Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1759

The first thing that caught my eye was the brightly colored, plump and round Lintong pomegranates. These pomegranates were as dazzling as rubies, with smooth and delicate skins and an attractive luster. Li Xiao picked up a pomegranate, gently stroked its skin, and exclaimed: "This pomegranate is so beautiful, it feels like each one is a carefully selected work of art."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "I heard that Lintong pomegranate is the top of the five famous pomegranates in China. It is not only beautiful, but also very sweet and juicy."

Lin Yifei also picked up a pomegranate, put it in front of his nose and smelled it, and a faint fruity fragrance came to his nose: "Well, this fragrance is so tempting, I can't wait to taste it."

They picked some large and colorful pomegranates to take back to give to relatives and friends. The stall owner enthusiastically introduced the characteristics of Lintong pomegranates to them: "Our Lintong pomegranates have a planting history of more than 2,000 years. It is a good variety, with large fruits and thin skin, rich juice and sweet taste, and little seeds and residue. It is rich in vitamin C, pomegranate polyphenols, anthocyanins and other trace elements and minerals. It not only tastes good, but also has anti-aging and beauty effects."

After listening to the stall owner's introduction, the three people's love for Lintong pomegranates increased a little bit. While picking pomegranates, they talked with the stall owner about the customs and people of Lintong, feeling the enthusiasm and warmth of this city.

In addition to Lintong pomegranates, Lantian jade is also one of the characteristics of Xi'an. The three walked into a jade shop, which displayed a variety of Lantian jade products, including exquisite bracelets, pendants, ornaments, etc. Each piece exudes a warm luster, making people love it.

Li Xiao was attracted by an emerald green Lantian jade bracelet. She picked it up, put it on her wrist, and looked at it carefully in the mirror: "This bracelet is so beautiful, the color is emerald green, and the texture is very delicate. I feel that wearing it makes me more elegant."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, Lantian jade is one of the four famous jades in China. It has a long history and profound cultural heritage. It is said that as early as the Qin Dynasty, people used Lantian jade to make jade seals."

Lin Yifei is also very interested in jade. He picked up a Lantian jade pendant and carefully observed the carving process on it: "Look, the carved pattern is lifelike and the lines are smooth. It is so exquisite. Each piece of Lantian jade is like a story, carrying the traces of time and the wisdom of the ancients."

The shop owner came over and enthusiastically introduced the identification method and maintenance knowledge of Lantian jade to them: "To identify Lantian jade, you can start from the color, texture, transparency and other aspects. The real Lantian jade has natural and warm color, fine texture and no obvious impurities. When wearing it, you should pay attention to avoid collision and friction, and wash it regularly with clean water to maintain its luster and beauty."

The three of them spent a long time selecting in the store and each bought the Lantian jade product they liked. Li Xiao bought the emerald green bracelet, Zhang Yuedong chose an exquisite pendant, and Lin Yifei bought a small and exquisite ornament. They left the jade shop with these precious gifts, full of joy, as if they had taken away a piece of Xi'an's history and culture.

In addition to Lintong pomegranates and Lantian jade, they also bought some other specialties, such as Demaogong crystal cakes and Gaoling stone buns. Demaogong crystal cakes are small in size, crispy on the outside, soft and glutinous on the inside, sweet but not greasy, and have a faint rose fragrance; Gaoling stone buns are crispy and sweet in taste, and are a traditional Shaanxi delicacy. These specialties are not only delicious, but also contain strong local characteristics, allowing them to feel the unique charm of Shaanxi.

When they left the specialty market, the three of them were carrying bags full of specialties, which contained not only specialties but also their fond memories of Xi'an. Li Xiao said with emotion: "This trip to Xi'an has really given me a lot. Not only did I enjoy the beautiful scenery and taste delicious food, but I also learned about the rich history and culture. These specialties are the best testimony to this."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, each specialty has its unique meaning. They will become the most precious souvenirs of our trip."

Lin Yifei looked at the specialties in his hand and said with a smile: "When I get home, I will share these specialties with my relatives and friends so that they can also feel the charm of Xi'an. Maybe I can attract them to travel here as well."

The three of them embarked on a journey to the next city with their attachment to Xi'an. They look forward to more surprises and discoveries in the following journey, and continue to write their own wonderful travel stories.

After bidding farewell to Xi'an, the three took the high-speed train to Baoji. Along the way, the scenery outside the window was picturesque, with fields, mountains and rivers passing by quickly, and the three people were increasingly looking forward to it. Baoji, a city known as the "hometown of bronze ware", is about to bring them a unique historical and cultural journey.

"I heard that Baoji has a lot of precious bronze artifacts. I must see them this time." Li Xiao said excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, there is also Famen Temple, which is a Buddhist holy place. Maybe you can see the Buddha's finger relic there."

Lin Yifei laughed and teased: "You are preparing to receive a double baptism of history and religion. I can't wait to experience it."

As the train slowly pulled into Baoji South Station, the three people's trip to Baoji officially began.

The next morning, they arrived at Famen Temple. Famen Temple is located in Fufeng County, BJ City. It is a Buddhist temple with a long history. It is famous for enshrining the only finger relic of Sakyamuni Buddha in the world. As soon as they arrived at the gate of Famen Temple, a majestic and magnificent imitation Tang Dynasty building came into view, with red walls, yellow tiles, flying eaves and brackets, solemn and majestic.

Li Xiao looked up at the mountain gate and exclaimed: "This mountain gate is so majestic. It feels like it brings people into that sacred atmosphere all of a sudden."

Zhang Yuedong pointed to the plaque on the mountain gate and said, "Famen Temple is indeed a holy place of Buddhism. This mountain gate alone gives people a shocking feeling."

Walking into Famen Temple, the first thing you see is a broad Buddha Light Avenue, with many exquisite Buddha and Bodhisattva statues standing on both sides of the avenue. They have different expressions and are lifelike, as if telling the story of Buddhism. The three of them walked slowly along the Buddha Light Avenue, and the awe in their hearts became stronger and stronger.

"These Buddha statues are so beautifully carved that each one seems to have life." Lin Yifei couldn't help but sigh.

Li Xiao nodded in agreement: "Yes, these Buddha statues embody the wisdom and hard work of ancient craftsmen. One cannot help but admire them."

Going further, we came to the Heshi Relic Pagoda. This pagoda has a unique shape, consisting of two hands clasped together, with the Buddha's finger relic enshrined in the middle. Under the sunlight, the Heshi Relic Pagoda exudes a golden glow, appearing particularly solemn and sacred.

"We finally saw the Heshi Relic Pagoda. It's so spectacular!" Zhang Yuedong said excitedly. The three of them walked into the Heshi Relic Pagoda with a pious heart. The light inside the pagoda was soft and the atmosphere was quiet. In the center of the pagoda, the treasure box containing the Buddha's finger relic was placed on a high platform, surrounded by flowers and incense. The three of them stood there quietly, gazing at the treasure box, their hearts filled with awe and emotion.

"I am so lucky to see the Buddha's finger relic with my own eyes." Li Xiao said softly.

Lin Yifei said with emotion: "This Buddha's finger relic carries the faith and history of Buddhism, and makes people feel a power that transcends time and space."

After visiting the Heshi Stupa, they came to the underground palace of Famen Temple. The underground palace is the core area of ​​Famen Temple, which houses a large number of Tang Dynasty cultural relics, which witness the glorious history of Famen Temple. Entering the underground palace, a mysterious atmosphere hits you. Under the dim light, the murals on the wall are colorful and lifelike. Various precious cultural relics are placed in the underground palace, including gold and silver wares, glassware, porcelain, etc., each of which can be called a national treasure.

"These cultural relics are so exquisite, it's hard to imagine that they have a history of thousands of years," Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

Li Xiao carefully observed an exquisite gold and silver artifact and said: "These cultural relics are not only works of art, but also witnesses of history. They allow us to see the glory and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty."

Lin Yifei added: "Moreover, these cultural relics also contain profound Buddhist cultural connotations and are of great value for studying Buddhist history and culture."

With the guide's explanation, the three people got a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Famen Temple. Famen Temple was first built in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. After many expansions and renovations, it reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty. Famen Temple in the Tang Dynasty was a royal temple and was highly respected. Emperors welcomed and sent off Buddha bones many times and held grand religious activities. These historical stories made the three people feel more awe for Famen Temple.

When leaving Famen Temple, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the temple buildings, and the entire Famen Temple was shrouded in a golden light, which seemed particularly peaceful and tranquil. The three of them set out on the journey back to the city with a deep attachment to Famen Temple and awe for Buddhist culture.

On the third day in Baoji, the three of them came to the Baoji Bronze Museum. The museum is located in the Chinese Stone Drum Park and is a national first-class museum with bronze ware as its theme. As soon as they entered the museum, a magnificent building appeared in front of them. The appearance of the building was like the scene where bronze ware was unearthed, unique and creative.

"The architecture of this museum is so unique. It feels like a huge treasure trove of bronzes." Li Xiao said excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, I have already felt the charm of bronze culture before I even entered."

Entering the museum, the first thing that caught our eyes was the exquisite bronze wares, which were of various shapes and exquisitely decorated, exuding an ancient and mysterious atmosphere. Under the guidance of the tour guide, the three of them began this journey of exploring the bronze wares.

"The bronze artifact you are seeing now is called He Zun. It is the treasure of the Baoji Bronze Museum." The tour guide said, pointing to a bronze wine vessel.

The three of them took a closer look and saw that the He Zun was exquisitely shaped, 38.5 cm in height, 29 cm in diameter, 20×20 cm in diameter at the bottom of the ring foot, and weighed 14.6 kg. There was an inscription of 12 characters in 122 lines on the bottom of the Zun, among which "Zhezi Zhongguo" was the earliest written record of the word "China".

"Wow, this is the He Zun. I didn't expect to see such a precious cultural relic with my own eyes." Li Xiao exclaimed.

Zhang Yuedong carefully observed the inscription on the He Zun and said, "This inscription is of great significance. It is not only a precious document of ancient Chinese characters, but also the earliest origin of the word 'China'. It has extremely high historical value."

Lin Yifei also said with emotion: "Looking at this He Zun, it seems as if I can travel through time and space and feel the wisdom and creativity of our ancient ancestors."

In addition to the Hezun, the museum also has many other precious bronze artifacts, such as the Nu Pan, Qin Gong Bi, and Hu Gui. The Nu Pan, with its 372-character inscription, records the fact that eight generations of the Shan family assisted 8 Zhou kings, which clarified the history of the Western Zhou Dynasty, confirmed the content of the "Shiji Zhou Benji", and ended the disputes in the historical community for thousands of years, and has important historical value; Qin Gong Bi has a majestic shape and exquisite patterns, and is a representative work of Qin bronze artifacts in the Spring and Autumn Period; Hu Gui is an important ritual vessel in the late Western Zhou Dynasty, and its inscription is also of great significance for the study of Western Zhou history and culture.

"Each of these bronze artifacts has its own story. They are like silent history books, recording ancient history and culture," said the tour guide.

The three listened to the explanation and admired the bronze wares carefully, expressing their admiration from time to time. They were attracted by the exquisite shapes and profound cultural connotations of the bronze wares, as if they were in a world of bronze wares, feeling the splendor of ancient civilization.

After visiting the museum's exhibition hall, the three came to the bronze restoration area. Here, they saw cultural relic restorers carefully repairing bronze artifacts. The restorers held various tools in their hands and carefully cleaned, rusted, and spliced ​​the bronze artifacts. Every action was full of concentration and patience.

"The cultural relics restorers are amazing. They are like 'doctors' of ancient cultural relics, making these bronze artifacts that have been sleeping for thousands of years shine again." Li Xiao said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, their work requires not only exquisite skills, but also a love and awe of history and culture."

Lin Yifei looked at the busy figures of the restorers with admiration in his heart: "It is because of them that we can see these precious bronze artifacts and feel the charm of ancient civilization."

When they left the Baoji Bronze Museum, the three were still immersed in the shock of bronze culture. These exquisite bronzes not only let them appreciate the wisdom and creativity of ancient ancestors, but also let them have a deeper understanding of China's long history and splendid culture.

After a day of sightseeing in Baoji, the three were already hungry. They heard that Baoji's cuisine was unique and integrated with the traditional flavors of the Xifu region, so they decided to explore it. Recommended by the locals, they came to a popular Xifu restaurant.

As soon as you enter the restaurant, the rich aroma hits your nose, making you salivate. The restaurant is full of diners, everyone is enjoying the food and chatting enthusiastically, full of the strong atmosphere of fireworks.