimulated by the heat and his eyes turned red, but he kept saying: "It's delicious. Although it's spicy, it's really delicious. This spicy feeling makes people can't stop." Zhang Yuedong ate slowly on the side, and from time to time he introduced the way of eating Chongqing hot pot to Li Xiao and Lin Yifei: "When eating hot pot, you can pair it with a bowl of sesame oil dish, which can not only reduce the temperature and relieve the spiciness, but also increase the fragrance and make the taste of the ingredients more mellow."

The three of them were eating hot pot and sharing their feelings with each other, with laughter echoing in the restaurant. The diners around them were also immersed in the enjoyment of the food, some were talking loudly, and some were sweating but still reluctant to put down their chopsticks. The whole hot pot restaurant was filled with a strong sense of fireworks. In this hot and boiling hot pot, they seemed to have integrated into the passionate city of Chongqing. Bayu Folk Night

After eating hot pot, they heard that there was a wonderful Chongqing folk performance near Hongyadong, so they went to watch it with great interest. The performance venue was an open-air square, where many tourists and local residents had gathered. They found an empty seat and sat down, and soon the performance began.

The first performance was the Sichuan Opera face-changing. The actors wore gorgeous costumes and walked onto the stage with vigorous steps. As the exciting music sounded, the actors changed their facial makeup in an instant, and the speed was so fast that it was hard to keep up, causing the audience to exclaim in surprise. Li Xiao clapped his hands excitedly: "This Sichuan Opera face-changing is so magical, I didn't even see how he changed it, it's really a unique skill!" Zhang Yuedong explained: "Sichuan Opera face-changing is a traditional art in Chongqing. The actors quickly change their facial makeup to express the emotions and personality changes of the characters. This requires long-term practice and superb skills."

Next, there was a passionate Chongqing hand-waving dance performance. The dancers, dressed in bright ethnic costumes, held hands and formed a circle, swaying their bodies to the cheerful rhythm with bright smiles on their faces. Lin Yifei was infected by the enthusiasm of the dancers and swayed to the rhythm: "This dance is so energetic, it makes people feel particularly good after watching it. It feels like Chongqing people really know how to enjoy life." Li Xiao nodded and said: "Yes, from these folk performances, you can feel the cultural heritage of Chongqing and the enthusiasm of the people. This city is so charming."

Afterwards, there were other exciting performances such as fire-breathing and acrobatics. The atmosphere was very warm, with applause and cheers coming one after another. The three of them were immersed in this performance full of Bayu style and spent an unforgettable night.

Good things in Shancheng
The next day, they came to Ciqikou Ancient Town, which not only has quaint buildings and traditional handicrafts, but is also a good place to buy Chongqing specialties.

Walking into the ancient town, it feels like traveling back in time. There are shops on both sides of the bluestone road, selling all kinds of goods. There are Chen Mahua with a strong aroma, spicy and fresh hot pot base, and exquisite Shu embroidery, Rongchang folding fans and other handicrafts. Li Xiao was attracted by a shop selling hot pot base. She walked into the shop and saw that the shelves were filled with hot pot bases of various flavors, including beef tallow, clear oil, mandarin duck, and special flavors with different spices added. The shop owner came up to her enthusiastically and introduced: "Sister, the hot pot base here is all handmade, using authentic Chongqing ingredients, and the taste is very good. You can buy it back and cook your own hot pot, which is exactly the same as eating in Chongqing." Li Xiao picked up a bag of hot pot base, smelled it, and the rich aroma came to her nose: "It looks really good. I have to buy a few more bags to bring back so that my family can also taste the authentic Chongqing hot pot."

Zhang Yuedong was selecting paintings and calligraphy with Chongqing characteristics in a calligraphy and painting shop nearby. He was very interested in these traditional cultural artworks: "These paintings and calligraphy depict the landscapes and folk customs of Chongqing. They are very memorable. If I buy a few and hang them at home, I can always remember this wonderful trip to Chongqing." Lin Yifei was not interested in the paintings and calligraphy. His eyes were fixed on a snack stand, where there were freshly cooked glutinous rice cakes, cold shrimps and other Chongqing specialties. He ran over to buy a glutinous rice cake and took a bite. It was soft, glutinous and sweet: "This glutinous rice cake is really delicious, glutinous and fragrant. I have to eat more."

The three of them spent a whole day in Ciqikou and gained a lot. They were full of joy as they carried large and small bags of local specialties in their hands. Chongqing conquered them with its delicious food, beautiful scenery and unique cultural charm, making them linger. But the journey continues, and they look forward to the excitement of the next stop...

As the journey progressed, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei traveled through many cities, saw countless beautiful scenery, tasted local delicacies, and deeply experienced diverse folk cultures. Everywhere they went, they felt it with their hearts and recorded it with their cameras, making these beautiful moments become eternal memories.

Looking back on this journey, Li Xiao said with emotion: "During this journey, I not only appreciated the beautiful mountains and rivers of the motherland, but also learned a lot of historical and cultural knowledge that I didn't know before. I feel that I have gained a lot and my heart has become more fulfilled." Zhang Yuedong smiled and nodded: "Yes, every city has its own unique charm, from the ancient charm of BJ to the modernity of Shanghai, to the hotness of Chongqing, the customs and customs of these places are different, but they all make people linger." Lin Yifei patted his bulging backpack and said with a smile: "And the food along the way, it's simply a journey of China on the tip of the tongue. Now thinking back, those flavors are still on my lips. I must show off to my friends when I go back."

The three of them sat on the return train, looking at the ever-changing scenery outside the window, their hearts full of nostalgia for this journey. However, they knew that this was only a temporary farewell, and there were still many places in China waiting for them to explore. What kind of wonderful things would they encounter on their next trip?

The train moves slowly forward, carrying their memories and aspirations, heading for the distance. This vast land of China still exudes endless charm, waiting for more people to unveil its mysterious veil and appreciate its hidden beauty...