Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1787

After tasting the soup dumplings, they continued on their way. Not far away, a stall selling mutton steamed buns was crowded with people. The three walked over curiously and saw the stall owner making mutton steamed buns. He first put a thin dough in a pan, then spread a thick layer of minced mutton on it, sprinkled it with chopped green onions, cumin and other seasonings, and then covered it with another dough, gently pressing it with a spatula to fully blend the dough and the minced mutton. After a while, the mutton steamed buns were baked, and the golden skin exuded an attractive aroma, making people salivate at the sight.

The three of them bought a mutton steamed bun, divided it into three portions, and sat at the small table next to them to taste it. Li Xiao took a bite of the mutton steamed bun, and the crispy dough and the tender and juicy mutton collided in his mouth. The aroma of mutton and the taste of cumin blended perfectly, instantly igniting his taste buds: "This mutton steamed bun is too fragrant! The dough is crispy, the mutton is tender, and the flavor is rich. It's so delicious!"

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the taste of this mutton steamed bun is really unique. It makes people want to eat more."

While eating, Lin Yifei said: "This mutton steamed bun is really a major feature of Kaifeng Night Market. You must try it when you come to Kaifeng."

Then, they tasted various special snacks such as fried jelly, almond tea, braised fish, etc. Each snack had a unique taste, which made them intoxicated and praised it highly. Fried jelly was spicy and delicious, smooth and chewy, with rich sauce and green chopped green onions, which greatly increased people's appetite; almond tea was delicate and sweet, and the aroma of almonds was refreshing. After taking a sip, it was like a spring flowing in the heart, making people feel extremely comfortable; braised fish was tender and juicy, the fish meat melted in the mouth, and the soup was rich and mellow with a hint of pepper, which made people have endless aftertaste.

While tasting the food, they also enjoyed wonderful folk performances. In front of a stall, a folk artist was performing face-changing. He was wearing gorgeous clothes, with brightly painted faces, dancing on the stage. With the rhythm of the music, his hands quickly waved on his face, and in an instant he changed into different faces one after another, which made people dazzled and amazed. The audience around him applauded and cheered, and the atmosphere was very warm.

"This face-changing performance is so amazing!" Li Xiao said in amazement, his eyes fixed on the stage, afraid to miss any wonderful moment.

Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but sigh: "Yes, the skills of this folk artist are so superb, it's unbelievable."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "This is the charm of traditional culture. It always brings unexpected surprises to people."

In addition to tasting food and appreciating folk performances, they also bought some local specialties at the night market. There were exquisite Bian embroidered handkerchiefs, which were embroidered with lifelike flowers, birds, fish and insects, with bright colors and delicate needlework. Every stitch and every thread contained the wisdom and skills of the people of Kaifeng; there were also simple woodcut New Year paintings, with vivid figures and smooth lines, full of rich life atmosphere and traditional cultural charm; in addition, they also bought some special snacks such as peanut cakes and Bao Gong beans, which they planned to take back to give to relatives and friends so that they could also taste the delicious food of Kaifeng.

Unconsciously, time has passed quietly, and the crowd at the night market has gradually dispersed, but Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei are still immersed in this ocean of food and culture, reluctant to leave. They left the Gulou Night Market with full harvest and satisfaction. On the way back, they still recalled the good times at the night market from time to time and discussed the next stop. They look forward to more surprises and discoveries in the next journey, and continue to explore this magical land of Henan.

A trip to Luoyang, encountering the Longmen Grottoes

After leaving Kaifeng, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei rushed to their next stop, Luoyang. This city, which also has a long history, carries more cultural heritage, especially the famous Longmen Grottoes, which has long attracted them.

When they stood at the entrance of Longmen Grottoes, looking at the endless mountains and the densely packed caves in front of them, an indescribable shock came over them. The Longmen Bridge at the entrance spans the Yi River, which is magnificent. The water of the Yi River under the bridge is clear and flows slowly, as if telling a thousand-year story.

"This is the Longmen Grottoes, it's even more spectacular than I imagined!" Li Xiao couldn't help but exclaim, his tone full of awe.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, just looking at these caves, you can imagine the huge project when they were built."

Lin Yifei couldn't wait to take out his camera: "Don't just sigh, take pictures quickly, such a shocking scene must be recorded."

They walked along the riverside trail, and the first thing that caught their eyes was Qianxi Temple. Entering the cave, they saw exquisite Buddha statues. The main Buddha, Amitabha, sat on a Sumeru throne, with a plump face and a peaceful expression. The lines of his clothes were smooth and natural, as if blown by the breeze. The disciples and Bodhisattvas on both sides were also carved vividly, with different expressions and postures, but all full of charm.

"These Buddha statues are so delicately carved!" Li Xiao approached the statues and carefully observed every detail. "Look at the expressions of the Buddha statues. It seems that you can feel their compassion and wisdom."

Zhang Yuedong also exclaimed: "Yes, the carving skills of the ancients are really amazing. These Buddha statues are not only works of art, but also symbols of history and culture."

Lin Yifei kept taking photos, wanting to record these exquisite Buddha statues: "After returning, I must organize these photos well so that more people can understand the charm of Longmen Grottoes."

After leaving Qianxi Temple, they continued to move forward and came to Binyang Three Caves. Binyang Three Caves is a representative cave of the Northern Wei Dynasty in Longmen Grottoes. It is large in scale, exquisitely carved and has extremely high artistic value. Entering Binyang Middle Cave, a tall statue of Sakyamuni Buddha stands in the center of the cave. The Buddha statue has a round face, slightly closed eyes, and a solemn expression. The disciples and Bodhisattvas on both sides of the Buddha statue are also beautifully carved. Their costumes are gorgeous and their postures are graceful, as if they are listening to the teachings of the Buddha.

There are also many exquisite reliefs and murals carved on the stone walls of the caves. These reliefs and murals are rich in content and cover a wide range of themes, including Buddhist stories, flying fairies, and musicians. Among them, the most famous is the "Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha". This relief depicts the scene of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty and Empress Wen Zhao leading their ministers to worship Buddha. There are many characters, a grand scene, and delicate carvings, which vividly show the social outlook and religious beliefs of the time.

"This painting of 'Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha' is so stunning!" Li Xiao stood in front of the relief, unwilling to leave for a long time. "Look at the expressions and movements of these characters. Each one is portrayed vividly, as if you can see the grand scene of worshiping Buddha back then."

Zhang Yuedong was also attracted by the exquisite relief: "Yes, this is a masterpiece of sculpture art from the Northern Wei Dynasty. Unfortunately, the original relief was stolen and sold abroad. What we see now is the restored one." Lin Yifei said with emotion: "These precious cultural relics carry our history and culture. I hope they can return to the embrace of the motherland as soon as possible."

After leaving Binyang Three Caves, they visited Wanfo Cave, Lianhua Cave and other caves. Each cave has its own unique charm, and each Buddha statue contains the wisdom and ingenuity of the ancients. In Wanfo Cave, they were shocked by the densely packed small Buddha statues in the cave. Although these small Buddha statues are only a few centimeters high, they are very delicately carved, and each one has different expressions and is lifelike. In Lianhua Cave, they were attracted by the huge lotus relief on the top of the cave. The lotus petals are layered, delicate and lifelike, as if emitting a faint fragrance.

As they walked, they came to Fengxian Temple. Fengxian Temple is the largest and most artistically valuable group of cliff carvings in Longmen Grottoes, and is also a landmark attraction of Longmen Grottoes. When they saw the 17.14-meter-high Vairocana Buddha, they could not help but be shocked by its magnificent momentum and kind face. The Buddha has a plump face, crescent-shaped eyebrows, slightly open eyes, and slightly raised corners of the mouth, revealing a mysterious smile, as if overlooking everything in the world, giving people a solemn and friendly feeling.

"This is the Vairocana Buddha. It's so magnificent!" Li Xiao looked up at the Buddha with awe in his heart. "Standing at the foot of the Buddha, I feel so insignificant."

Zhang Yuedong was also impressed by the Buddha's majesty: "Yes, this Buddha is indeed the essence of Longmen Grottoes. It not only represents the highest level of sculpture art in the Tang Dynasty, but is also a symbol of Buddhist culture."

Lin Yifei said with emotion: "The ancients used their wisdom and sweat to leave us such a precious cultural heritage. We must protect them well so that future generations can also appreciate this shock and beauty."

At Fengxian Temple, they also admired several other Buddha statues, such as Ananda, Kasyapa, Manjusri, Samantabhadra, etc. Although these Buddha statues are not as tall as the Vairocana Buddha, they are equally exquisitely carved and have their own characteristics. The statue of Ananda has a delicate face and a gentle expression; the statue of Kasyapa has a weathered face and a resolute expression; the statue of Manjusri holds a ruyi in his hand, dignified and elegant; the statue of Samantabhadra rides a white elephant, with extraordinary momentum.

After leaving Fengxian Temple, they continued along the trail along the Yi River, enjoying the scenery along the way. The rolling hills and green trees on both sides of the Yi River set off the Buddha statues and caves in the grottoes, forming a beautiful picture. On the river, the cruise ship slowly passed by, creating ripples. The tourists on the boat were also attracted by the beautiful scenery and took out their cameras to take pictures.

Before they knew it, the sun had gradually set, and the entire Longmen Grottoes were stained with a layer of golden afterglow, making them even more mysterious and beautiful. They came to an observation deck and overlooked the beauty of the entire Longmen Grottoes. The mountains in the distance were rolling, the caves nearby were scattered, and the water of the Yi River was sparkling, like a silver ribbon running through them.

"Today's trip to Longmen Grottoes is so unforgettable!" Li Xiao said with emotion, "Every Buddha statue and every cave here made me feel the weight of history and the charm of culture."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, Longmen Grottoes is worthy of being a world cultural heritage. It is not only the pride of China, but also the precious wealth of all mankind."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "I have gained a lot from this trip. Not only did I enjoy the beautiful scenery, but I also learned a lot of historical and cultural knowledge. Next, we will go to taste Luoyang's food and feel the unique charm of this city."

The three of them left Longmen Grottoes with a lot of harvest and expectations for delicious food. On the way back, they recalled what they saw and heard in the grottoes from time to time and discussed the next stop. They look forward to more surprises and discoveries in the city of Luoyang and continue to explore this magical land of Henan.

Luoyi Ancient City, Exploring the Historical Relics

On the third day in Luoyang, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei came to the ancient city of Luoyi. This ancient city, known as the "Central Plains Ferry", perfectly blends the charm of history and modernity, making them eager to unveil its mysterious veil.

As soon as you step into the ancient city, it feels like you have stepped into a time tunnel. The ancient buildings are arranged in an orderly manner, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings. Every detail exudes the traces of time. The stone road stretches under your feet, and the shops on both sides are full of various traditional handicrafts and special snacks.

"Wow, the atmosphere here is great. It feels like I have traveled back to ancient times." Li Xiao looked around excitedly, his eyes full of novelty.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, it is rare that these buildings are so well preserved. Every brick and tile seems to be telling a story of the past."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Not only the architecture, but also the people here are very unique. Look at those girls wearing Hanfu, walking in these ancient streets and alleys, they look like they walked out of a painting."

They strolled along the street, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way. Wenfeng Tower stood tall, and in the afterglow of the setting sun, the tower was stained with a layer of golden light, which looked particularly solemn. Under the tower, some elderly people were leisurely practicing Tai Chi, and every move was full of charm, as if integrated with this ancient building.

"This Wenfeng Tower is so spectacular. It must have a very long history." Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh as he looked up at the Wenfeng Tower.

An old man passing by heard their conversation and introduced enthusiastically: "Young man, this Wenfeng Tower was first built in the Northern Song Dynasty, destroyed by war in the late Ming Dynasty, and rebuilt in the early Qing Dynasty. It has been quite a long time now. It is one of the landmark buildings in Luoyang!"

The three of them hurriedly thanked the old man. From his story, they had a deeper understanding of the history of Wenfeng Tower and a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage of this ancient city.

Continuing on, they came to a traditional handicraft shop. The shop was filled with a variety of handicrafts, including exquisite paper-cuts, quaint wood carvings, colorful Tang Sancai, etc. Each piece was lifelike and made people love it.