Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1764

Li Xiao was so excited that his face turned red, and he kept clapping: "This dragon dance performance is so shocking! These dancers are so amazing, their coordination is simply perfect."

Zhang Yuedong was also deeply attracted by the performance in front of him: "Yes, this golden dragon dance is so powerful, it feels like a real dragon."

Lin Yifei recorded this wonderful moment with his camera and exclaimed: "This dragon dance is not only a performance, but also a heritage of traditional culture. These dancers use their enthusiasm and sweat to give new vitality to this ancient art form."

After the dragon dance, the lion dance performance followed. Two majestic lions appeared on the stage with the cheerful sound of gongs and drums. They were covered with colorful lion skins, and their eyes were bright and seemed to be able to see through everything. The lion heads were made very beautifully and lifelike, and every hair was clearly visible.

The lions sometimes jumped, sometimes rolled, sometimes stood up, and sometimes lay prone, with flexible movements and vivid expressions. They also interacted with the audience from time to time, causing everyone to laugh. One of the lions suddenly jumped high and bit the lettuce hanging high, which means "making money". The audience applauded and cheered, and the atmosphere on the scene reached a climax.

Li Xiao said with a smile: "This lion dance is so interesting. Their movements are so flexible, just like real lions."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, the lion dance is all about the form and spirit. These dancers have shown the lion's liveliness and bravery to the fullest through their superb skills."

Lin Yifei also smiled and said: "And this lion dance has many meanings, such as auspiciousness, good fortune, and exorcism, which reflects people's yearning for a better life."

While enjoying the performance, Li Xiao curiously asked an old man next to him about the history of dragon and lion dances. The old man enthusiastically introduced: "Dragon and lion dances are our traditional folk culture in China, with a long history. Dragon dances originated in ancient times. At first, it was a ritual for people to pray for rain and a good harvest. Later, it gradually evolved into a performance form to celebrate festivals and celebrations. Lion dances originated in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. It is said that at that time, a monk used a lion to scare away the devil. Since then, lion dances have been used by people to drive away evil spirits, avoid disasters, and bless peace."

Li Xiao listened with great interest and nodded continuously: "So that's how it is. I didn't expect there are so many stories and cultural connotations behind the dragon and lion dances."

The old man went on to say, "Now, dragon and lion dances have become an indispensable part of our lives. During every important festival and celebration, we hold dragon and lion dance performances. Everyone gets together and celebrates with great enthusiasm. It's so much fun."

After the performance, the three were still immersed in the wonderful performance. Li Xiao said with emotion: "Today's folk performance really opened my eyes. Not only did I enjoy the wonderful dragon and lion dance performances, but I also learned about the history and culture behind them."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "Yes, this is the meaning of travel, it allows us to experience the culture and customs of different places and broaden our horizons."

Lin Yifei also nodded in agreement: "I have gained a lot from this trip to Qingdao. These traditional cultures have made me feel the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese nation. We must inherit and carry forward them."

With love for folk culture and respect for traditional culture, the three left the Folk Culture Festival. They look forward to the next stop of the journey to continue to discover more beauty and surprises.

Special souvenirs: Select Qingdao specialties

After enjoying the folk performances, it was still early, so the three decided to take advantage of this good time to pick up some Qingdao specialties and bring the taste and memories of Qingdao back home.

They came to Taidong Pedestrian Street, which was bustling with all kinds of shops, shouts and laughter, full of a strong atmosphere of life. The streets were lined with all kinds of Qingdao specialties, dazzling people. Li Xiao's eyes were immediately attracted by a shop full of Tsingtao beer. He pointed at the shop excitedly and said: "Look, Tsingtao beer is the signature of Qingdao, I must bring a few bottles back!"

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei were also attracted and followed him into the store. The shelves in the store were filled with various types of Tsingtao beer, including classic bottled beer, portable canned beer, and special barreled raw beer. Li Xiao picked up a bottle of classic Tsingtao beer, looked at it carefully, and said, "The packaging of this Tsingtao beer is very distinctive. This classic green bottle looks very impressive. And this beer has a mellow taste, rich foam, and a strong malt aroma. It will definitely be great to share with friends when I go back."

Zhang Yuedong also picked up a can of beer and said with a smile: "This can is easy to carry and can be drunk at any time. I think I can buy a few more cans so that I can drink on the road."

Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "Yes, Tsingtao Beer must be brought. It is the business card of Qingdao."

Seeing that they were very interested in Tsingtao Beer, the boss came over and introduced enthusiastically: "You have good taste. The Tsingtao Beer we have here is authentic and is directly purchased from the Tsingtao Brewery. This classic beer has a refreshing taste and is the representative product of Tsingtao Beer. This original beer is not diluted, filtered, or sterilized, and retains the most original flavor of beer. It is very fresh, but the shelf life is relatively short, so you have to drink it as soon as possible. And this canned beer is easy to carry and suitable for drinking when traveling."

Li Xiao was even more excited after hearing this. He chose a few bottles of classic bottled beer, bought a few cans of beer, and even asked for a bottle of original beer, ready to try it when he returned to the hotel that night. He smiled and said to the boss, "Boss, your introduction is so good that I have to buy it."

The boss laughed and said, "Don't worry, the quality of our beer is absolutely guaranteed. If you find any problem, come back to me."

After leaving the beer shop, they continued walking forward. Not far away, a shop displaying Qingdao fat residue caught their attention. Qingdao fat residue is a traditional snack in Qingdao. It is made from pork belly and is made through processes such as pickling and frying. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fat but not greasy, and has a fragrant aroma. The three of them walked into the shop, which was filled with various packages of fat residue, some in bags, some in boxes, and some in vacuum packaging. Li Xiao picked up a bag of bagged fat residue, opened it and smelled it, and was immediately attracted by the rich aroma: "Wow, this fat residue is so fragrant, I can't help but want to have a bite."

Zhang Yuedong also picked up a box of fat residue and carefully read the description on the package: "The production process of this fat residue is quite exquisite. It uses high-quality pork belly, which is carefully marinated and fried to retain the original flavor of the meat. The packaging is also very beautiful, and it is also suitable for giving as a gift."

Lin Yifei picked up a bag of vacuum-packed fat residue and said, "This vacuum-packed one is easy to store and can be kept for a longer time. I think I can buy a few more bags and eat them slowly when I get home." At this time, the proprietress of the store came over and introduced with a smile, "Qingdao fat residue is a special snack in Qingdao, and it has a history of hundreds of years. Our fat residue is made from fresh pork belly, using traditional craftsmanship, without adding any preservatives or additives, to ensure the original flavor. This fat residue can be eaten directly, or used to stew dishes and make soups, and it tastes very good."

After listening to the introduction of the lady boss, the three of them got a deeper understanding of Qingdao fat residue and liked this special snack even more. Li Xiao bought a few bags of fat residue to eat on the road; Zhang Yuedong picked a few boxes of fat residue to give to friends; Lin Yifei bought a few bags of vacuum-packed fat residue to keep for himself to enjoy slowly.

They continued to stroll along the Taidong Pedestrian Street and found many interesting specialties, such as Laoshan Green Tea, Sorghum Candy, Qingdao Shell Carvings, etc. Li Xiao bought some Laoshan Green Tea. He said: "This Laoshan Green Tea is produced in the beautiful Laoshan Mountain. The leaves are thick, the aroma is rich, and the taste is fresh. If you go back and make a cup, you will definitely feel the charm of Qingdao's mountains and rivers."

Zhang Yuedong was very interested in sorghum candy. He bought a few bags and said with a smile, "This sorghum candy is a traditional candy in Qingdao. It has a soft and sticky texture and is sweet but not greasy. I loved eating it when I was a child. Now that I see it, I must buy more."

Lin Yifei saw the exquisite Qingdao shell carvings and couldn't help but buy a shell carving ornament. He said: "This Qingdao shell carving is so exquisite. It uses various types of shells as raw materials and is made through careful carving, grinding, polishing and other processes. It has exquisite shapes and bright colors. It has both artistic value and commemorative significance."

While shopping for special products, the three exchanged their views and feelings about them. They not only selected their favorite souvenirs for themselves, but also wanted to bring some gifts to their relatives and friends to share the joy of this trip.

Before they knew it, the sun was setting and the sunset dyed the sky red. The three of them left Taitung Pedestrian Street with full shopping bags, feeling satisfied. Li Xiao said with emotion: "Today is really a fruitful day. Not only did we enjoy the beautiful scenery, taste the delicious food, watch the folk performances, but we also bought so many unique specialties."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "Yes, Qingdao is really a charming city. Every specialty represents its unique culture and history."

Lin Yifei looked into the distance and said expectantly, "I wonder what kind of surprises we will encounter at the next stop? I can't wait!"

With anticipation for the next stop, the three returned to the hotel to recharge their batteries for tomorrow's journey and prepare to face new challenges and beauty.

Confucian Holy Land: A Cultural Tour of Qufu
Bidding farewell to the seaside scenery of Qingdao, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei took the high-speed rail to Qufu. Along the way, Li Xiao excitedly looked up information about Qufu on his mobile phone: "Do you know that Qufu is the hometown of Confucius, with a profound Confucian cultural heritage, and the 'Three Confucius Temples' are even more famous. This time we must experience it well."

Zhang Yuedong said with a smile: "I can't wait. It's exciting to think about going to the birthplace of Confucian culture and feeling the wisdom of the saints up close."

Lin Yifei was also full of expectations: "Yes, this will definitely be an unforgettable cultural journey."

The train slowly pulled into Qufu East Station. As soon as they got off the train, the three of them felt the unique cultural atmosphere of the city. The buildings on both sides of the street were simple and elegant, and elements related to Confucian culture could be seen everywhere. The murals on the walls and the shop signs all exuded a strong historical atmosphere.

They took a taxi to the hotel they booked, enjoying the street view of Qufu along the way. The lush trees on the roadside added a sense of vitality and vigor to this ancient city. Soon, they arrived at the hotel. After checking in, they took a short rest and headed straight to their first destination, the Confucius Temple.

When they arrived at the gate of the Confucius Temple, a tall memorial archway came into view, with four large characters "Wanren Palace Wall" engraved on it, which was magnificent. Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh: "This is the legendary Wanren Palace Wall. I feel shocked just by looking at it."

Zhang Yuedong nodded and said, "These four words were written by Emperor Qianlong himself, to describe Confucius' profound knowledge, which is as high as ten thousand feet."

Lin Yifei said: "It is hard to imagine that Confucius's thoughts have influenced China for so many years.

On the poster, the monks of Shaolin Temple show off their exquisite martial arts in the sunshine, with each move being vigorous and powerful; the Buddha statues of Longmen Grottoes are solemn and dignified, quietly gazing at the world; in the Qingming Riverside Park in Kaifeng, the ancient buildings are scattered in an orderly manner, as if bringing people into the prosperous era thousands of years ago. Li Xiao pointed at the poster and said excitedly: "Look, these scenes are so charming, we must appreciate the charm of Henan this time."

Zhang Yuedong looked at the posters with longing in his eyes: "Yes, it feels like every scenic spot is telling the long history and splendid culture of Henan. I can't wait to see it with my own eyes."

Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "In addition to these attractions, we also want to taste local food, watch folk performances, buy local specialties, and experience the customs and culture of Henan in all aspects."

As the boarding announcement sounded, the three boarded the plane to Henan with excitement and brisk steps. The plane took off slowly, flew through the clouds, and flew towards Henan. On the plane, they looked down at the earth through the window, their hearts full of expectations and yearning for the unknown journey. Li Xiao looked at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window and said with emotion: "This trip will definitely be an unforgettable experience. We must enjoy every moment."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Yes, maybe we can meet some interesting people on the trip and gain more stories."

Lin Yifei leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and imagined the wonderful journey ahead. The corners of his mouth rose unconsciously: "I really hope time can pass faster so that we can get to Henan soon."

After several hours of flight, the plane finally landed at the airport in Henan. The moment they walked out of the airport, a strong smell of the Central Plains hit them in the face. The sun was hot and strong, as if carrying the unique enthusiasm of this land. The trees on both sides of the road were lush and green, and the branches and leaves swayed gently in the breeze, as if welcoming visitors from afar. There was a unique smell in the air, which was the smell of the city's fireworks and the heavy sense of history intertwined, making people instantly feel the unique charm of Henan.

Li Xiao took a deep breath and exclaimed: "This is Henan. It is just as we imagined, full of vitality and charm."