Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1767

Zhang Yuedong was also shocked by the performance: "Every move is full of power and beauty. It is worthy of the world-famous Shaolin Kung Fu."

While recording the video, Lin Yifei said, "I must record this wonderful performance and show it to my friends when I get back."

After the performance, the monks invited the audience to come on stage to experience Shaolin Kung Fu. Li Xiao was the first to rush up and learn a few simple Shaolin boxing moves under the guidance of the monks. Although the moves were a little unfamiliar, he learned very seriously, with an excited smile on his face.

"This Shaolin boxing is really not simple. It feels like every movement requires the whole body's strength." Li Xiao wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile.

The monk smiled and said to him: "Shaolin Kung Fu emphasizes both internal and external cultivation. It requires not only a strong physique, but also a firm will and noble character."

Li Xiao nodded and gained a deeper understanding of Shaolin Kung Fu.

After leaving the performance venue, they continued to tour the temple. Along the way, they visited the Dharma Hall, the Abbot's Room, the Lixue Pavilion and other buildings, each of which has a unique historical and cultural connotation. In the Lixue Pavilion, they heard the story of the Second Patriarch Huike who cut off his arm to seek the Dharma, and were moved by Master Huike's persistent pursuit of the Dharma.

"Master Huike was willing to cut off his arm in order to seek the Dharma. His perseverance and determination are truly admirable," Li Xiao said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong also said: "Yes, it is precisely because of the efforts and dedication of these predecessors that Shaolin culture can be passed down to this day."

Lin Yifei said thoughtfully: "Maybe this is the embodiment of the Shaolin spirit, perseverance and courage."

Finally, they came to the Shaolin Temple Pagoda Forest. The Pagoda Forest is the tomb of the Shaolin Temple's successive eminent monks and abbots. There are towers of various sizes standing here, with different heights and shapes. These towers are not only witnesses of history, but also important symbols of Shaolin culture.

"These towers look so old. There must be a story behind each tower." Li Xiao said while taking pictures.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, these towers have witnessed the rise and fall of Shaolin Temple, and they carry the wisdom and spirit of countless monks."

Lin Yifei carefully observed the carvings and words on each tower: "From the architectural style and carving techniques of these towers, we can also see the cultural characteristics of different periods."

In Tallinn, they met a tour guide who was explaining the history and owner of each tower. The tour guide enthusiastically introduced the history and owner of each tower to them, which gave them a deeper understanding of Tallinn. It turned out that the height, number of floors and shape of these towers have special meanings, representing the status and achievements of the monks.

When they left the pagoda forest, the sun had already set, and the entire Shaolin Temple was stained with a layer of golden afterglow, which made it look more solemn and majestic. The three of them left the Shaolin Temple with a lot of gains and awe for Shaolin culture.

On the way back, they were still reminiscing about what they had seen and heard in Shaolin Temple. Li Xiao said with emotion: "This trip to Shaolin Temple really opened my eyes. Not only did I see the wonderful Shaolin Kung Fu performances, but I also learned about the profound Shaolin culture."

Zhang Yuedong also said: "Yes, Shaolin culture is not only martial arts, but also a spirit and belief. It contains tenacity, wisdom and compassion, which is worth learning and inheriting."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "If I have the chance in the future, I will come to Shaolin Temple again to learn more about Shaolin Kung Fu and culture."

Although the three people's trip to Dengfeng has ended, their love for the land of Henan has become deeper. They are looking forward to the next stop of the journey, continuing to explore the beauty, food and culture of Henan, and writing their own wonderful stories.

Zhongyue Temple and Songyang Academy, experience the cultural heritage

On the second day in Dengfeng, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei decided to explore the two cultural holy sites of Zhongyue Temple and Songyang Academy to deeply experience the city’s profound historical heritage.

The morning sun shines on the earth, covering the entire Dengfeng city with a layer of golden brilliance. The three of them took a local bus, enjoying the scenery along the way, and headed towards Zhongyue Temple. Outside the bus window, the mountains are undulating, the trees are shady, and the crops in the fields are swaying gently in the breeze, as if welcoming visitors from afar.

"The scenery in Dengfeng is so beautiful, with both majestic mountains and tranquil countryside." Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh as he looked out the window.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the natural scenery and cultural landscape here are perfectly integrated, making people feel a unique charm."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "The Zhongyue Temple and Songyang Academy we are going to visit today will definitely allow us to appreciate the cultural charm of Dengfeng."

Soon, they arrived at the gate of Zhongyue Temple. A magnificent ancient building complex appeared in front of them, with red walls, yellow tiles, flying eaves and brackets, which looked particularly solemn and majestic under the sunlight. The gate of Zhongyue Temple was tall and majestic, with a huge plaque hanging on the lintel, on which were written three big characters "Zhongyue Temple", which were vigorous and powerful. On both sides of the gate, a pair of stone lions squatted majestically, as if guarding this ancient temple.

"This is the Zhongyue Temple. It really lives up to its reputation!" Li Xiao said excitedly, with a gleam in his eyes.

Zhang Yuedong was also shocked by the scene before him: "Yes, just looking at this gate, you can feel its long history and cultural heritage."

Lin Yifei couldn't wait to take out his camera: "Don't just look at it, take pictures quickly. This spectacular scene must be recorded."

When they walked into Zhongyue Temple, the first thing that caught their eyes was a long sacred road. On both sides of the sacred road, ancient cypresses stood tall and straight, with lush branches and leaves, some of which have a history of thousands of years. The sun shone through the gaps between the branches and leaves, forming patches of light on the ground, adding a mysterious atmosphere to the sacred road. "These ancient cypresses are really spectacular. They feel like witnesses of history, silently guarding Zhongyue Temple." Li Xiao said with emotion, stroking an ancient cypress.

Zhang Yuedong also looked up at the ancient cypresses: "Yes, they have experienced countless storms, but they are still standing. Such tenacity is really admirable."

Lin Yifei was taking photos nearby: "I want to take photos of all these ancient cypresses and make an album as a souvenir when I get back."

Walking along the sacred road, they came to the main building of Zhongyue Temple, Junji Hall. Junji Hall is the core building of Zhongyue Temple and the largest hall among the Five Sacred Mountains. The hall is nine bays wide and five bays deep, with a double-eaved hip roof covered with yellow glazed tiles, which looks particularly majestic. The statue of Zhongyue Emperor is enshrined in the hall. The statue is tall and majestic, with a solemn expression, which makes people feel awe.

"This Junji Palace is so magnificent!" Li Xiao stood outside the palace, looking up at the palace, and exclaimed, "The scale and craftsmanship of this building are simply unimaginable."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this is the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient working people. It is really amazing that such a magnificent building could be built under the conditions at that time."

Lin Yifei walked into the hall and carefully observed the statue of Zhongyue Emperor: "This statue is carved lifelike, and every detail is handled very well. It feels like Zhongyue Emperor is really standing in front of us."

There are many other buildings around the Junji Hall, such as Tianzhong Pavilion, Peitian Town Square, Chongsheng Gate, Huasan Gate, etc. These buildings are well-arranged and rigorously laid out, and each building has unique historical and cultural connotations. While visiting and listening to the guide's explanation, they gained a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Zhongyue Temple.

Originally, Zhongyue Temple was built to worship the Taishi Mountain God, and its history can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty. After successive expansions and renovations, Zhongyue Temple gradually took on its current size. In ancient times, Zhongyue Temple was where emperors and generals worshipped Zhongyue Emperor, and it was also an important place for Taoist activities. It is not only a religious building, but also a treasure house carrying rich historical and cultural heritage.

After leaving Zhongyue Temple, they went to Songyang Academy without stopping. Songyang Academy is located at the southern foot of Songshan Mountain. It is one of the four major academies in ancient China and an important place for the dissemination of Confucian culture. When they arrived at Songyang Academy, a strong smell of books hit them. The architecture of the academy is simple and elegant, with a rigorous layout. The main building on the central axis has five entrances and corridors.

"We've finally arrived at Songyang Academy. This is the ancient institution of higher learning!" Li Xiao said excitedly, as if he had already seen the scene of ancient students studying hard here.

Zhang Yuedong also said with emotion: "Yes, this place has cultivated countless talents and has had a profound impact on the development of ancient Chinese culture."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Perhaps the road we are walking today was also walked by great scholars such as Fan Zhongyan, Cheng Hao, and Cheng Yi."

When they entered the academy, the first thing they saw was a tall memorial archway with four characters written on it: "高山仰志", which expressed the respect of later generations for the ancient sages. Passing through the memorial archway, they came to the Xiansheng Temple. The Xiansheng Temple is a place for worshipping Confucius. Inside the temple is a statue of Confucius, which is dignified and solemn. There are some ancient books and stationery around it, which makes people feel the strong atmosphere of Confucian culture.

"Studying in such an environment can really help people calm down and concentrate on studying." Li Xiao said with emotion as he stood in the Temple of the Sages.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the ancient academies focused not only on imparting knowledge, but also on cultivating morality and accomplishment. Here, students can not only learn knowledge, but also be influenced by Confucianism."

Lin Yifei carefully observed the murals and carvings in the hall: "These murals and carvings are very exquisite. They are not only works of art, but also a vivid embodiment of Confucian culture."

Then, they visited the lecture hall, Daotong Temple, library and other buildings. In the lecture hall, they seemed to see the scene of ancient Confucian scholars giving lectures here, and the students listened attentively and raised their own questions and opinions from time to time; in Daotong Temple, they learned about the inheritance and development of Confucianism and had a deeper understanding of the achievements of Confucian predecessors of all dynasties; in the library, they saw many precious ancient books and documents, which are the treasures of Chinese national culture, carrying the memory of history and the crystallization of wisdom.

In the backyard of Songyang Academy, there are two extremely tall ancient cypresses. They are lush and leafy, covering the sky and the sun, as if two giants are guarding this ancient academy. These two ancient cypresses are the famous "Han Feng General Cypresses". According to forestry experts, they are more than 4500 years old and are the oldest cypresses in my country. There is also an interesting allusion about these two cypresses, "prejudice". According to legend, when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che, visited Songshan, he came to Songyang Academy and saw that these two cypresses were very tall. On a whim, he named them "General" and "Second General". Later, he saw a bigger cypress, but since two generals had been named before, it was difficult to change it, so he had to name this cypress "Third General". "Third General" was very angry about this and burned himself to death, leaving only the current "General" and "Second General".

"These two ancient cypresses are so amazing! They have witnessed the rise and fall, honor and disgrace of Songyang Academy, and also witnessed the changes in Chinese history." Li Xiao looked up at the ancient cypresses and couldn't help but sigh.

Zhang Yuedong also said: "Yes, they are like a living history book, telling us stories of the past. Standing in front of them, we can feel the vicissitudes of time and the weight of history."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "I think these two ancient cypresses are like two wise elders. They stand here quietly, watching generation after generation of students graduate from here and make contributions to the country and society."

After visiting Songyang Academy, the three of them came to a restaurant near the academy to taste the local delicacies. They ordered Dengfeng roast chicken, Songshan tofu and other special dishes, which were delicious and satisfying.

"This Dengfeng roast chicken tastes really good, the meat is tender and the aroma is rich." Li Xiao took a bite of the roast chicken and praised it highly.

Zhang Yuedong also picked up a piece of Songshan tofu: "This Songshan tofu is also delicious, with a smooth texture and rich bean flavor."

Lin Yifei said while eating: "This meal is so satisfying. Not only did I taste the delicious food, but I also felt the food culture of Dengfeng."

While tasting the food, they also discussed their feelings about today's visit. Li Xiao said with emotion: "Today's trip to Zhongyue Temple and Songyang Academy really gave me a lot of gains. I not only saw the magnificent buildings and precious cultural relics, but also learned a lot of historical and cultural knowledge."

Zhang Yuedong also said: "Yes, these historical and cultural heritages are the treasures of our nation. We should protect them well so that future generations can also appreciate their charm."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "This trip has given me a deeper understanding of Henan's history and culture, and has made me love our motherland even more. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will go to more places and explore more historical and cultural treasures."

After dinner, they set off on the road back to the hotel with a full harvest and a deep attachment to Dengfeng. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, as if covering them with a golden coat. During their time in Dengfeng, they left many beautiful memories, which will become precious treasures in their lives.