Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1804

"Finally, we're going to Northeast China!" Li Xiao hummed a little tune as he stuffed a thick down coat into his suitcase. He was a vibrant young man, his eyes always brimming with curiosity about the unknown; he'd been talking about this trip to the Northeast for months. Zhang Yuedong, sitting next to him, flipped through a travel guide, adjusted his glasses, and said, "This time we're going to see all the fun things in Northeast China. Look at this guide, there's a ton of delicious food alone." Zhang Yuedong was a meticulous person; he always made sure his travel plans were flawless before each trip.

Lin Yifei, meanwhile, was adjusting his camera, smiling as he said, "The snow scenery in Northeast China is famously beautiful. I'm determined to take an award-winning photo this time." He's a photography enthusiast, and the lens is his eye for observing the world. Although the three have different personalities, they share the same anticipation for this trip to the three northeastern provinces.

On the day of departure, the sun shone brightly. They gathered at the airport, dragging their suitcases and carrying backpacks filled with their dreams. Li Xiao excitedly looked around, like a bird about to be released; Zhang Yuedong was still carefully checking the flight information to ensure everything was in order; Lin Yifei kept snapping photos of the surrounding scenery, wanting to record every moment of the start of the trip.

"Finally, I'm going to set foot on this black soil. I wonder what surprises await me." Li Xiao couldn't contain his excitement.

"There will definitely be many surprises. Maybe we'll even meet a generous Northeastern guy who'll treat us to drinks," Lin Yifei joked.

Zhang Yuedong said with a smile, "No matter what happens, we should enjoy the trip to the fullest and create wonderful memories."

The plane slowly took off, and they looked down at the receding city, their hearts filled with longing for the three northeastern provinces. A few hours later, when the plane landed at Harbin Taiping International Airport, a breath of cold, fresh air rushed towards them, as if warmly welcoming their arrival.

Stepping out of the airport, Li Xiao took a deep breath and exclaimed, "This is the taste of Northeast China! It's so refreshing!" The air was filled with the scent of ice and snow, and the buildings in the distance were covered with a thin layer of snow, resembling a beautiful ink painting.

"Let's find a place to drop off our luggage first, and then head to Central Street. I heard the Madier ice cream there is especially delicious," Zhang Yuedong said as he hailed a taxi.

On their way to the hotel, they gazed at the street scenes outside the car window, savoring the city's unique charm. The buildings lining the streets boasted a strong European style, which, contrasted beautifully with the pristine white snow, created a distinctive atmosphere. The shop signs displayed both Chinese and Russian characters, seemingly telling the story of the city's history.

"Look, that's the St. Sophia Cathedral!" Lin Yifei shouted, pointing to a magnificent building in the distance. The cathedral's dome shimmered in the sunlight, and a flock of white doves circled around it, creating a serene and peaceful scene.

"Let's go there after we drop off our luggage. We're sure we can take some great photos," Li Xiao said impatiently.

Soon, they arrived at the hotel. After a quick freshening up, they eagerly headed to Central Street. As soon as Li Xiao entered Central Street, he was captivated by the scene before him. The street was bustling with people, incredibly lively. The cobblestones underfoot, polished smooth by time, seemed to tell stories of this place. The shops lining both sides of the street were dazzling, offering a wide variety of unique goods that were a feast for the eyes.

"Let's go buy some popsicles." Zhang Yuedong pulled Li Xiao and Lin Yifei to the front of the Madier Ice Cream Parlor. A long queue had formed, everyone waiting to taste these century-old popsicles. A short while later, they emerged from the parlor with their popsicles. Li Xiao took a bite, and a rich, milky flavor filled his mouth. He exclaimed, "These popsicles truly live up to their reputation as a Northeast specialty! They're so delicious! Eating popsicles in this icy winter has a unique charm."

"Yes, it feels amazing," Lin Yifei said, picking up his camera and taking pictures of the popsicles and the surrounding snowy scenery.

They strolled along Central Street, eating popsicles. Along the way, they saw many distinctive buildings, each with its own unique style. Li Xiao curiously entered a Russian goods store, which was filled with various Russian specialties such as matryoshka dolls, binoculars, and chocolates. He picked out a beautiful matryoshka doll, intending to take it back as a gift for a friend.

"The things here are really interesting, it feels like I'm in Russia." Li Xiao held the matryoshka doll with great delight.

“Harbin used to have frequent exchanges with Russia, so there are many traces of Russian culture here,” Zhang Yuedong explained.

After leaving the shop, they continued on their way. Soon, they arrived at the Flood Control Monument. This tower stands on the banks of the Songhua River, built to commemorate the people of Harbin's victory over the devastating flood of 1957. Standing at the foot of the tower, gazing at the surging river, Li Xiao felt a deep respect for the city.

"This tower has witnessed the history of Harbin and embodies the resilience of the people of Harbin," Zhang Yuedong said with emotion.

"Let's take a group photo to commemorate this," Lin Yifei suggested. So, the three of them stood in front of the flood control monument and took a smiling group photo.

After leaving the flood control monument, it was getting dark. They decided to sample some local cuisine and experience the charm of Northeastern Chinese food. After walking along the river for a while, they came across a popular Northeastern restaurant. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a rich aroma.

"Welcome! What would you like to eat?" A friendly waiter greeted us.

"Give us a few of our signature dishes: sweet and sour pork, stir-fried potatoes, green peppers, and eggplant, stewed pork with vermicelli, and a plate of dumplings," Zhang Yuedong ordered skillfully.

Soon, the dishes were served one after another. Looking at the table full of delicious-looking and fragrant food, Li Xiao's mouth was practically watering. He picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork, took a bite, and found it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a delicious sweet and sour flavor.

"This sweet and sour pork is so delicious! It's completely different from what I've had elsewhere," Li Xiao exclaimed.

"Northeastern cuisine is known for its generous portions, great value, and exceptionally delicious taste," Lin Yifei said, as he ate a hearty bite of the stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, and green peppers.

As they savored their meal, listening to the hearty laughter and thick Northeastern accents of the other diners, they felt truly immersed in the city. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant satisfied. At that moment, the night view along the Songhua River was exceptionally enchanting, the lights on both banks reflected on the water like a dazzling Milky Way.

"It's so beautiful! This trip to Northeast China has only just begun, and it's already so wonderful," Li Xiao said, gazing at the river view.

"There's more to come, let's look forward to it," Zhang Yuedong said with a smile.

After strolling along the Songhua River for a while, they returned to their hotel to rest and recharge for the next day's journey. Lying on the soft bed, Li Xiao closed his eyes, his mind replaying the day's events, his heart filled with anticipation for the next few days of travel. He believed that many more surprises awaited them on this vast black soil.

First stop: Harbin - The passion and romance of the Ice City
Arrival in Harbin

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, gently illuminating Li Xiao's face. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, but the thought of going to the Ice and Snow World that day instantly invigorated him.

"Get up! There are lots of fun things to do today!" Li Xiao urged Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei, who were still asleep, while packing up her camera.

After a quick wash, the three went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. The restaurant was filled with the aroma of various delicacies, including steaming hot soy milk and fried dough sticks, as well as sticky rice cakes and corn porridge, typical of Northeast China. "Try this sticky rice cake, it's soft, chewy, and sweet, it's delicious," Zhang Yuedong said, picking up a sticky rice cake and handing it to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao took a bite, a satisfied expression on her face: "Mmm, really good, this tastes so authentic."

After breakfast, they left the hotel and took a taxi to the Ice and Snow World. Along the way, the scenery outside the car window rushed by, and the trees on both sides of the road were covered with thick snow, looking like giant snowballs.

"Look, those trees look like big snowmen, they're so cute!" Lin Yifei said excitedly, pointing out the window.

Soon, they arrived at the Ice and Snow World. In the distance, a crystal-clear ice and snow castle came into view. The ice sculptures on the castle shimmered with colorful light under the sunlight, just like a fairy tale world.

"Wow, it's spectacular! This is the Ice and Snow World, even more beautiful than I imagined," Li Xiao exclaimed.

Visit the Ice and Snow World

Stepping into the Ice and Snow World is like entering a dreamlike ice and snow kingdom. The variety of ice and snow sculptures is dazzling, including lifelike animal figures such as majestic lions and adorable elephants, as well as magnificent architectural shapes such as ancient castles and modern skyscrapers.

"This ice sculpture is so realistic, it looks just like the real thing." Lin Yifei held his camera and kept taking pictures, wanting to record every wonderful moment.

They arrived at a huge ice slide, over ten meters high, which looked incredibly exciting. Li Xiao excitedly ran over to join the queue, eager to experience the feeling of speeding across the ice.

"Come on, let's play on this ice slide together, it's sure to be a lot of fun!" Li Xiao waved to Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei.

Zhang Yuedong hesitated, "It's so high, isn't it dangerous?"

"It's alright, there are staff watching over us, don't worry," Li Xiao reassured her.

At Li Xiao's urging, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei joined the queue. Soon it was their turn. Li Xiao was the first to sit down, gripping the sides of the slide tightly, then giving a powerful push, he shot down like an arrow. The wind whistled past his ears, and he couldn't help but scream, experiencing the exhilaration of speed and passion.

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also slid down one after another. Although they were a little nervous, they were more excited and thrilled.

"This was so much fun! I want to play it again!" Li Xiao said, still wanting more.

So they queued up and played on the ice slide a few more times before reluctantly leaving. Continuing on, they saw a beautiful ice sculpture bridge, its surface crystal clear, its railings adorned with intricate patterns, as if crafted from crystal.

"This bridge is so beautiful, it's like a bridge in a fairyland," Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

They walked onto the ice sculpture bridge and looked down at the entire ice and snow world. The ice sculptures and snow sculptures were arranged in a well-organized manner, and tourists strolled and played among them, creating a beautiful picture.

"Let's take a group photo here. This scenery is so beautiful, we must capture it as a memento," Lin Yifei suggested.

The three of them stood on the ice sculpture bridge, striking various poses. Lin Yifei pressed the shutter, capturing this beautiful moment.

As night fell, the lights of the Ice and Snow World gradually illuminated. In an instant, the entire world transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors, with the ice and snow sculptures glowing even more enchantingly under the lights. The originally pristine white ice sculptures were now tinged with various colors—red, green, blue, purple… resembling a dreamlike world of crystal.

"Wow, the Ice and Snow World at night is absolutely stunning!" Li Xiao exclaimed.

"The lighting effects are amazing! It feels like stepping into a fairy tale world." Zhang Yuedong was also amazed by the beautiful scenery before him.

They strolled through the brightly lit Ice and Snow World, admiring the dreamlike scenery. Lin Yifei kept capturing every wonderful moment with his camera, wanting to freeze this beautiful moment forever.

Stroll along Central Avenue
After leaving the Ice and Snow World, the three arrived at Central Street. Central Street was now beautifully illuminated, and the European-style buildings on both sides of the road appeared even more elegant and dignified under the lights. The street was bustling with people, enjoying the night view and savoring various delicacies.

"Let's go buy a Madier popsicle." Li Xiao said, pulling Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei to the Madier Ice Cream Parlor.

The line was long, but the three of them waited patiently. Finally, it was their turn, and Li Xiao bought three popsicles, one for each of them.

"It tastes just like before. Eating an ice pop on this cold night is a special treat," Li Xiao said with satisfaction after taking a bite of the ice pop.

They strolled along Central Street, eating popsicles. Along the way, they saw many unique shops selling Russian goods, Northeastern specialties, and various snacks. Li Xiao went into a Russian goods shop and picked out some souvenirs, such as matryoshka dolls and vodka.

"These matryoshka dolls are so beautiful. They'll definitely be a hit with my friends if I bring them back as gifts." Li Xiao held the matryoshka dolls, admiring them.

Zhang Yuedong, meanwhile, was selecting Northeastern specialties, such as Harbin red sausage and Wuchang rice. "I'll take these back for my family to try, so they can experience the taste of Northeast China," Zhang Yuedong said.

Lin Yifei was drawn in by the aroma wafting from a snack shop. He went inside and bought a plate of grilled cold noodles. "How can you come to Northeast China and not eat grilled cold noodles? This one looks pretty good," Lin Yifei said as he started eating.

Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong also came over, took a bite of the grilled cold noodles, and gave a thumbs up: "Hmm, the taste is really good, sweet and sour, and very chewy."