Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1799

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "This trip to Kaifeng has brought me a lot. Not only did I taste delicious food and enjoy beautiful scenery, but I also learned about so many interesting folk cultures and traditional crafts."

After drinking tea, they continued to stroll along the old street. As they walked, they heard a lively sound of gongs and drums. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw that the square in front was full of people, and it seemed that some activities were being held.

"Let's go and take a look!" Li Xiao said excitedly and walked towards the square first.

The three squeezed into the crowd and found a folk performance going on. On the stage, actors dressed in bright costumes were performing dragon and lion dances, stilt walking, land boat rowing and other programs. The dragon and lion dance teams were agile and coordinated, with dragons flying in the sky and lions jumping on the ground, which were lifelike; the actors walking on stilts performed various thrilling movements on the stilts, sometimes jumping and sometimes spinning, which made people sweat for them; the actors rowing land boats danced on the "boats" with light movements and graceful postures. The performances were humorous and funny, which made the audience laugh.

Li Xiao watched the performances excitedly and kept clapping and cheering: "These performances are so wonderful. They made me feel the unique charm of Kaifeng's folk culture."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, these traditional folk performances are an important part of Kaifeng culture, carrying the history and memory of this city."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "I think the most interesting thing is land boating. The performances of the actors are so funny that people can't help laughing."

Amidst laughter and joy, the three immersed themselves in the folk customs of Kaifeng and felt the unique charm of this city. They knew that this trip to Kaifeng was about to end, but the good memories of this city would always remain in their hearts.

A trip to Luoyang to appreciate history and nature
After a happy time in Kaifeng, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei set off for Luoyang with great anticipation. Along the way, they excitedly discussed the Longmen Grottoes they were about to visit, and their hearts were filled with yearning for this historical and cultural city.

"The Longmen Grottoes are a world cultural heritage with more than 10 statues. The scene must be very shocking." Li Xiao's eyes flashed with anticipation.

Zhang Yuedong nodded and said, "Yes, and the Longmen Grottoes were built over many dynasties and incorporate artistic styles from different periods. We are in for a treat this time."

Lin Yifei smiled and joked: "Maybe we can meet ancient literati there and recite poems with them."

The three chatted and laughed until they arrived in Luoyang. After dropping off their luggage at the hotel, they headed straight to the Longmen Grottoes.

As soon as we walked to the entrance of Longmen Grottoes, a magnificent gate came into view. The plaque on the gate read "Longmen Grottoes" in four large and vigorous characters. The staff at the gate warmly greeted every visitor and introduced the history and culture of Longmen Grottoes to them.

Walking into the park, you can see two mountains facing each other, the Yi River flowing through, and beautiful scenery. The grottoes in the distance are set against the backdrop of green mountains and green waters, looking particularly mysterious and solemn. Li Xiao took a deep breath, feeling the historical atmosphere in the air, and said: "The scenery here is so beautiful, it makes people feel as if they have traveled back to ancient times."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the mountains and rivers here blend with the grottoes to form a unique beauty."

Lin Yifei walked towards the grottoes impatiently, saying as he walked: "Hurry, let's go and see those exquisite Buddha statues."

They walked along the road along the Yishui River and first came to the Xishan Grottoes, which are the earliest and most content-rich grottoes in the Longmen Grottoes. The caves and statue niches here are densely distributed on the mountain, making people dazzled.

Entering the first cave, they saw a series of exquisite Buddha statues. These Buddha statues were finely carved and lifelike, some with kind faces, some with solemn expressions, some holding instruments, and some with eyes closed in meditation. Each Buddha statue seemed to be telling an ancient story, which made people marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient craftsmen.

Li Xiao stood in front of a Buddha statue and carefully looked at its face. He found that the Buddha's facial lines were soft and his eyes were peaceful and calm, as if he was looking down at everything in the world. "This Buddha statue is so lifelike, and every detail is handled just right." Li Xiao couldn't help but admire it.

Zhang Yuedong also came over to take a look and nodded, saying, "Yes, these Buddha statues are not only works of art, but also witnesses of history. They have witnessed the rise and fall of the Longmen Grottoes, and also witnessed the prosperity of ancient Chinese Buddhist culture."

Lin Yifei walked around the cave, observing the murals and decorations. He found that the murals were colorful and well preserved despite thousands of years. The murals depicted various Buddhist stories and characters, vividly showing the connotation of ancient Buddhist culture. "These murals are so beautiful. They complement the Buddha statues, making the whole cave full of artistic atmosphere," Lin Yifei said with a smile.

Then, they came to Binyang Cave. Binyang Cave is one of the most representative caves in Longmen Grottoes. The Buddha statues here are beautifully shaped and exquisitely carved. The three main Buddhas in the cave represent the past, present and future respectively. They have plump faces and solemn expressions, giving people a solemn feeling.

"The Buddha statues in Binyang Cave are indeed worthy of their reputation. Each one makes people feel the profoundness of Buddhism." Li Xiao said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, it is said that the excavation of Binyang Cave took 24 years and consumed a lot of manpower and material resources, which shows the piety of people at that time to Buddhism."

Lin Yifei was very interested in the murals of flying celestial beings in the cave. Flying celestial beings are a kind of gods in Buddhism. They are light and graceful, with fluttering clothes, as if they are flying freely in the sky. Looking at the flying celestial beings in the murals, Lin Yifei couldn't help but sigh: "These flying celestial beings are so vivid, they make the whole cave full of lively atmosphere."

After leaving Binyang Cave, they continued to tour the Xishan Grottoes. Along the way, they saw many other exquisite caves and Buddha statues, such as Lotus Cave, Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, Fengxian Temple, etc. Each cave has its own unique style and characteristics, and each Buddha statue makes people feel the wisdom and creativity of ancient craftsmen.

When they arrived at Fengxian Temple, a huge Buddha statue came into view. This is the most famous Vairocana Buddha in Longmen Grottoes. It is 17.14 meters tall, with a head height of 4 meters and ears of 1.9 meters. It is the tallest and largest Buddha statue in Longmen Grottoes. Vairocana Buddha has a plump and round face, with eyebrows curved like a crescent moon, a pair of beautiful eyes slightly gazing downward, with a slightly upturned corner of the mouth, revealing a peaceful smile, and a slightly lowered head, looking down slightly, like a wise and kind middle-aged woman, which makes people respect but not fear.

Li Xiao stood in front of the Vairocana Buddha, looking up at the huge statue, his heart filled with awe. "This Vairocana Buddha is so stunning, every detail of it shows the superb skills of ancient craftsmen." Li Xiao said with emotion. Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this Buddha statue is not only a work of art, but also a spiritual symbol. It represents the compassion and wisdom of Buddhism, and also represents the ancient Chinese people's yearning and pursuit for a better life."

Lin Yifei walked around the Vairocana Buddha and carefully observed every part of the Buddha statue. He found that the carving craftsmanship of the Buddha statue was very exquisite, whether it was the facial expression, body posture or the treatment of the folds of the clothes, all reached a very high artistic level. "This Vairocana Buddha is really perfect. It makes me feel the charm and power of art." Lin Yifei exclaimed.

At Fengxian Temple, they also saw the statues of disciples, bodhisattvas, heavenly kings and powerful warriors on both sides of the Vairocana Buddha. These statues are of different shapes and lifelike, and together with the Vairocana Buddha, they form a complete Buddhist world. Li Xiao looked at these statues and exclaimed: "Although these statues are not as tall as the Vairocana Buddha, their carving craftsmanship is equally exquisite, and each one has its own unique personality and charm."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the existence of these statues not only enriches the Buddhist connotation of Fengxian Temple, but also allows us to better understand the diversity of ancient Buddhist culture."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "I think these statues are like the guardians of the Vairocana Buddha. They silently guard this great Buddha statue and also protect the Buddhist faith."

After leaving Fengxian Temple, they came to Dongshan Grottoes. Dongshan Grottoes are relatively small in scale, but the Buddha statues here are equally exquisite. After touring Dongshan Grottoes for a while and admiring some exquisite Buddha statues and caves, they came to Xiangshan Temple.

Xiangshan Temple is located in the East Mountain of Longmen. It is a Buddhist temple with a long history. The environment here is quiet and the scenery is pleasant. There are many ancient buildings and cultural relics preserved in the temple. When they walked into Xiangshan Temple, the first thing they saw was an ancient bell tower with a huge bronze bell hanging on it. The melodious sound of the bell echoed throughout the temple.

"The atmosphere of Xiangshan Temple is really peaceful, which makes people feel calm." Li Xiao said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, here we can feel the tranquility and peace of Buddhism, and we can also relax our body and mind away from the hustle and bustle of the world."

Lin Yifei developed a keen interest in the ancient buildings in the temple. He carefully observed the architectural style and decorative details in the temple and found that these ancient buildings combined the characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture and Buddhist architecture to form a unique style. "These ancient buildings are really beautiful. They are not only witnesses of history, but also treasures of art." Lin Yifei exclaimed.

At Xiangshan Temple, they also visited the Qianlong Imperial Monument Pavilion, Chiang and Song Villa and other attractions. The Qianlong Imperial Monument Pavilion preserves the imperial stele of Emperor Qianlong, which is engraved with his poems and calligraphy works, and has high historical and artistic value. Chiang and Song Villa is where Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling once lived. Their daily necessities and photos are preserved here, giving people a sense of the atmosphere of that era.

After leaving Xiangshan Temple, they came to Bai Garden. Bai Garden is the cemetery of the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi. It has a beautiful environment and is shaded by green trees. The garden preserves Bai Juyi's tomb and some cultural relics related to him. When they entered Bai Garden, the first thing they saw was a statue of Bai Juyi. In the statue, Bai Juyi was holding a scroll with a peaceful expression, as if he was thinking about the philosophy of life.

"Bai Juyi is one of my favorite poets. His poems are easy to understand and full of the interest of life." Li Xiao said with emotion as he looked at the statue of Bai Juyi.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, his poems not only reflect the social life of the Tang Dynasty, but also express his understanding of life and his care for the people."

After coming down from Yuelu Mountain, the three of them came to Orange Island. Orange Island is located in the middle of the Xiangjiang River opposite the downtown area of ​​CS. It is the largest island in the Xiangjiang River. It runs from south to north across the river, overlooking Yuelu Mountain to the west and Changsha City to the east. It is surrounded by water on all sides and stretches for dozens of miles. It is shaped like a long island.

As soon as they set foot on Orange Island, they were attracted by the beautiful scenery in front of them. The island was shaded by green trees, flourishing flowers and plants, and the river breeze brought a slight coolness. In the distance, the Xiangjiang River was sparkling, and ships were shuttling back and forth, forming a beautiful river scene.

"Wow, this Orange Island is so beautiful!" Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but exclaim.

Lin Yifei also nodded and praised: "Yes, and there is also a sculpture of Chairman Mao's youth art here, which is very spectacular."

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Then let's go and take a look."

Walking along the riverside trail, they finally arrived at the young art sculpture of Mao Zedong. The sculpture is designed based on the image of Mao Zedong in his youth in 1925. It is 32 meters high, 83 meters long, 41 meters wide, and has a base of 3500 square meters. It is made of more than 8000 pieces of Yongding red granite from the mountains of Fujian. Mao Zedong in the sculpture has deep eyes and a firm expression, as if he is overlooking the land where he once struggled, full of strong visual effects and artistic appeal.

"It's so shocking! When I see this sculpture, I seem to be able to feel Chairman Mao's lofty ambitions and passion back then." Li Xiao stood in front of the sculpture, staring at it for a long time, his heart filled with awe.

Zhang Yuedong also said excitedly: "Yes, Chairman Mao expressed his ambition here when he was young, 'Who will decide the fate of this vast land?' This heroic sentence has inspired generations of young people to strive for progress."

Lin Yifei said seriously: "We should also learn from Chairman Mao, work hard and strive to realize our dreams."

At Juzizhoutou, they also enjoyed the beautiful river view and felt the magnificent waves of Xiangjiang River. "The river view here is so beautiful, it makes people feel particularly comfortable." Li Xiao said with emotion while looking at Xiangjiang River.

"Yes, it's really a pleasure to feel the river breeze and look at the beautiful scenery." Zhang Yuedong also said.

Lin Yifei said mischievously: "It would be nice if we could have a picnic here, it would be more pleasant."

In Changsha, food is an indispensable part. After visiting the scenic spots, the three of them were already hungry, so they decided to taste the special food of Changsha.

They came to Pozi Street, a famous food street in Changsha, which gathers various special snacks and restaurants. As soon as they entered Pozi Street, the rich aroma of food hit their noses, making people salivate.