Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1768

Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei stood at the exit of Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, dragging their suitcases, their faces filled with irrepressible excitement. Li Xiao is a cheerful and curious young man. He never stopped talking along the way, constantly talking about his expectations for this trip to Shanxi. Zhang Yuedong is relatively calm. He is a history fan and is full of yearning for Shanxi's rich historical and cultural heritage. Lin Yifei is a food lover. He made a full food guide before coming, just waiting to feast on it.

"Wow, we're finally in Taiyuan! I can't wait to start this wonderful journey." Li Xiao shouted excitedly, with a gleam in his eyes.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Yes, Taiyuan is an ancient city with a history of more than 2,000 years. There must be many surprises waiting for us."

Lin Yifei patted his stomach and joked, "Let's not talk about anything else, my stomach is ready for the delicious food in Taiyuan!"

The three of them got a taxi and drove towards the city. Outside the car window, the street scene of Taiyuan was like a slowly unfolding painting. High-rise buildings and ancient streets intertwined with each other, and the modern atmosphere collided and blended with the strong historical charm. The locust trees on the street were lush and green, adding a bit of tranquility and comfort to the city.

"Look, that seems to be Yingze Street over there," Li Xiao said, pointing out the window. The wide street was bustling with cars and pedestrians. As the main road of Taiyuan, Yingze Street is like a city artery, witnessing the prosperity and changes of this city.

Soon, they arrived at the hotel they booked. After a short rest, they went out to Liuxiang, ready to start their first stop in Taiyuan. Liuxiang is the most prosperous commercial street in Taiyuan, with numerous shops, a wide range of goods, and a constant flow of people. The perfect fusion of ancient architecture and modern commercial elements makes people feel like traveling through time and space.

"This Liuxiang is so lively. It feels like I've come to an ancient market." Li Xiao exclaimed as he looked around.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, this place is not only a good place for shopping, but also preserves many historical relics and carries the memory of Taiyuan."

Lin Yifei was attracted by the aroma of the food on the street and couldn't hold back any longer: "Don't just look at it, go and try the food, I'm dying of greed!"

The three of them shuttled through the bustling crowd and started a food journey.

The next morning, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei arrived at the Jin Temple. Located at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain in Jinyuan District, TY City, the Jin Temple was built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founding prince of the Jin State, and his mother, Queen Yi Jiang. It is the earliest existing royal garden in China.

Before entering the gate of Jin Temple, you can see the magnificent buildings and towering ancient trees from afar, as if telling a thousand-year history. The two characters "Jin Temple" on the plaque hanging high above the gate are vigorous and powerful, shining brightly under the sunlight.

"Wow, this is the Jin Temple, it looks so spectacular!" Li Xiao couldn't help but exclaimed.

Zhang Yuedong's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yes, this place brings together the essence of ancient Chinese architecture, sculpture, gardens and other arts. We'll have something to see today."

Lin Yifei couldn't wait to say, "Let's go, I can't wait to go in and find out what's going on."

When you enter the Jin Temple, the first thing that catches your eye is the Shuijingtai. Shuijingtai is an ancient stage with an exquisite structure and gorgeous decoration. A plaque with the words "Three Famous Springs in Shanxi" hangs high on the stage, and the couplets on both sides read "Beautiful waters and clear mountains are like paintings without ink or brush; birds chirping and flowers blooming are like articles with sound and color", which vividly depict the beauty of the Jin Temple.

"This Water Mirror Stage is so beautiful. There must have been many good shows performed here in the past." Li Xiao imagined the lively scene on the ancient stage.

Zhang Yuedong introduced: "Shuijingtai is one of the important buildings in Jin Temple. It is not only a place for opera performances, but also a part of ancient sacrificial activities."

Lin Yifei looked around curiously: "I wonder what it's like to watch a show here. It must be full of atmosphere."

Continue walking along the central axis and you will arrive at the Golden Man Terrace. There are four iron men on the Golden Man Terrace, each with its own lifelike appearance. These iron men have survived thousands of years of wind and rain and are still well preserved, witnessing the rise and fall of the Jin Temple.

"This iron man is so majestic. It feels like an ancient guard protecting Jin Temple." Li Xiao walked to an iron man and carefully observed its details.

"These iron men not only have artistic value, but also serve as water-control devices. It is said that they were cast to prevent the Jin River from flooding," Zhang Yuedong explained.

Lin Yifei joked: "Then they have a great responsibility, having guarded the Jin Temple for so many years."

Then, they came to the core building of Jin Temple, the Holy Mother Hall. The Holy Mother Hall is the oldest existing building in Jin Temple. It faces east and is magnificent. The hall houses statues of Yi Jiang, the wife of King Wu of Zhou, and the mother of King Cheng of Zhou and Tang Shuyu. The Song Dynasty colored sculptures in the hall are exquisite and lifelike, and each colored sculpture seems to have its own story.

Walking into the Holy Mother Hall, Li Xiao was shocked by the scene before him: "These colored sculptures are so realistic, it's like real people are standing in front of me."

While admiring the colored sculptures, Zhang Yuedong said: "These colored sculptures are treasures of Song Dynasty sculpture art. Their costumes, expressions and postures are all very delicate and have high artistic value."

Lin Yifei couldn't help but admire: "The ancients' skills were really superb, they could make the sculptures so lifelike."

In front of the Holy Mother Hall, there are eight wooden coiled dragons, coiled around stone pillars, baring their teeth and claws, with extraordinary momentum. These wooden coiled dragons were carved in the second year of Yuanyou in the Song Dynasty and are the earliest existing wooden coiled dragons in China.

"This wooden carving of a coiled dragon is so stunning. It feels like it will fly up at any time." Li Xiao looked up at the wooden carving of a coiled dragon, his eyes filled with awe.

Zhang Yuedong said: "These wood-carved coiled dragons adopt various techniques such as round carving, relief carving and hollow carving, with exquisite craftsmanship. They are outstanding representatives of ancient Chinese wood carving art."

Lin Yifei couldn't help but reach out and touch the scales of Panlong: "This feels so real, it seems that I can feel their power."

After leaving the Holy Mother Hall, they came to the Yunuma Feiliang Bridge. The Yunuma Feiliang Bridge is a cross-shaped bridge with a unique shape, like a roc spreading its wings. It connects the Xian Hall in front and the Holy Mother Hall in the back. Under the bridge, a clear spring flows, sparkling.

"The shape of this bridge is so unique. It's the first time I've seen such a bridge." Li Xiao walked onto the Uonuma Flying Bridge, feeling its unique charm.

Zhang Yuedong explained: "The Uonuma Flying Bridge is a unique example of ancient Chinese bridge construction. Its architectural structure is very ingenious and it is a treasure of ancient Chinese architectural art."

Lin Yifei stood on the bridge, overlooking the spring water below: "It must be beautiful to take pictures here. It can give you a feeling of traveling through time and space."

During the tour of Jin Temple, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei stopped from time to time to appreciate every building and every cultural relic, feeling the weight of history and the charm of culture. They also met a tour guide who explained the history, architectural features and cultural connotations of Jin Temple in detail, giving them a deeper understanding of Jin Temple.

"This trip to Jin Temple was really rewarding. It gave me a deeper understanding of ancient Chinese culture." Li Xiao said with emotion. Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, Jin Temple is like a living history book. Every detail contains rich historical information."

Lin Yifei also smiled and said: "Not only that, the beautiful scenery here is also intoxicating. It is really an unforgettable trip."

As time went by, the sun gradually set, and they had to leave Jin Temple. But the beauty and historical culture of Jin Temple had been deeply imprinted in their hearts, becoming the most precious memory of their trip to Shanxi.

Eat in Liuxiang and enjoy the flavor of Taiyuan

It was already evening when Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei returned to the city from Jin Temple. Their stomachs were already growling. They decided to go to Liuxiang again to taste the special food of Taiyuan.

The lights in Liuxiang were on at this time, and it was very lively. The shops on both sides of the street were brightly lit, and the aroma of various delicacies filled the air, making people salivate.

"Wow, there are so many delicious foods, I don't know what to choose." Li Xiao's eyes widened as he looked at the dazzling array of delicious food.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Don't worry, we'll take our time to choose and try all the specialties of Taiyuan."

Lin Yifei couldn't wait to walk to a stall and said, "Let me try this Qingxu sausage first. I heard it's a specialty snack in Taiyuan."

Qingxu sausage is made of buckwheat flour, and has a smooth texture. It can be eaten cold or stir-fried. Lin Yifei ordered a stir-fried Qingxu sausage, which was drizzled with red chili oil and sprinkled with green chopped green onions and coriander, and looked very tempting.

"Well, this Qingxu sausage tastes really good, spicy and very appetizing." Lin Yifei praised it while eating.

Li Xiao also took a bite and said, "It's really delicious. The taste of this buckwheat noodle is very unique. It tastes even better with the chili oil."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "This is just the tip of the iceberg of Taiyuan cuisine. There are many more delicious foods waiting for us."

Then, they came to a time-honored restaurant to taste Taiyuan's signature dish - fried pork. Fried pork is a traditional Taiyuan dish with strong Shanxi local characteristics. It is made with pork as the main ingredient, with black fungus, magnolia slices, cucumber and other ingredients, and is made through multiple processes such as frying and stir-frying.

Soon, the deep-fried pork was served on the table. It was bright golden in color, and tasted salty and fresh. Li Xiao picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth: "Wow, this deep-fried pork is so delicious, the meat is tender and the flavor is rich."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded and praised: "The cooking temperature of this dish is just right. The meat slices are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the side dishes are also very refreshing."

Lin Yifei ate with big mouthfuls: "I think this is the most delicious deep-fried pork I have ever eaten. It's so satisfying."

In addition to the deep-fried pork, they also ordered a plate of Tou Nao. Tou Nao is a nutritious food unique to Taiyuan. It is made from ingredients such as mutton, sheep marrow, stewed noodles, lotus root, long yam, etc., and is boiled with seasonings such as rice wine, wine lees and astragalus. This delicacy has a bit of the aroma of medicinal materials and is a favorite of locals, but for outsiders, it may take some time to get used to it.

"This brain has a very strange taste, a strong smell of medicinal herbs." Li Xiao took a sip of the brain and a surprised expression appeared on his face.

Zhang Yuedong explained: "Tou Nao is a medicinal food that has the effect of nourishing and maintaining health, but it should be eaten with pickled leeks and Shanxi aged vinegar, which will make it taste better."

Lin Yifei tried to follow Zhang Yuedong's instructions and took a bite: "Well, this combination really tastes much better, with a unique flavor."

In Liuxiang, they also tasted other specialties of Taiyuan, such as Laoshuku Yuanxiao, Taigu Cake, Oat Noodle Kuoluoluo, etc. Each kind of food brought them a different taste experience and made them feel the unique charm of Taiyuan's food culture.

"Today's meal is really a feast for my appetite. The food in Taiyuan is so delicious." Li Xiao patted his round belly and said with satisfaction.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Yes, this is only part of Taiyuan's delicacies. We will go to other places to taste more delicacies later."

Lin Yifei also said expectantly: "I'm so excited. I can't wait to continue our food journey."

Enjoy the charm of Jin Opera at the theater

After dinner, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei came to a theater to watch a performance of Jin Opera, which is a representative opera of SX Province and one of the four major bangzi operas in SX Province, with strong local characteristics and profound cultural connotations.

When we walked into the theater, it was already full of spectators, all waiting for the performance to begin. The stage was beautifully decorated, with golden patterns embroidered on the red curtain, which looked particularly solemn.

"This is my first time watching Jin Opera. I wonder what it will be like." Li Xiao looked around curiously.

Zhang Yuedong introduced: "The singing of Jin Opera is beautiful and melodious, and the performance is simple and generous, which has high artistic value. You will know it later."

Lin Yifei also said excitedly: "I heard that Jin Opera has many unique performance techniques. I really hope to feast my eyes on it."

With the sound of passionate gongs and drums, the performance officially began. The actors, dressed in gorgeous costumes, appeared on stage. Their singing was melodious and clear, expressing the characters' emotions vividly.

"Wow, the singing is so beautiful. I feel like I'm drawn into the plot." Li Xiao was deeply attracted by the actors' wonderful performances.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, the singing style of Jin Opera is very distinctive. It absorbs the folk songs, yangko and other folk art rhythms of Jinzhong area, and sounds very familiar."

Lin Yifei also stared at the stage intently: "The actors' performances were also very good. Every movement and every expression was full of drama."

During the performance, the actors also demonstrated some unique performance skills of Jin Opera, such as feather skills, hat wings skills, and tip skills. The feathers on the actors' heads flew up and down with the rhythm of the music, and the hat wings also swayed rhythmically, which made people dazzled and amazed.