Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1678

In the evening, they arrived at Hongya Cave. From a distance, Hongya Cave was brightly lit, like a dream castle. It was built on the mountain, and the layers of stilt houses looked particularly spectacular under the lights, as if it was a world from a Miyazaki Hayao animation.

Zhang Yuedong shouted excitedly: "This is so shocking! I didn't expect there is such a beautiful place in reality, it's like a scene in a fairy tale."

Li Xiao was also deeply attracted by the beautiful scenery. He said: "This is the charm of Chongqing. The unique architectural style and the dazzling night view make people intoxicated."

When they walked into Hongyadong, it was as if they had traveled back to the ancient Bayu town. The quaint streets and the dazzling array of shops were full of rich folk customs. The streets were crowded with people, and tourists took out their mobile phones to take pictures, wanting to record this beautiful moment.

Lin Yifei kept pressing the shutter. He said: "Every corner here is so beautiful. I can never take enough photos. I will post all these photos on WeChat Moments to let everyone see the beauty of Chongqing."

They strolled along the street, admiring the surrounding buildings and scenery. The architecture of Hongyadong adopts a pure mortise and tenon structure, showing the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. Each floor of the stilt house has a unique decoration and layout, which makes people feel the profound heritage of Bayu culture.

Walking to the viewing platform of Hongyadong, they overlooked the night view of Jialing River. The river was sparkling, boats were coming and going, and the lights on the opposite bank were reflected in the river, forming a beautiful picture.

Li Xiao said with emotion: "Standing here and looking at the beautiful scenery in front of me, I finally understand why Chongqing is called the '8D Magic City'. The mountains and rivers here are interdependent, the buildings are scattered and orderly, and the night view is even more beautiful, making people feel like they are in a dream world."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this kind of unique urban landscape is hard to find in other places. Chongqing is really a city full of surprises, and every place is eye-catching."

They spent a wonderful night in Hongyadong, immersed in the dreamy beauty and feeling the unique charm of Chongqing.

After coming out of Hongyadong, their stomachs were already growling. Li Xiao suggested: "Let's go eat Chongqing hotpot, which is a must-eat delicacy in Chongqing. Let's taste the authentic spicy flavor."

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei agreed. So they came to an old hot pot restaurant recommended by the locals. As soon as they entered the restaurant, the rich aroma of hot pot hit their noses, making them salivate.

The decoration inside the store is full of Chongqing characteristics, with wooden tables and chairs, old photos hanging on the wall, and enthusiastic waiters, making people feel particularly cordial.

The waiter greeted them warmly, arranged seats for them, and handed them the menu. Zhang Yuedong looked at the menu and said with a smile: "The dishes here are really rich, with all kinds of ingredients, and there are also many special snacks. Today we must taste them well and eat the essence of Chongqing hot pot into our stomachs."

They ordered a classic beef oil hot pot, and also ordered various special dishes such as tripe, duck intestines, yellow throat, tender beef, crispy meat, etc. After a while, the hot pot was served. There was a pot of bright red soup with a thick layer of butter and chili floating on it, exuding a rich aroma that made people drool.

Li Xiao couldn't wait to put the tripe into the pot and started to cook it according to the "seven ups and eight downs" formula. After a while, the tripe was cooked. He picked up the tripe and put it in his mouth. Suddenly, the spicy taste spread in his mouth, and the crispy and tender taste of the tripe made people linger. "It's so delicious! This tripe is simply the soul of hot pot, crispy and tender, spicy and addictive." Li Xiao praised it.

Zhang Yuedong also ordered a portion of duck intestines. He said, "Duck intestines are also a must-order dish in Chongqing hotpot. If you want to eat them, eat fresh duck intestines. The taste is so refreshing." As he said this, he put the duck intestines into the pot, quickly rinsed them a few times, then took them out, put them in a dipping bowl, coated them with sesame oil and mashed garlic, and put them in his mouth. "Well, this duck intestine is crispy and smooth, spicy and fresh, it's so delicious." Zhang Yuedong said with satisfaction.

Lin Yifei has a special liking for tender beef. He put the beef into the pot, boiled it for a while, then took it out and put it in his mouth. The beef is tender and juicy, melts in the mouth, and the spicy taste is irresistible. "This beef is so tender, so delicious that I can't stop eating it." Lin Yifei said while eating.

They also ordered some special snacks, such as crispy meat, brown sugar glutinous rice cake, etc. The crispy meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a fragrant aroma, and it is particularly addictive to eat; the brown sugar glutinous rice cake is soft, sweet, and has a delicate taste, which is a good product for relieving spiciness.

While eating the hot pot, they were sweating profusely from the spiciness, but they were very satisfied. Lin Yifei wiped his sweat and said, "This is so spicy! I have never eaten such a spicy hot pot, but it is so delicious that I can't stop eating it."

Zhang Yuedong also smiled and said: "This is the charm of Chongqing hotpot. The hotter it is, the more you want to eat it, and the more you eat, the more addictive it is. And Chongqing hotpot must be paired with ice beer, that's how refreshing it is." As he said that, he picked up a bottle of ice beer and took a big gulp.

They ate hot pot and chatted, feeling the unique charm of Chongqing hot pot. In this lively atmosphere, they experienced the enthusiasm and generosity of Chongqing people and gained a deeper understanding of the city's food culture.

After eating the hot pot, they came to a theater to watch Sichuan opera, a traditional opera in Sichuan with unique artistic charm, and face-changing is one of the most representative stunts in Sichuan opera.

Li Xiao said: "Sichuan Opera face-changing has always been very mysterious. I am particularly curious about how the actors can change their faces in an instant. Today I finally have the opportunity to witness it with my own eyes."

Zhang Yuedong also expressed his anticipation: "Yes, I heard that the face-changing skills of Sichuan Opera are very superb, and the actors' movements are as fast as lightning, which makes people dazzled. I can't wait to watch it."

Lin Yifei was very interested in the costumes and makeup of Sichuan Opera. He said: "The costumes and makeup of Sichuan Opera actors are very exquisite, colorful and full of artistic sense. I will take more photos to record this wonderful moment."

The performance began, and the first performance was a wonderful Sichuan opera singing. The actors' singing was melodious and full of charm, which made people intoxicated. Then, there was the Sichuan opera face-changing performance.

The actor was seen dancing on the stage in gorgeous costumes and with beautifully painted face. Suddenly, he turned around and the face paint on his face changed instantly from red to black, causing the audience to exclaim in amazement.

Li Xiao stared at the stage intently, curiously guessing the face-changing technique. He said, "It was too fast. I didn't see how he changed. Did he use any special props?" Zhang Yuedong was also fascinated. He said, "I think it's not just a matter of props. The actors' movements and techniques are also very important. They must have gone through a long period of training to be so skilled."

As the performance progressed, the actors kept changing their facial makeup at an increasingly faster speed, which was dazzling. Every time they changed their facial makeup, they would arouse applause and cheers from the audience.

Lin Yifei was busy using his camera to record this wonderful moment. He said: "These masks are so beautiful. Each one represents a different character's personality and emotions. The actors vividly present these characters in front of us by changing their faces. It's really amazing."

At the end of the performance, the actors invited several audience members to come on stage for interaction. After one of the audience members came on stage, the actors quickly changed their facial makeup in front of him, scaring the audience members so much that they stepped back, causing the audience members to laugh.

After the performance, they were still immersed in the artistic atmosphere of Sichuan Opera and were reluctant to leave. This Sichuan Opera performance made them feel the profoundness of traditional culture and also gave them a deeper understanding of the unique skill of Sichuan Opera face-changing.

After watching the Sichuan opera, they came to Ciqikou Ancient Town, a famous ancient town in Chongqing with a long history and rich cultural heritage, as well as many Chongqing specialties and handicrafts.

Li Xiao said: "When you come to Chongqing, you must bring some local specialties back for your family and friends. There are many kinds of local specialties in Ciqikou, and you can definitely find the right one."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, I also want to buy myself some souvenirs as a commemoration of this trip."

They walked into a Chen Mahua shop, which was filled with mahua of various flavors, including rock sugar and glutinous rice flavor, pepper and salt flavor, spicy flavor, chili pepper salt flavor, etc. The aroma was fragrant and made people salivate.

Zhang Yuedong tried various flavors of fried dough twists. As he ate, he said, "This Chen fried dough twist is so delicious, crispy, fragrant and delicate, sweet but not greasy, and each flavor has its own unique taste." Finally, he bought a big bag of fried dough twists of different flavors, ready to take it back and share with his family and friends.

Then, they came to a shop selling strange-flavored broad beans. Strange-flavored broad beans are one of Chongqing's special snacks, combining numbing, spicy, sweet, salty, fresh and crispy flavors, with a rich taste that leaves a lasting aftertaste.

Li Xiao picked up a strange-tasting broad bean and put it in his mouth. In an instant, multiple flavors spread in his mouth. He praised it highly: "This strange-tasting broad bean is really worthy of its reputation. The taste is so unique. The more I eat it, the more addictive it becomes." So, he bought a few bags of strange-tasting broad beans and prepared to take them back as snacks.

In Ciqikou, they also bought some other specialties, such as hot pot soup base, Dengying beef shreds, Jiangjin rice candy, etc. Hot pot soup base is one of the specialties of Chongqing. They bought several different brands of hot pot soup bases and planned to cook hot pot after returning home; Dengying beef shreds are crispy and spicy, and are a good choice for drinking; Jiangjin rice candy is sweet, crispy, and nutritious, and is a snack suitable for all ages.

Carrying full shopping bags, they walked on the streets of Ciqikou, feeling the tranquility and leisure of the ancient town. Today's trip to Chongqing has brought them a lot of gains. They not only enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Hongyadong, tasted the delicious Chongqing hot pot, watched the wonderful performance of Sichuan Opera face-changing, but also bought many Chongqing specialties. They know that this charming city has left a deep impression in their hearts.

After leaving Chongqing, they took a plane to Xiamen. As soon as they got off the plane, the fresh sea breeze blew in their faces, with a faint smell of the sea, as if warmly welcoming them.

Li Xiao took a deep breath and said excitedly: "I finally arrived in Xiamen, this romantic coastal city. I can't wait to go to Gulangyu Island."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and responded: "Yes, I heard that Gulangyu has many exotic buildings, beautiful beaches and melodious piano music. It is simply a paradise for literary youth."

Lin Yifei is also full of expectations: "There are many specialty shops on Gulangyu Island, and I'm sure I can find a lot of good things there."

They took a ferry to Gulangyu Island. As soon as they set foot on this land, they were attracted by the beautiful scenery in front of them. The sunlight sprinkled on the ancient buildings, casting mottled light and shadows, as if telling the history of this island.

They strolled along the winding alleys, admiring the buildings of different styles on both sides. These buildings are a fusion of Chinese and Western cultural elements, some have Gothic spires, some have Baroque carvings, and some are traditional red brick houses in southern Fujian. Each one is unique and dazzling.

As they walked, they came to the Bagua Building. This building is famous for its unique shape and rich historical and cultural connotations. Its roof is octagonal, and the eight corners are decorated with exquisite carvings. From a distance, it looks like a huge Bagua plate, so it is named "Bagua Building".

Li Xiao looked up at the Bagua Tower and exclaimed: "This Bagua Tower is really magnificent. Its architectural style combines the essence of Eastern and Western cultures. It is one of the landmark buildings of Gulangyu Island."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, it is said that this building was invested and built by a wealthy Taiwanese businessman. Later, after many twists and turns, it became the current organ museum."

They walked into the Bagua Building, where various organs were displayed. These organs came from all over the world, with exquisite shapes and melodious sounds. Lin Yifei was particularly interested in these organs. He kept taking pictures and asked the staff about the history and playing methods of the organs.

After leaving Bagua Building, they came to Haitiantanggou. This is a group of five villas, which adopts the traditional Chinese symmetrical layout, with the middle building as the main building and spreading out to both sides, which is magnificent. The middle building is an antique palace-style building with a large roof, double-eaved hip roof, and four corners with twisted branches high up. The lintels of the doors, windows, corridors and halls are all hung with cement openwork hanging covers, the eaves are decorated with twisted flowers or water-absorbing dragons, and the beams and brackets are all decorated with dragon and phoenix ornaments, which is full of the rich Chinese traditional cultural atmosphere.

Li Xiao exclaimed: "This Haitiantang structure is so beautiful. Its architectural style is a combination of Chinese and Western styles. It has both the elegance of Western architecture and the charm of traditional Chinese architecture."

Zhang Yuedong said with a smile: "This is also the most fashionable and exquisite old villa cultural tourism attraction on Gulangyu Island. Not only can you appreciate the beautiful architecture, but you can also feel the rich cultural atmosphere."