Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1791

The sun shone through the gaps in the clouds and fell on the excited faces of Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei. Standing at the exit of Nanchang Changbei International Airport, they took a deep breath of Jiangxi air, which was slightly moist and had a faint fragrance of soil, and started this journey to Jiangxi full of expectations.

"We're finally in Nanchang!" Li Xiao couldn't contain his excitement and shouted loudly, his voice full of longing for this city.

"Yes, I can't wait to go to Tengwang Pavilion to see the beautiful scenery of 'the setting sun and the lone wild goose flying together, the autumn water and the sky being the same color.'" Zhang Yuedong's eyes sparkled as he quoted Wang Bo's famous words to express his yearning for Tengwang Pavilion.

Lin Yifei smiled and patted the two on the shoulders, saying, "Don't worry, don't worry. We will have a lot of fun along the way and experience the charm of Jiangxi."

The three of them took a taxi to the hotel, enjoying the street view of Nanchang along the way. The road was lined with green trees, tall buildings were lined up one after another, and occasionally some buildings with Jiangnan characteristics could be seen, with white walls and black tiles, which contrasted with the modern urban style, giving it a unique flavor.

After settling their luggage, they headed straight for the Tengwang Pavilion. From a distance, the Tengwang Pavilion stood like a giant on the bank of the Ganjiang River, with flying eaves and brackets, magnificent momentum, and the beauty of classical architecture. The Tengwang Pavilion is 57.5 meters high, 140 meters long from north to south, and 80 meters wide from east to west. The entire building area is 13000 square meters. The lower part is a 12-meter-high pedestal symbolizing the ancient city wall, divided into two levels. The main pavilion above the pedestal adopts the "three-story open and seven-story hidden" format. From the outside, it looks like a three-story building with a corridor, but there are seven floors inside, divided into three open floors, three hidden floors, and an equipment floor on the roof. The ridge chimonanthus is specially made in the Song Dynasty style and is 3.5 meters high. The exterior of the Pavilion of Prince Teng was expanded in the style of Fan Tan, the prefect of Hongzhou in the Northern Song Dynasty. It is flanked by two pavilions, "Yajiang" and "Yicui", on the north and south sides. All tiles are made of green glazed tiles, which shine with charming brilliance under the sunlight, striving to embody the cheerful, bright, soft and elegant style of Song-style architecture.

"Wow, this is so spectacular!" Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but exclaim, and his eyes were reluctant to leave Tengwang Pavilion for a moment.

Li Xiao nodded in agreement: "I can't imagine how the ancients built such a magnificent building, and it has been rebuilt so many times."

Lin Yifei introduced: "The Pavilion of Prince Teng was originally built by Prince Teng Li Yuanying. Later, it was destroyed and rebuilt many times. The Pavilion of Prince Teng we see now was rebuilt for the 1989th time in 29. It was designed based on Mr. Liang Sicheng's "Sketch of Rebuilding the Pavilion of Prince Teng" and with reference to Li Mingzhong's "Construction Methods" in the Song Dynasty. It is an imitation Song-style pavilion."

Walking into the Tengwang Pavilion scenic area, there are towering ancient trees, lush flowers and plants, and winding paths, as if traveling back to ancient times. They followed the flow of people and came to the main pavilion of Tengwang Pavilion. Above the main pavilion's gate, there is a huge plaque hanging with three big characters "Tengwang Pavilion" written on it, which is vigorous and powerful.

Entering the main pavilion, the first thing that comes into view is a huge panoramic view of the Tengwang Pavilion, which vividly shows the majestic momentum of the Tengwang Pavilion and the beautiful scenery around it. Going further in, there are some exhibition halls that display the history and culture of the Tengwang Pavilion, the architectural features, and the poems and songs left by literati and poets of all dynasties for the Tengwang Pavilion.

The three of them walked up the stairs, floor by floor. Each floor had different exhibitions and landscapes, which were dazzling. On the second floor, they saw a group of lifelike wax figures, recreating the scene when Wang Bo created "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng". Wang Bo was standing in front of the table, holding a brush, with a focused expression, as if he was writing the famous work through the ages. The people around him were sitting or standing, some were whispering to each other, and some were quietly appreciating, and everyone's expression was very vivid.

"What do you think, how did Wang Bo write such a shocking article at that time?" Zhang Yuedong asked as he read.

Li Xiao thought for a moment and said, "I think on the one hand, it was because the scenery of Tengwang Pavilion was so beautiful that it inspired his creation; on the other hand, Wang Bo himself was talented and had a profound literary foundation."

Lin Yifei went on to say: "Moreover, the social and cultural atmosphere at that time was also very strong. Literati and scholars often held various gatherings to exchange literature and art, which also provided a good environment for Wang Bo's creation."

Continue walking up and you will reach the top floor of Tengwang Pavilion. Standing on the corridor on the top floor, leaning on the railing and looking out, you can see the beautiful scenery of Ganjiang River. The river is surging and sparkling, and ships are shuttling back and forth on the river. The mountains in the distance are rolling, and they are set off by the blue sky and white clouds, forming a picturesque scenery.

"The setting sun and the lone wild goose fly together; the autumn water and the sky are the same color." Li Xiao couldn't help but recite Wang Bo's poem again. At this moment, he seemed to truly understand Wang Bo's mood at that time.

Zhang Yuedong also said with emotion: "I only read this poem in books before, but now I see this scenery with my own eyes, and I know how beautiful and shocking it is."

Lin Yifei took a deep breath and said, "This trip to Tengwang Pavilion is really worthwhile. It not only has beautiful scenery, but also has a profound historical and cultural heritage. It allows us to have a deeper understanding of ancient architectural art and literary achievements."

At the Tengwang Pavilion, they also met a local tour guide who was explaining the history of the Tengwang Pavilion to a group of tourists. The three of them went over and listened with great interest. The tour guide talked about the construction process of the Tengwang Pavilion, the story of Wang Bo's creation of "Tengwang Pavilion Preface", and mentioned many poems and legends related to the Tengwang Pavilion.

After listening to the guide's explanation, the three of them had a deeper understanding of Tengwang Pavilion. They stayed on the Tengwang Pavilion for a while, admiring the beautiful scenery and taking photos, until the sunset, and then they left reluctantly.

After coming out of Tengwang Pavilion, their stomachs were rumbling. So they decided to try some of Nanchang's specialties. Walking along the streets along the Ganjiang River, they found a very popular restaurant filled with diners, which was very lively.

As they walked into the restaurant, a strong aroma hit their noses. They found a seat and sat down, ordering several Nanchang signature dishes, including clay pot soup, Nanchang mixed noodles, and stir-fried bacon with quinoa.

Soon, the dishes were served one after another. The first dish served was the clay pot soup. The steaming clay pot was full of rich soup and fragrance. Li Xiao took a sip and found the soup delicious and warm to his heart. "This clay pot soup is really as good as its reputation says. It's so delicious!" He praised it highly.

Next, it was Nanchang mixed rice noodles. The long and thin rice noodles were poured with a special sauce, and then served with some peanuts, dried radish and other side dishes, which looked attractive. After Zhang Yuedong mixed them evenly, he took a bite. The rice noodles were smooth and chewy, and the sauce was spicy and delicious, which made people have an endless aftertaste. "This mixed rice noodles is just to my taste, it's so spicy!" he said as he ate. The last dish served was stir-fried bacon with quinoa. The emerald green quinoa paired with the bright red bacon looked very appetizing. Lin Yifei picked up a piece with chopsticks. The fragrance of the quinoa and the mellow bacon blended perfectly, with a unique taste. "This dish is so unique. It's the first time I've eaten such delicious quinoa." He said with a smile.

The three of them ate with gusto. Soon, all the dishes on the table were swept away. After dinner, they continued to stroll on the street, feeling the night of Nanchang. The street was brightly lit, and people were coming and going. The shops on the roadside were filled with various special products, such as souvenirs of Tengwang Pavilion and traditional handicrafts of Nanchang. They walked into a shop and selected some souvenirs to take back to give to relatives and friends.

As they walked, they heard a burst of cheerful music. Following the direction of the sound, they found that a folk performance was being held in a square. On the stage, the actors were dressed in bright ethnic costumes and performed wonderful programs, including dance, acrobatics, and opera. The audience watched with great interest and burst into applause and cheers from time to time.

The three of them were also attracted and squeezed in the crowd to watch the performance. The dancers danced gracefully and lightly, as if fairies had descended to earth; the acrobats' performances were thrilling and exciting, making people sweat; the opera actors' singing was graceful and full of charm, making people intoxicated.

"This folk performance is really great. It allows us to feel the charm of Nanchang's traditional culture." Li Xiao said excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, these actors are amazing, and every show is so exciting."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Today is a really fulfilling day. Not only did I visit Tengwang Pavilion, taste delicious food, but I also watched folk performances. I gained a lot."

After watching the show, they returned to the hotel. Lying on the bed, the three recalled today's experience and were full of expectations for tomorrow's journey. In this charming land of Jiangxi, there are more beautiful scenery, delicious food and culture waiting for them to explore.

Nanchang Food and Folk Customs

After coming out of Tengwang Pavilion, their stomachs were already growling. The three of them strolled along the street beside the Ganjiang River and were attracted by a very popular restaurant. The restaurant was full of diners, and there were laughter and joy. It was very lively.

Walking into the restaurant, the rich and mellow aroma hit their noses, instantly arousing their appetite. They found an empty seat and sat down, ordering a few of Nanchang's signature dishes: clay pot soup, Nanchang mixed noodles, and stir-fried bacon with artemisia selengensis. After a while, the steaming clay pot soup was served first. The soup in the clay pot was deep and rich in color, an attractive brown color, with tiny dots of oil floating on the surface of the soup, like twinkling stars in the night sky. Li Xiao gently picked up the soup bowl and took a sip. The deliciousness and mellowness of the soup instantly spread in his mouth, warming his heart. "This clay pot soup is really as good as its reputation, it's so delicious!" He praised it with a satisfied look on his face.

Then, Nanchang mixed rice noodles were served. The slender, white rice noodles were like the delicate silk in the hands of a woman from the Jiangnan water village, exuding a light rice fragrance. They were topped with a special sauce, paired with crispy peanuts, green chopped green onions, and salty and fresh pickled vegetables. They were colorful, like a beautiful watercolor painting. Zhang Yuedong couldn't wait to stir it evenly, picked up a piece with chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The rice noodles were smooth and chewy, the sauce was spicy and delicious, and the flavors of the various ingredients blended together, leaving a lasting aftertaste. "This mixed rice noodles is just right for my taste. It's so spicy!" He gave a thumbs up as he ate.

The last dish served was stir-fried bacon with quinoa. The fresh green quinoa and the bright red bacon set off each other, making one salivate just by looking at them. Lin Yifei picked up a piece with chopsticks and put it in his mouth to chew it carefully. The fragrance of the quinoa and the mellowness of the bacon blended perfectly, with a unique taste and a special flavor. "This dish is so special. It's the first time I've eaten such delicious quinoa." He said with a smile, his eyes full of surprise.

The three of them ate with gusto, and soon, all the dishes on the table were swept away. After dinner, they continued to stroll on the streets, feeling the unique charm of Nanchang at night. The streets were brightly lit, and people were coming and going, making it very lively. The shops on the roadside were filled with a wide variety of special products, including souvenirs of Tengwang Pavilion, traditional handicrafts of Nanchang, etc. They walked into a store and selected some exquisite souvenirs to take back to give to relatives and friends.

As they walked, they heard a burst of cheerful and exciting music. The three of them walked in the direction of the sound and found that a folk performance was being held in a square. On the stage, the actors were dressed in colorful folk costumes and performed wonderful programs, including graceful dances, thrilling acrobatics, and operas full of charm. The audience was fascinated by the performance and bursts of warm applause and cheers from time to time.

The three of them were also deeply attracted and squeezed in the crowd to watch the performance intently. The dancers danced lightly and gracefully, with smooth and natural movements, as if fairies descended to earth; the acrobats' performances were thrilling and exciting, making people nervous for them; the opera actors' singing was melodious and charming, making people immersed in it and intoxicated.

"This folk performance is really great. It allows us to truly feel the charm of Nanchang's traditional culture." Li Xiao said excitedly, with an excited smile on his face.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, these actors are amazing, and every show is so wonderful."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Today is a really fulfilling and wonderful day. Not only did I visit Tengwang Pavilion and taste delicious food, but I also watched such a wonderful folk performance. I gained a lot."

After watching the show, they returned to the hotel with great satisfaction. Lying on the bed, the three of them recalled today's wonderful experience and were full of expectations for tomorrow's journey. In Jiangxi, a land full of charm and surprises, there are more beautiful scenery, delicious food and culture waiting for them to explore and discover.

The morning sun gently sprinkled on the hotel windowsill, awakening Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei who were immersed in their dreams. Today, they are about to go to Jingdezhen, known as the "Porcelain Capital", to explore the mysteries of ceramic culture.

"I heard that Jingdezhen's porcelain is world-famous. I can't wait to see how those exquisite porcelains are made." Li Xiao said excitedly while packing his luggage.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and responded: "Yes, this is the place I have always dreamed of. Maybe I can find some porcelain that I like and take it home."