Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

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Zhang Yuedong looked at the seafood in front of him and couldn't help but sigh: "Yes, it's worthy of being a coastal city. The variety of seafood here is much more than what I have seen in other places."

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Qingdao is a famous seafood capital. The seafood here is not only diverse, but also of high quality. We must taste it today."

They stopped in front of a stall, and the stall owner greeted them warmly: "What would you like to order? It's freshly caught. It's very fresh."

The stalls were filled with all kinds of seafood, including lively goby shrimps, crabs with bared claws, fresh and plump clams, huge scallops... each one was mouth-watering.

"Boss, how much are these clams?" Li Xiao asked.

"15 yuan per pound, absolutely fresh. If it's not fresh, it's free." The stall owner guaranteed, patting his chest.

"Give me two kilograms." Li Xiao said.

Then, they picked some scallops, oysters and shrimps. Li Xiao said to Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei, "Let's find a place to process them and try Qingdao's seafood."

The three of them took the selected seafood to a beer house near the market. The owner greeted them warmly, asked about their processing methods, and then took the seafood to the kitchen for processing.

Soon, delicious seafood dishes were served on the table: steamed clams, steamed scallops with vermicelli and garlic sauce, fried oyster roe, stir-fried shrimps with spicy sauce... every dish exuded an alluring aroma.

"Come, try this clam and see if it's fresh." Li Xiao picked up a clam and put it in his mouth.

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also tasted the clams and were immediately impressed by their deliciousness.

"These clams are so delicious, fresh and tender, without any sand at all." Zhang Yuedong praised them highly.

"Yes, this steaming method can best reflect the original flavor of the clams." Lin Yifei said.

Li Xiao picked up another scallop and tasted the vermicelli in garlic sauce: "This steamed scallop with vermicelli in garlic sauce is also good. The vermicelli absorbs the freshness of the scallop and the fragrance of the garlic sauce, and the taste is particularly good."

"Yeah, it's really delicious. I think Qingdao's seafood and beer are a perfect match." Zhang Yuedong said, picking up a glass of Tsingtao beer and taking a sip.

"Yes, Tsingtao Beer is world-famous, and it goes perfectly with seafood." Li Xiao also took a sip of beer, feeling the freshness and malt aroma of the beer.

The three of them tasted the food, drank beer and exchanged their feelings about Qingdao's food culture.

"I think Qingdao people are really lucky. They can eat such fresh seafood and drink such delicious beer every day." Lin Yifei said with emotion.

"Yes, this is also Qingdao's unique food culture. The combination of Tsingtao beer and seafood has become a business card of Qingdao," said Li Xiao.

"And Qingdao's seafood cooking methods are also very unique, steaming, boiling, spicy stir-frying... Each method can fully display the deliciousness of the seafood." Zhang Yuedong said.

After finishing their meal, the three of them came to the beach by the sea. At this time, a folk performance was being held on the beach, attracting many tourists to watch.

They found a seat and sat down, only to see a group of actors in traditional costumes performing fishermen's songs on the stage. Their voices were high-pitched and loud, with a brisk rhythm, as if making people feel the heroism and passion of the fishermen when they go out to sea.

"This fisherman's song is really beautiful and sounds particularly powerful," said Lin Yifei.

"Yes, fishermen's songs were created by fishermen during their labor. It is not only a kind of music, but also a cultural heritage," Li Xiao introduced.

Then, there was the Haiyang Yangko performance. The actors held colorful fans and handkerchiefs, walked happily, made various exaggerated movements, and had bright smiles on their faces. The whole performance was full of rich life atmosphere and local characteristics, which made people watch it with great interest.

"This Haiyang Yangge is so interesting. The actors' movements and expressions are so rich." Zhang Yuedong said with a smile.

"Haiyang Yangge is a national intangible cultural heritage. It integrates multiple elements such as dance, acrobatics, and martial arts, and has high artistic value," said Li Xiao.

During the performance, there were some interactive games, inviting tourists to participate on stage. Lin Yifei signed up for a game with great interest, and had a great time playing on the beach with other tourists.

"Haha, this is so fun. I feel like I'm back in my childhood." Lin Yifei said happily after finishing the game.

“Seeing you having so much fun, I also want to try it.” Zhang Yuedong said with a smile.

"Then you should go and have some fun too, it's very interesting." Lin Yifei encouraged.

So, Zhang Yuedong also went on stage to participate in an interactive game and spent a happy time with everyone.

After the performance, the three of them took a walk on the beach, feeling the sea breeze and the softness of the sand.

"I had a really great time today. Not only did I taste delicious seafood, but I also watched wonderful folk performances," said Lin Yifei.

"Yes, Qingdao is such a charming city, every place is intoxicating," said Zhang Yuedong.

Li Xiao looked at the sea in front of him and said with emotion: "This trip to Qingdao has given me a deeper understanding of this city. It not only has beautiful natural scenery, but also rich history and culture and unique food culture."

As they walked, they came to a specialty store filled with all kinds of Qingdao specialties, including Qingdao fat residue, tin-inlaid tea sets, sorghum candy, etc.

"Let's buy some local specialties and bring them back so that our family and friends can also taste Qingdao's specialties," Li Xiao suggested.

"Okay, that's exactly what I meant." Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei agreed.

They walked into the store and began to select local specialties. Li Xiao picked up a bag of Qingdao fat residue and said, "This Qingdao fat residue is very famous, chewy and delicious. I'll take it back for everyone to try." "I think this tin-inlaid tea set is also good, very distinctive, and can also be used to make tea." Zhang Yuedong picked up a set of tin-inlaid tea sets and looked at them carefully.

Lin Yifei picked some sorghum candy: "I like to eat this sorghum candy, it's soft and sweet, and there are many flavors."

While selecting specialties, they also chatted with the store owners and learned some knowledge and stories about Qingdao specialties.

"This tin-inlaid tea set is made of Yixing purple sand pottery. It is a handicraft made through more than a dozen processes such as tin forging, carving, inlaying, and polishing. The patterns on it are very exquisite, including 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea', 'Dragon and Phoenix Bring Good Luck', 'Pine and Crane Longevity', etc." the owner introduced enthusiastically.

"So that's how it is. No wonder it's so exquisite," said Zhang Yuedong.

"This Qingdao fat residue is also very particular. It is better to choose pork belly to make the meat fat residue. The one made with pure lean meat has a dry taste, and the one made with fat has a greasy taste." The owner continued to introduce.

"I learned it, I learned it." Li Xiao said with a smile.

The three of them selected the specialties, paid for them, and left the specialty store. With a lot of harvest and good memories of Qingdao, they prepared to go to the next city to continue their Shandong trip.

Cultural Holy Land, Visit the Holy Land in Qufu

After leaving Qingdao, the three took the high-speed rail to Qufu. Qufu, this ancient city, is the hometown of Confucius and the birthplace of Confucian culture. For them who love history and culture, Qufu is undoubtedly the most anticipated stop on this trip to Shandong.

When they stepped into Qufu, they seemed to be able to feel the strong cultural atmosphere in the air. The ancient city walls and quaint streets all tell the long history of this city.

"I'm finally in Qufu. This place is truly a cultural mecca. Even the air feels different." Lin Yifei took a deep breath and said excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong also said with emotion: "Yes, every brick and stone, every street here carries thousands of years of cultural heritage."

Li Xiao smiled and said: "As the hometown of Confucius and the birthplace of Confucian culture, Qufu has many historical sites and cultural attractions. We must experience them this time."

They first came to the Confucius Temple, a temple dedicated to Confucius. It is the second largest existing ancient building complex in China after the Forbidden City. It is also one of the three largest ancient building complexes in China and can be regarded as a model of large-scale ancient Chinese temple architecture.

The main gate of the Confucius Temple, Lingxing Gate, is solemn and simple, with four pillars and three rooms. There are cloud boards in the middle of the pillars and four stone statues standing on the top. Lin Yifei looked at the Lingxing Gate curiously and asked, "Does this Lingxing Gate have any special meaning?"

Li Xiao explained: "When offering sacrifices to Confucius, the first thing to offer sacrifices is Lingxing. Legend has it that Lingxing is the literary star in the sky. Naming the gate of the Confucius Temple after it implies that talented people will emerge in large numbers."

"So that's how it is. The ancients were really full of wisdom." Lin Yifei suddenly realized.

Entering the Confucius Temple, they visited the Shengshi Gate, Hongdao Gate, Dazhong Gate, Tongwen Gate, Kuiwen Pavilion, Thirteen Imperial Stele Pavilions and other buildings along the central axis. Each building has a unique style and profound historical and cultural connotations.

"These buildings are so well preserved that they are still so spectacular after thousands of years," Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

Li Xiao said: "Since its construction, the Confucius Temple has undergone countless repairs and expansions. Emperors of all dynasties have respected Confucius and have continuously repaired and expanded the Confucius Temple, which has led to its current size."

When they came to the Dacheng Hall, they were deeply shocked by this magnificent building. The Dacheng Hall is the main building of the Confucius Temple. It is nine bays wide and five bays deep. It is 32 meters high, 54 meters long and 34 meters deep. Its shape is similar to the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. The wide terrace in front of the hall is a place for dancing and music during sacrifices. There are 10 stone pillars in the corridors around the hall. The 5.98 stone pillars on the front eaves are 0.81 meters high and meters in diameter. Each stone pillar is carved from a whole piece of stone. The deep relief technique is used to carve the pattern of dragons flying in the sea of ​​clouds. Two dragons are coiled and rising, as if they are about to break out of the pillars, with a magnificent atmosphere.

"This Dacheng Hall is so magnificent. The carvings on these stone pillars are so lifelike." Lin Yifei exclaimed.

Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but sigh: "Yes, the carving craftsmanship of these stone pillars is so exquisite that every dragon looks like it's alive."

Li Xiao introduced: "The Dacheng Hall is where emperors of all dynasties worshipped Confucius. The carvings on these stone pillars reflect the emperors' respect for Confucius. In the center of the hall is a statue of Confucius, with a huge plaque with the words 'Teacher of All Ages' hanging above it. Statues of the 72 disciples and Confucian sages of all dynasties stand on both sides."

The three of them walked into the Dacheng Hall, and with reverence, they looked at the statues of Confucius and his seventy-two disciples and Confucian sages. In the hall, they quietly felt the profoundness of Confucian culture, as if they were traveling through time and space and having a spiritual dialogue with the sages.

"Confucius's thoughts have influenced China for thousands of years. Even now, we can still draw wisdom and strength from his thoughts," Zhang Yuedong said with emotion.

Li Xiao nodded in agreement: "That's right. Confucianism emphasizes benevolence, people-centeredness, honesty, justice, harmony, and unity. These ideas have been deeply integrated into the blood of the Chinese nation and have become an important part of our national spirit."

Lin Yifei also said: "Through this visit to the Confucius Temple, I have a deeper understanding and knowledge of Confucian culture. In the future, I will read more Confucian classics and study Confucianism in depth."

After leaving the Dacheng Hall, they visited other buildings in the Confucius Temple, such as the Xingtan, the Sleeping Hall, the Shengji Hall and the two wings. The Xingtan was where Confucius gave lectures. Although the lecture scene is no longer there, people can still feel the strong academic atmosphere.

After leaving the Confucius Temple, they came to the Confucius Mansion. The Confucius Mansion, also known as the "Yanshenggong Mansion", is the residence of Confucius' eldest grandson. Together with the Confucius Temple in Qufu and the Confucius Cemetery, it is known as the "Three Confucius Mansions" and is known as the "No. 1 Family in the World".

The gate of the Confucius Mansion is solemn and majestic. Above the gate hangs a plaque with the words "Holy Mansion", written by Yan Song of the Ming Dynasty. Walking into the Confucius Mansion, they seem to have entered an ancient feudal aristocratic manor. The architectural layout of the Confucius Mansion is a three-way layout with nine courtyards, covering an area of ​​240 acres, with a total of 463 halls, rooms, towers and rooms. The front of the middle road is the government office, and the back is the inner house; the east road is the East School, Yiguan Hall, Muen Hall, Confucius Family Temple and workshops, etc.; the west road is the West School, with Hong'e Pavilion, Zhongshu Hall, Anhuai Hall and Flower Hall, etc.; the back is the garden.

"The scale of this Confucius Mansion is so huge, it deserves to be the number one in the world." Lin Yifei exclaimed.

Zhang Yuedong also said: "Yes, the architectural style here is unique and the decoration is exquisite, which fully reflects the life style of the ancient feudal aristocracy."

Li Xiao introduced: "The Kong Mansion is not only the place where the descendants of Confucius live, but also the place to manage the affairs of the Kong family and worship Confucius. It houses a large number of historical relics, such as the Ten Utensils of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, Manchu and Han tableware, etc. It also preserves a large number of documents and archives from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which are of great value for studying the history of China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties."

They first visited the central building of the Confucius Mansion. The front was the government office with three halls and six rooms, where official business was handled. In the hall were the official uniforms, hats and various ceremonial utensils of Duke Yansheng, which made people feel the majesty of Duke Yansheng in those days.

"I didn't expect that Duke Yansheng's status is so high, and even the place where he handles official business is so grand." Lin Yifei said.

Li Xiao explained: "During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Duke of Yansheng was conferred the title of a first-rank official, the head of the civil service. He not only had to manage the family economy, govern the affairs of the palace and the clan, but also participate in the local government affairs of Qufu, so the specifications of the Confucius Mansion were very high."

Then, they came to the inner house, where Duke Yansheng ate, lived and slept. The architectural style of the inner house was relatively warmer and more comfortable, and the decoration was more exquisite. (End of this chapter)