Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei stood at the exit of Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, looking at the bustling crowd, full of anticipation for their trip to Henan. Li Xiao took a deep breath and said excitedly: "We are finally in Henan! This time we must experience the charm of the Central Plains."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, I've heard that Henan has a profound historical and cultural heritage, and there must be a lot of fun and delicious things."

Lin Yifei laughed and joked: "I can't wait to try the food in Henan, such as stewed noodles and spicy soup. I'm drooling just thinking about it."

The three of them walked out of the airport with their luggage while talking. The sunshine in Zhengzhou was warm and bright, shining on them with a unique enthusiasm. They took a taxi to the city. Along the way, the scenery outside the car window passed by quickly. Modern high-rise buildings and ancient buildings complemented each other, showing the unique style of the city of Zhengzhou.

Li Xiao looked out the window and couldn't help but sigh: "I didn't expect Zhengzhou to be so well developed. It has both the prosperity of a modern city and so many historical traces."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, when we get to the hotel later, let's plan our itinerary for the next few days and try to visit all the attractions in Zhengzhou."

After arriving at the hotel and checking in, the three of them took a short rest and then couldn't wait to go out and experience the streets of Zhengzhou. They strolled along the streets of Zhengzhou, which were lined with trees and people came and went, full of the breath of life. There were a variety of shops on the street, some selling special snacks, some selling handicrafts, and some quaint bookstores and teahouses.

As he was walking, Lin Yifei was suddenly attracted by a small shop. He pointed at the sign at the door and said, "Look, they sell Henan-style paper-cuts here. Let's go in and take a look."

The three of them walked into the shop, which was filled with all kinds of exquisite paper-cut works, including figures, animals, flowers, and various folk patterns with Henan characteristics. Li Xiao picked up a paper-cut, looked at it carefully, and exclaimed: "This craftsmanship is really amazing, every detail is lifelike."

The boss was an enthusiastic uncle from Henan. Seeing that they were interested in paper-cutting, he introduced it enthusiastically: "Paper-cutting is a traditional folk art of Henan with a long history. Each piece of work contains the culture and stories of Henan."

After the introduction of the boss, the three of them had a deeper understanding of Henan paper-cutting. They each selected a favorite paper-cutting as a souvenir of this trip. After leaving the shop, they continued to stroll on the street and unknowingly came to Erqi Square in Zhengzhou.

On the Erqi Square, the Erqi Memorial Tower stands tall, looking particularly solemn and majestic under the sunlight. This tower was built to commemorate the Beijing-Hankou Railway workers' strike and is one of Zhengzhou's landmark buildings. Li Xiao looked at the Erqi Memorial Tower and said with emotion: "This tower carries the historical memory of Zhengzhou and has witnessed countless vicissitudes of life."

Zhang Yuedong nodded and said, "Yes, let's go in and take a look and learn about that period of history."

The three of them walked into the Erqi Memorial Tower, where many historical relics and pictures related to the Beijing-Hankou Railway Workers' Strike were displayed. Through these exhibits, they seemed to travel through time and space, returning to that magnificent era, and felt the workers' indomitable spirit of struggle to fight for their rights.

After visiting the Erqi Memorial Tower, it was getting dark and the three people's stomachs began to growl. They decided to try the special food of Zhengzhou. With the recommendation of the locals, they came to a popular noodle restaurant.

Walking into the noodle shop, a strong aroma hits you in the face. The shop is full of diners, and everyone is eating with gusto. They found a seat and ordered three bowls of the signature braised noodles. After a while, the steaming hot braised noodles were served on the table. The noodles in the bowl are evenly thick and chewy, paired with tender mutton, smooth kelp shreds, green coriander and chopped green onions, and rich and delicious mutton soup, which makes people's appetite increase.

Li Xiao couldn't wait to take a bite and praised it highly: "This stewed noodle is so delicious, the soup is fresh and tasty, and the noodles are chewy. It really lives up to its reputation."

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also nodded and gave thumbs up while eating. They also ordered some other Henan specialties, such as sugar cakes, vegetable dumplings, soup dumplings, etc., each of which made them very satisfied.

After dinner, the three of them strolled along the streets of Zhengzhou, feeling the night breeze. Zhengzhou was brightly lit at this time, and the streets were bustling with traffic. They passed by a square where a folk performance was being held, including dragon and lion dances, stilt walking, and land boat rowing, which attracted many citizens and tourists to stop and watch.

The three were also attracted by the lively atmosphere and squeezed into the crowd to watch the performance. The dragon and lion dance teams were agile and coordinated, and the vivid performance won applause and cheers from the audience. The stilt walkers performed various thrilling movements on the stilts, which made people sweat for them. The land boat rowers were not to be outdone, and their performances were humorous and funny, which made the audience laugh.

Watching these wonderful folk performances, Li Xiao said with emotion: "These folk cultures are so charming. They are the crystallization of the wisdom and emotions of the Henan people and are also the precious wealth of our Chinese nation."

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also agreed. They watched the performance and recorded the wonderful moment with their mobile phones. After the performance, the three of them were still not satisfied. They continued to walk on the street and enjoy the night view of Zhengzhou. Along the way, they also bought some local specialties, such as Xinzheng jujubes and Shaolin Temple vegetarian cakes, to take back and give to relatives and friends.

Back at the hotel, the three were a little tired, but their hearts were full of joy. They lay on the bed, recalling what they had seen and heard today, and were full of anticipation for the next journey. Li Xiao said: "Today is just the beginning, there are more fun places waiting for us later."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Yes, I hope there will be more surprises tomorrow."

With beautiful visions of tomorrow, the three of them gradually fell asleep, ready to embark on a new day's journey.

Visit the Yellow River Scenic Area

The next morning, the three of them arrived at the Yellow River Scenic Area. As soon as they entered the scenic area, a magnificent Yanhuang Square came into view. On the square, giant statues of Emperors Yan and Huang stood tall, as if two giants were firmly guarding this land. This statue is one of the most majestic sculptures in China. Its construction process took 20 years and condensed the efforts of countless craftsmen. The statue cleverly uses the 82-meter-high Xiangyang Mountain as the body of the statue, and carefully carves an 18-meter-high head on the top of the mountain, with a total height of an amazing 100 meters. The entire design is ingenious, unique, and breathtaking.

Li Xiao looked up at the statue, his eyes filled with shock: "This statue is so magnificent! Standing under it, I feel so small."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, these are the ancestors of our Chinese nation. Seeing them makes me feel inexplicably proud." Lin Yifei walked around the statue and observed it carefully, exclaiming: "Look, every detail of this statue is portrayed vividly. The resolute faces and flowing beards of Emperors Yan and Huang seem to be telling the vicissitudes of Chinese civilization over thousands of years."

The three of them walked slowly around the statue in reverence, feeling the weight of history. Then, they walked north along the scenic path, and soon they heard a deafening roar. The sound was getting closer and clearer, as if thousands of troops were galloping.

"It's the Yellow River!" Li Xiao shouted excitedly and quickened his pace.

When the Yellow River appeared before their eyes, the three of them were so shocked by the scene that they were speechless. They saw the surging river carrying mud and sand, flowing eastward with great momentum, and the turbid waves were emptying. On the river surface, boats broke through the waves from time to time, splashing layers of water.

"The water of the Yellow River comes from the sky, flows into the sea and never comes back. Today I truly appreciate the artistic conception of this poem." Zhang Yuedong said with emotion.

Lin Yifei took a deep breath and felt the majestic breath of the Yellow River: "The Yellow River is worthy of being our mother river. It has nurtured the splendid civilization of the Chinese nation. This majestic power is awe-inspiring."

The three of them walked along the river bank, feeling the charm of the Yellow River up close. The river roared and the splashing water hit their faces, bringing a hint of coolness. They saw some locals fishing by the river, their focused expressions seemed to be integrated with the Yellow River.

Then, they came to Wulong Peak Scenic Area. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with five peaks clustered together and beautiful scenery. The mountains are shaded by green trees, flowers and plants flourish, and the air is filled with a fresh breath. On the hillside of Wulong Peak, there is a white marble "Nurture" statue symbolizing the Yellow River nurturing the Chinese nation. A kind mother holds a baby in her arms, her eyes full of love and tenderness, vividly showing the greatness and kindness of the mother Yellow River.

Li Xiao stood in front of the statue and said softly: "The Yellow River is like this mother, nourishing our Chinese nation with her sweet milk. We must protect her well."

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei nodded in agreement. They took a group photo in front of the statue to record this unforgettable moment. Then, they continued to climb up along the mountain path and came to Jimu Pavilion. This is the highest point of Wulong Peak. Standing on the pavilion, you can see the magnificent scenery of the Yellow River.

"Wow, it's so spectacular to see the Yellow River from here!" Lin Yifei couldn't help but exclaim.

The Yellow River is like a golden dragon winding over the earth, the water is surging and rushing towards the distance. The scenery on both sides of the river is also very charming, with fields, villages and green trees forming a beautiful pastoral picture.

The three stayed on the Jimu Pavilion for a long time, enjoying the magnificent scenery. They also met some other tourists, who took out their cameras to take pictures and share their love for the Yellow River.

After coming down from Jimu Pavilion, they visited the Yellow River Geological Museum, where they learned about the formation and evolution of the Yellow River, loess, loess plateau and Huanghuai Plain through modern means such as sound, light, electricity and multimedia, and gained a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the Yellow River.

After leaving the museum, it was getting dark, and the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the Yellow River, sparkling and beautiful. The three of them left the Yellow River Scenic Area with a lot of harvest, ready to taste the local food and continue their trip to Henan.

Taste Zhengzhou cuisine
After coming out of the Yellow River Scenic Area, the three of them were already hungry, so they decided to go to Zhengzhou's famous food street to taste the mouth-watering specialties.

As soon as you enter the food street, you will be greeted by a bustling scene. There are shops lined up on both sides of the street, and the aroma of various delicacies is intertwined, making people drool. Li Xiao took a deep breath and said excitedly: "Wow, this is simply a paradise for food. I don't know what to eat first."

Zhang Yuedong said with a smile: "Then let's start with the most representative Hu La Tang. I have heard that Henan's Hu La Tang is very famous."

Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "Yes, Hu La Tang is one of the representative delicacies of Henan Province. You must try it."

The three of them came to a popular Hu La Tang restaurant, which was full of diners, all of whom were drinking the Hu La Tang with great relish. They found an empty seat and sat down, and ordered three bowls of Hu La Tang and some oil-fried buns. After a while, the steaming hot Hu La Tang was served on the table.

The spicy soup is rich in color, showing a deep and attractive brown color, as if it contains endless energy. The soup is rich in ingredients, including beef slices, fungus, day lily, gluten, vermicelli, etc. Stir it gently with a spoon, and the hot and spicy smell will hit your nose, instantly stimulating your nasal cavity and senses.

Li Xiao couldn't wait to take a sip of the soup, and the hot feeling quickly spread on the tip of his tongue, like a passionate carnival party starting in his mouth. The hotness of the chili and the spiciness of the pepper blend perfectly, bringing a strong and direct impact, but this heat is not just a simple stimulation, but contains a unique charm that makes people unable to stop.

"Wow, this spicy soup is so strong!" Li Xiao couldn't help but praise, "It's hot and spicy. My whole body is warmed up after drinking it."

Zhang Yuedong also took a sip and nodded, saying, "Indeed, this taste is really unique. The freshness of the beef, the crispness of the fungus, the sweetness of the day lily, the softness of the gluten, the smoothness of the vermicelli, plus the hot and spicy soup, the taste is so rich."

While eating the oily steamed bun, Lin Yifei said, "This oily steamed bun is also very good, crispy and delicious, and it is a perfect match with the spicy soup."

The three of them were enjoying the lively atmosphere while tasting the spicy soup. Some diners in the restaurant were chatting with friends while drinking the soup, while others were eating the oily steamed buns with big mouthfuls, with satisfied smiles on their faces. Everyone was immersed in this delicious breakfast and enjoying the beauty of life.

After drinking the spicy soup, the three continued to stroll in the food street. They also tasted many other delicacies, such as stewed noodles, soup dumplings, sugar cakes, vegetable dumplings, etc. Each kind of food has a unique flavor, which made them praise it. (End of this chapter)