Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1701

Finally, they ordered twice-cooked pork, mapo tofu, boiled fish, husband and wife lung slices and some special snacks. After a while, the dishes were served one after another. Twice-cooked pork is bright red in color, fat but not greasy. The pork belly is first boiled and then fried, and then paired with bean paste, sweet noodle sauce and other condiments, which are fragrant and mouth-watering. Mapo tofu is bright red in color, the tofu is tender and tasty, and the spicy and fragrant soup wraps the tofu, making people intoxicated with every bite. The boiled fish is tender, the soup is spicy and fragrant, and it is paired with bean sprouts, bean skin and other side dishes. It is simply a delicacy on earth. Husband and wife lung slices are carefully marinated and seasoned with ingredients such as ox head skin, ox heart, and ox tongue. The taste is spicy and fragrant, and the meat is tender, which makes people have endless aftertaste.

"It's so delicious. This Sichuan cuisine is really as good as its reputation!" Lin Yifei kept praising it while eating. He picked up a piece of twice-cooked pork, put it in his mouth, and chewed it with satisfaction. "This piece of meat is fat but not greasy, and the taste is just right. It's so fragrant."

Li Xiao also praised the Mapo Tofu: "This Mapo Tofu is both spicy and numbing, and the tofu is especially tender. It's simply a great dish to go with rice." As he said that, he scooped another spoonful of tofu into his mouth and ate it with relish.

Zhang Yuedong savored each dish carefully, feeling the unique charm of Sichuan cuisine. "The seasoning of Sichuan cuisine is really varied, and each dish has its own unique flavor, and it is spicy but not dry, which makes people want to eat more and more." He said.

While tasting the food, the three also talked about their travel experiences in Chengdu. They shared their feelings and gains with each other, and laughter echoed in the restaurant. "This trip to Chengdu was really fun. Not only did we see beautiful scenery, but we also tasted so many delicious foods," said Lin Yifei.

Li Xiao also nodded in agreement: "Yes, Chengdu is really a charming city. The leisurely life and unique culture here make me linger."

Zhang Yuedong said with emotion: "This trip not only allowed us to appreciate the beautiful scenery and delicious food of Chengdu, but also gave us a deeper understanding of its history and culture. I think this is a very meaningful trip."

After finishing their meal, the three of them walked out of the restaurant. The night in Chengdu was still very lively, with the aroma of delicious food and people's laughter filling the streets. They strolled along the streets, feeling the unique charm of this city, and were full of anticipation for the next stop of their trip.

After leaving Chengdu, the three of them set off on a journey to Guilin with the expectation of seeing the beautiful scenery. After a lot of twists and turns, they finally arrived at this city famous for its beautiful scenery. As soon as they arrived in Guilin, they couldn't wait to come to the Li River and take a boat to enjoy the picturesque scenery.

In the early morning, the sun shines on the river, and the waves sparkle like countless diamonds. The three of them boarded the cruise ship, and as the boat slowly moved forward, the beautiful scenery of the Li River gradually appeared before their eyes. There were strange peaks on both sides of the river, with different shapes, some like camels, some like fairies, and some like giant elephants, which made people sigh at the uncanny workmanship of nature. The river water was clear and you could see the bottom, and you could see the fish swimming freely in the water. The breeze blew on your face, bringing bursts of fresh air, making people feel relaxed and happy.

"Wow, the scenery is so beautiful, like a flowing landscape painting." Li Xiao excitedly took out his camera and kept taking pictures of the beautiful scenery around him.

Zhang Yuedong was also intoxicated by the scenery. He said with emotion: "I have only seen the beauty of the Li River in books and on TV before. I didn't expect that when I saw it with my own eyes, it was even more beautiful than I imagined."

Lin Yifei happily ran around on the boat, looking at the mountains here and the river there, saying, "This is simply a paradise on earth. I don't want to leave."

The boat continued to move forward and they came to the famous Nine Horses Painting Mountain. On the stone wall of this mountain, it seemed as if there were nine horses galloping, which was lifelike and amazing. The tour guide told them that according to legend, people who can see nine horses will have good luck, so the three of them counted them seriously.

Li Xiao widened his eyes and looked carefully for the horses: "I saw three horses, what about you?"

Zhang Yuedong frowned and tried hard to identify them: "I think I saw five horses. Let's look for them again."

Lin Yifei said anxiously: "Why do I only see two horses? Please teach me how to see."

With the help of the tour guide, they finally found a few more horses. Although no one saw the nine horses in the end, they were all impressed by this magical natural landscape.

Then, they passed by the reflection of the yellow cloth. The river here was particularly calm, and the mountains on both sides were reflected in the water, like a huge ink painting. The sun shone on the water, sparkling, and the reflections of the mountains swayed gently with the waves, which was beautiful.

"The reflection of the yellow cloth is so beautiful that I can't tell whether it is the mountain in the water or the water in the mountain." Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the scenery here is just like what is described in the poem, 'I can clearly see the top of the green mountain, and the boat is sailing on the top of the green mountain'."

Lin Yifei excitedly jumped into the boat, took out his phone and started taking selfies: "Such a beautiful scenery, I must take a few more photos and show them to my friends when I get back."

During the rafting on the Li River, they also saw many interesting scenes. There were many bamboo rafts on the river, and fishermen wearing bamboo hats were paddling leisurely, like a pastoral landscape. In the villages on the shore, smoke was curling, and there were bursts of chickens crowing and dogs barking, which made people feel the strong breath of life.

Before they knew it, the boat had been sailing for a long time, and they gradually became intoxicated by the picturesque scenery. The mountains and waters of the Li River made them forget all their worries, as if they were in a paradise.

After returning from the Li River, the three took a short rest and then headed to Elephant Trunk Hill. Elephant Trunk Hill is located at the confluence of the Li River and Taohua River in the center of GL. It is named because its shape resembles an elephant drinking water by the river. It is the symbol of Guilin's landscape.

From a distance, the Elephant Trunk Hill looks like a giant elephant, stretching its trunk into the river and drinking water leisurely. Its lifelike shape makes people marvel at the magic of nature. The three of them quickened their pace, eager to appreciate this masterpiece of nature up close.

When they arrived at the foot of the Elephant Trunk Hill, they felt its unique charm even more vividly. A huge round hole was formed between the trunk and the body of the elephant. The river water passed through the hole, like a bright moon floating on the water. This is the famous "Elephant Hill Water Moon" wonder. The walls of the cave are engraved with poems and songs by literati of all ages, adding a strong cultural atmosphere to the Elephant Trunk Hill.

Li Xiao excitedly ran around the Elephant Trunk Hill, taking photos as he ran: "This Elephant Trunk Hill is so amazing. This is the first time I have seen such a peculiar mountain shape."

Zhang Yuedong carefully observed every detail of the Elephant Trunk Hill and consulted the information in his hand from time to time: "The Elephant Trunk Hill is a typical karst landform. It has taken a long period of geological evolution to form its current appearance. The rocks here are mainly limestone, which is gradually eroded and dissolved by water and carbon dioxide, forming such a peculiar shape."

Lin Yifei curiously walked into the round hole between the trunk and the body of the elephant, and looked up at the top of the cave: "Wow, from here, it looks like a huge arch, so spectacular." The three climbed up along the mountain road, enjoying the beautiful scenery around them. The mountain is shaded by green trees, lush flowers and plants, and the air is fresh and pleasant. Standing on the top of the mountain and looking down, you can see the beautiful scenery of the GL city. The Li River winds like a green ribbon, and there are many cruise ships on the river. The mountains in the distance are rolling, forming a beautiful landscape painting.

On the observation deck at the top of the mountain, they met a local old man who enthusiastically introduced the history and legends of Elephant Trunk Hill to them, giving them a deeper understanding of the mountain. "Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of Guilin. Legend has it that it was a divine elephant from heaven that came down to earth and stayed here because it was attached to the beautiful scenery of Guilin," the old man said with a smile.

After hearing this, Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh: "I didn't expect that this Elephant Trunk Hill has such a beautiful legend. It's really interesting."

Zhang Yuedong also expressed his gratitude to the old man: "Thank you for your introduction, which has helped us better understand the cultural connotation of Elephant Trunk Hill."

When they left Elephant Trunk Hill, the three of them were reluctant to leave. This masterpiece of nature left a deep impression on them, and they continued their journey to explore Guilin with a lot of memories and photos.

As night fell and the lights came on, the three of them came to Yangshuo West Street. Located in the center of Yangshuo County, West Street is an ancient street full of exotic customs, gathering tourists and merchants from all over the world, full of a strong atmosphere of the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures.

As soon as you enter West Street, you will be greeted by a lively atmosphere. The shops on both sides of the street are brightly lit, with a wide variety of special products on display. Cheerful music can be heard from the bars, where people enjoy the nightlife to their heart's content. The aroma of delicious food wafts through the restaurants, making people salivate.

Li Xiao was attracted by a handicraft shop and went in to pick out several exquisite Yangshuo embroidery works. "The embroidery craftsmanship is so exquisite, and every stitch and every thread contains strong local characteristics." Li Xiao said with great interest.

Zhang Yuedong found a photo album about Guilin's landscape in a bookstore. He turned the pages, admired the beautiful photos inside, and felt the charm of Guilin's landscape. "This photo album is really well taken, showing the beauty of Guilin's landscape to the fullest," said Zhang Yuedong.

Lin Yifei's eyes were attracted by all kinds of delicacies. He saw a Guilin rice noodle shop and walked in impatiently. "You must try the authentic Guilin rice noodles when you come to Guilin." Lin Yifei said, and ordered a bowl of signature rice noodles. After a while, the rice noodles were served. The thin and soft rice noodles were paired with delicious brine, crispy pot roast, fragrant beef and various side dishes, which made people's appetite increase. Lin Yifei ate with big mouthfuls, and kept saying, "It's so delicious. This Guilin rice noodles is really well-deserved."

Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong also sat down and tasted Guilin rice noodles. As they ate, they felt the unique flavor of Guilin rice noodles. "The rice noodles are smooth and refreshing, and the taste of the brine is rich, which is really memorable." Li Xiao said.

After eating the rice noodles, the three continued to walk on West Street. They saw a folk artist performing acrobatics on the street. The wonderful performance attracted many tourists to stop and watch. The artist performed various difficult movements in the air, winning applause and cheers.

Then, they came to a bar. There were many people in the bar, and the atmosphere was lively. A band was playing rock music on the stage. The singer's voice was hoarse and passionate, leading the audience to sway together. Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei found a seat and sat down, ordered a few drinks, and enjoyed the music while feeling the lively atmosphere in the bar.

"Yangshuo West Street is so vibrant and makes people feel very relaxed," said Lin Yifei.

Li Xiao also nodded in agreement: "Yes, there is not only delicious food and shopping here, but also various interesting performances and activities, which make people have a lot of fun."

Zhang Yuedong said with emotion: "West Street is a place where Chinese and Western cultures blend. Here, we can feel the collision and exchange of different cultures, which is also the charm of travel."

On West Street, they also met many foreign tourists. They communicated in simple English and shared their travel experiences and feelings. Although they spoke different languages, they all gathered here because of travel and enjoyed this happiness and beauty together.

Before they knew it, the night was already deep, and the three of them left Yangshuo West Street with full of joy and memories. They were looking forward to tomorrow's trip and continuing to explore the beautiful city of Guilin.

On the last day in Guilin, the three participated in a Zhuang folk activity and deeply experienced the culture and customs of the Zhuang people. The Zhuang people are one of the most populous ethnic minorities in China, mainly distributed in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. They have a long history and rich cultural traditions.

The event was very lively, with people wearing bright Zhuang costumes and smiling happily. On the stage, Zhuang actors were performing wonderful programs, including throwing embroidered balls, bamboo pole dance, folk songs, etc.

First, there is the ball throwing performance. A group of Zhuang girls stand in a row holding balls. They throw the balls high up, and the balls draw beautiful arcs in the air, and then fall into the hands of the Zhuang boys on the opposite side. The boys who receive the balls will walk to the center of the stage with the girls who threw the balls to receive everyone's blessings. According to legend, throwing balls is a way for young Zhuang men and women to express their love, and it has now become a traditional folk activity of the Zhuang people.

"This throwing of the hydrangea looks so fun. It would be great if I could catch it." Lin Yifei said enviously.

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Then you can try it too, maybe you can catch it."

Next came the bamboo pole dance performance, where two long bamboo poles were placed parallel to the ground, with several short bamboo poles placed horizontally in the middle. The performers jumped and shuttled between the bamboo poles swiftly to the rhythm of the music, with graceful and coordinated movements. The sound of the bamboo poles opening and closing intertwined with the music, forming a unique rhythm.

"The rhythm of this bamboo pole dance is so fast, it feels very difficult to dance." said Zhang Yuedong.

Li Xiao said confidently, "I don't think it's difficult. I want to try it, too." Then he walked onto the stage and joined the bamboo pole dance team. At first, Li Xiao was a little uncomfortable, but under the guidance of the actors, he gradually mastered the rhythm and danced more and more skillfully. Lin Yifei and Zhang Yuedong cheered for him in the audience. Seeing Li Xiao dancing so happily, they couldn't help laughing.

Duet folk songs are an important part of Zhuang culture. The actors sang duets with melodious voices, and the lyrics expressed their love for life, yearning for love and praise for nature. Their singing was clear and pleasant, echoing throughout the event.

The three were also infected by the warm atmosphere. They followed the actors to learn folk songs and felt the unique charm of Zhuang culture. Although they didn't sing very well, they all had a lot of fun.