Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1786

As they walked, they admired the street scenes along the way. Most of the buildings on the street retain the quaint style, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings, which complement the modern buildings and form a unique visual impact. The shops on the roadside are filled with a variety of specialty goods, including exquisite Bian embroidery, simple woodblock New Year paintings, and uniquely shaped Jun porcelain, each of which exudes a strong local flavor.

As they walked, they came to a snack stand. The owner of the stand greeted them warmly: "Young men, try our Kaifeng special snacks, soup dumplings, fried jelly, mutton steamed buns, the taste is very authentic." The three of them could not resist the temptation, ordered a few snacks, and sat at a small table on the street to taste them.

"Wow, this soup dumpling is so delicious!" Li Xiao took a bite of the soup dumpling, and the delicious soup instantly burst in his mouth. He couldn't help but exclaimed, "The skin is thin, the filling is big, and the soup is rich. It is worthy of being Kaifeng's signature food."

Zhang Yuedong also ate with gusto: "This fried jelly is also good, smooth and chewy, spicy and delicious, especially appetizing."

Lin Yifei has a special liking for mutton steamed buns: "This mutton steamed bun is crispy and delicious. The aroma of mutton and the taste of cumin blend perfectly, leaving people with an endless aftertaste."

After tasting the delicious food, they came to a travel agency to make a travel plan for the next few days. The travel agency staff enthusiastically recommended several must-see attractions for them: "There are many fun places in Kaifeng, such as Qingming Shanghe Park, Kaifeng Mansion, Longting Park, Daxiangguo Temple, these are Kaifeng's iconic attractions, you must go and see them. In addition, Kaifeng's night market is also very famous. You can go there at night to try various delicacies and experience the nightlife of the ancient capital."

The three of them listened carefully to the introduction of the staff, and planned the itinerary while discussing. Finally, they decided to go to Qingming Riverside Park today to experience the prosperity of the Northern Song Dynasty; to Kaifeng Prefecture and Longting Park tomorrow to appreciate the majesty of the ancient government and the style of the royal garden; and to Daxiangguo Temple the day after tomorrow to experience the profoundness of Buddhist culture. In the evening, they will go to the night market to taste various delicacies and buy some local specialties.

Walking out of the travel agency, Li Xiao said confidently: "This trip to Henan will definitely be very exciting. We must experience all the beautiful scenery and delicious food in Kaifeng." Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also nodded, full of anticipation for the upcoming journey.

Qingming Riverside Park, a thousand-year prosperity
Early the next morning, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei arrived at the gate of the Qingming Riverside Park. Before entering the park, the antique gate had already made them feel the strong atmosphere of the Song Dynasty. The copper nails on the gate shone with an ancient luster, and the paintings on the eaves and brackets were still colorful despite the wind and rain, as if telling stories of the past. There was an endless stream of tourists at the gate, and everyone was looking forward to stepping into this magical world that brought the "Qingming Riverside Scene" from the scroll to reality.

As people walk into the park, the first thing that comes into view is a huge statue of Zhang Zeduan. He holds a scroll in his hand, his eyes are deep and focused, as if he is immersed in the world of creating "Along the River During the Qingming Festival". Around the statue is a huge relief that vividly reproduces the scene in the painting. The characters are lifelike and the carriages and horses seem to be galloping, which makes people marvel at the exquisite skills of ancient artists.

"Wow, these statues and reliefs are so realistic! It feels like we're taken back to the Northern Song Dynasty." Li Xiao said excitedly. As he spoke, he kept pressing the shutter on his cell phone to record this shocking scene.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, it is worthy of being built based on the theme park of Along the River During the Qingming Festival. Even the details are handled so well."

Lin Yifei stood in front of the statue, carefully examining every detail on the relief, as if he was having a dialogue with history across time and space: "It's hard to imagine how Zhang Zeduan used his brush to record such a rich life scene back then."

Walking along the bluestone path in the park, they seemed to have really walked into the world of the painting. On both sides of the road are buildings imitating the Song Dynasty, with restaurants, teahouses, inns, and shops. The signs and names of each shop are kept as they were in the Song Dynasty. The shop assistants in Song-style clothing greeted tourists warmly, making people feel as if they had traveled back to the streets of the Northern Song Dynasty a thousand years ago.

"Look, that's the Rainbow Bridge!" Li Xiao suddenly pointed to a wooden arch bridge in front and shouted. The Rainbow Bridge spans over the Bian River, with a beautiful shape, like a rainbow. The bridge is built of thick wood, and the railings on the bridge are carved with exquisite patterns. Under the sunlight, it exudes a simple and rustic atmosphere. There are busy people on the bridge, including hawkers carrying loads, dignitaries riding horses, and rich ladies sitting in sedan chairs. It is very lively. Under the bridge, the water of the Bian River is clear and you can see the bottom. Ancient ships are slowly sailing on the water, and the flags on the bows are fluttering in the wind, as if telling the prosperity of the past.

The three of them walked onto the Rainbow Bridge and stood in the middle of the bridge, overlooking the beautiful scenery of the entire park. In the distance, the Shangshan Gate stood tall and majestic, with flags on the tower fluttering; nearby, on both sides of the Bian River, there were shops and people coming and going. The breeze blew by, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers and food, making people intoxicated.

"This Rainbow Bridge is so spectacular! Standing here, I feel like I am a part of the painting." Li Xiao said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong looked at the ancient ship under the bridge and said thoughtfully: "Back then, this Hongqiao was an important hub for water and land transportation in the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty. Countless ships and pedestrians passed by here every day, and the scene must have been even more lively."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Perhaps the place where we are standing now is where Zhang Zeduan once stood. It was here that he observed the life in the market and captured the inspiration for his creations."

Coming down from Hongqiao, they came to a folk performance venue. There were wonderful folk acrobatics being performed here, including fire-breathing, sword-swallowing, and urn-carrying, which attracted cheers from the audience. The actors were dressed in Song-style costumes and had skillful skills. Every movement showed the superb skills of ancient folk artists.

"It's amazing! These acrobatic performances are truly astonishing." Li Xiao watched intently and kept applauding and cheering for the performers.

Zhang Yuedong was also attracted by the wonderful performances of the actors: "It is not easy for these folk skills to be passed down to this day. They are not only a performance, but also a cultural inheritance."

While watching the performance, Lin Yifei talked to the audience next to him: "You see, these performances are different from what we see on TV. The feeling of watching them live is even more shocking."

After watching the acrobatic performance, they continued to tour the park. Along the way, they admired many buildings and landscapes in imitation of the Song Dynasty, such as Sun Yangzheng Store, Fuyun Pavilion, Xuande Hall, Xuanhe Hall, etc. Each building is unique, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings, showing the unique style of Song Dynasty architecture. In these buildings, many cultural relics and artworks from the Song Dynasty are also displayed, such as porcelain, calligraphy and painting, wood carvings, etc., allowing them to have a deeper understanding of the culture and art of the Song Dynasty.

As they walked, they came to a lake. The lake was clear and green, with sparkling waves. The buildings and trees on the shore were reflected on the lake, like a beautiful painting. There were many tourists taking photos by the lake, and some people were taking a leisurely walk. The three of them also found a bench to sit down, quietly appreciating the beautiful scenery in front of them, feeling this rare tranquility. "The scenery here is so beautiful! It makes people feel particularly comfortable." Li Xiao closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if to keep this beautiful breath in his heart.

Zhang Yuedong looked at the lake and said with emotion: "Yes, it is rare to have such a quiet place in this bustling city."

Lin Yifei smiled and said, "It would be great if I could live here for a while and enjoy such beautiful scenery every day."

After a short rest, they continued on their way. Unconsciously, the sun had gradually set in the west, and the entire park was stained with a layer of golden afterglow, which made it even more beautiful. They came to a food street, where a variety of Kaifeng specialties were gathered, such as soup dumplings, fried jelly, almond tea, spicy soup, etc. The aroma was so fragrant that it made people salivate.

The three of them found a snack stand and sat down, ordering a few delicacies to enjoy. After a while, the steaming hot soup dumplings were served on the table. The skin of the soup dumplings was as thin as paper, and through the skin you could clearly see the tender meat and rich soup inside. Li Xiao carefully picked up a soup dumpling and took a bite. The delicious soup burst in his mouth instantly. He couldn't help but exclaimed: "Wow, this soup dumpling is so delicious! It is worthy of being Kaifeng's signature food."

Zhang Yuedong also picked up a soup dumpling, dipped it in vinegar, and put it in his mouth: "Well, this tastes really good, the soup is rich, the meat filling is delicious, and the taste is excellent."

While eating the fried jelly, Lin Yifei said: "This fried jelly is also delicious, smooth and chewy, spicy and tasty. It is a perfect match with the soup dumplings."

After tasting the delicious food, they strolled around the food street and bought some local specialties, such as Bian embroidery, woodblock New Year paintings, peanut cakes, etc. These specialties have strong local characteristics and can not only be given as souvenirs to relatives and friends, but also allow them to better understand Kaifeng's culture and history.

The sky gradually darkened, and the whole park was decorated with lights, making it particularly beautiful. They came to a square where a grand folk performance was being held. On the stage, actors dressed in gorgeous costumes performed traditional programs such as dragon dance, lion dance, and stilts. The scene was very lively. The audience was also immersed in the joyful atmosphere, and bursts of applause and cheers broke out from time to time.

"This folk performance is so wonderful! It makes people feel the strong atmosphere of traditional culture." Li Xiao said excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong also smiled and said: "Yes, these traditional programs are the treasures of our national culture and should be passed on well."

While watching the performance, Lin Yifei used his mobile phone to record the wonderful moments: "I want to record these beautiful moments and share them with my friends when I get back."

After watching the folk performance, it was already past eight o'clock in the evening. Although the three were a little tired, their hearts were full of joy and satisfaction. They left the Qingming Riverside Park with a lot of gains. On the way back, they recalled what they saw and heard in the park from time to time and discussed the next stop.

Drum Tower Night Market, Kaifeng on the Tip of the Tongue

As night falls and the lights come on, the Drum Tower Night Market in Kaifeng is like a bright pearl, instantly lighting up the entire city. Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei, with full expectations, shuttled through the bustling crowd and headed towards the paradise of food - the Drum Tower Night Market.

Before they even got close, the endless shouting, laughter, and aroma of various delicacies came to their faces, as if an invisible hand tightly grasped their hearts. The three of them quickened their pace, eager to blend into the lively atmosphere and start a carnival of taste.

As soon as they stepped into the night market, they were overwhelmed by the bustling scene. On both sides of the street, stalls were lined up neatly, one next to the other, like two winding dragons. In front of each stall hung a bright red lantern, the flickering light reflecting the enthusiastic smiles of the stall owners and the dazzling array of delicacies. The stalls had all kinds of special snacks, making people salivate.

"Wow, this is simply a paradise for food!" Li Xiao shouted excitedly, with a gleam in his eyes, as if he had discovered a treasure.

Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but sigh: "Yes, there are so many delicious foods, I feel like I want to try every one of them."

Lin Yifei smiled and said, "Then we have to plan carefully, otherwise our stomachs won't be able to hold so much delicious food."

The three of them were walking among the stalls while talking. They were first attracted by a soup dumpling stall. The stall owner skillfully picked up the dough, put a spoonful of tender and juicy meat filling on it, and then gently pinched it, and a small and exquisite soup dumpling was born. After a while, a basket of steaming soup dumplings was served on the table.

Li Xiao carefully picked up a soup dumpling and looked at it carefully. The skin of the soup dumpling was as thin as a cicada's wing. Through the skin, you can clearly see the tender meat filling and rich soup inside, like a fine work of art. He took a bite and the delicious soup burst in his mouth instantly. The rich meat aroma and mellow soup blended perfectly, making him exclaim: "Wow, this soup dumpling is so delicious! The skin is thin, the filling is large, and the soup is rich. It's simply a delicacy on earth!"

Zhang Yuedong also quickly picked up a soup dumpling, dipped it in vinegar, and put it in his mouth: "Well, this tastes really good. The sour taste of vinegar not only neutralizes the greasiness of the meat filling, but also adds a refreshing taste, which makes people have endless aftertaste."

Lin Yifei ate with gusto, saying as he ate: "This soup dumpling is indeed Kaifeng's signature delicacy, and it really lives up to its reputation."