Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

The autumn breeze was refreshing, and the sky in Beijing was particularly blue. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei stood in Tiananmen Square, looking at the fluttering five-star red flag, and felt an inexplicable excitement in their hearts.

Li Xiao: "Pengfei, look at Tiananmen Square. Doesn't it feel particularly solemn and sacred?"

Huang Pengfei: "Yes, Brother Xiao, every time I come here I can feel the power of China and the weight of its history."

The two strolled along Chang'an Avenue, through the bustling crowd, and came to the Palace Museum. The ancient palace shone brightly in the sun, with red walls and green tiles, and was magnificent.

Li Xiao: "Every brick and tile here carries countless stories."

Huang Pengfei: "Let's go in and take a look at the life of the ancient emperors."

They walked into the Forbidden City, shuttled between the palaces, and admired the exquisite architecture and rich cultural relics. The afternoon sun shone through the window lattices and sprinkled on the ancient floor, giving people a feeling of traveling through time and space.

Li Xiao: "Everything here is so shocking. I can feel the accumulation of history with every step I take."

Huang Pengfei: "Yes, this is not only China's but also the world's cultural heritage."

After the tour, the two walked out of the Forbidden City and came to Wangfujing Snack Street, where a variety of Beijing specialty snacks are gathered, with a fragrant aroma.

Li Xiao: "Pengfei, let's try the noodles with soybean paste and soybean juice here, which are BJ's signature dishes."

Huang Pengfei: "Good idea, I've heard that the snacks here are very famous."

The two found a small shop and sat down, ordering noodles with soybean paste and soybean juice. The noodles were fragrant and the soybean juice had a unique taste, and the two ate with gusto.

Li Xiao: "This noodle soup is really delicious. Although the bean juice tastes a bit strange, it is also very unique."

Huang Pengfei: “Yes, this trip was really fruitful.”

After eating and drinking, the two came to another scenic spot in BJ - Nanluoguxiang. Here, many old BJ features are preserved, including quaint streets, a variety of small shops, and various handicrafts and souvenirs.

Li Xiao: "This is a great place to shop online. We can buy some local specialties to take back."

Huang Pengfei: "Yes, the cloisonné and Peking Opera masks here are very distinctive."

The two of them walked around, selecting various souvenirs, bargaining with the shop owners from time to time, and enjoying the fun of traveling.

As night fell, the two sat down in a teahouse in Nanluoguxiang, listening to Peking Opera, sipping tea, and feeling the nightlife of BJ.

Li Xiao: "Today's itinerary was really fulfilling. Not only did we visit the Forbidden City, we also tasted delicious food and bought local specialties."

Huang Pengfei: "Yes, where are we going tomorrow?"

Li Xiao: "I heard that the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an are very spectacular. Let's go there next."

Huang Pengfei: "Good idea, I've wanted to go and see it for a long time."

The two chatted about future plans in the teahouse and looked forward to the next stop of the trip.

Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei, two good friends, packed their bags and set off on their journey to China. Their first destination was this ancient yet modern city - BJ.

Li Xiao, a young man who loves history, is full of expectations for this trip. Huang Pengfei, a lively and cheerful young man, always brings laughter during the trip.

"Brother Xiao, look, this is our great Tiananmen Square!" Huang Pengfei said excitedly, pointing to the wide square in front of him.

Li Xiao smiled and nodded, "Yes, Pengfei, this place has witnessed the historical changes of China and is the perfect starting point for our trip."

The two strolled in the square, feeling the weight of history. Later, they came to the Palace Museum, walked between the red walls and green tiles, and admired the majesty and exquisiteness of the ancient architecture.

After the tour, Li Xiao suggested to taste the specialty of BJ - roast duck. "Pengfei, I heard that Quanjude's roast duck is very famous, let's go and try it!"

Huang Pengfei's eyes lit up, "Great, I've always wanted to try authentic Beijing roast duck!"

They came to Quanjude and sat in the quaint restaurant. The waiter served them a golden roast duck with crispy skin and tender meat. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei enjoyed the delicious food while chatting about interesting things during their trip.

"Brother Xiao, look at this roast duck, the skin is crispy and the meat is tender, it's so delicious!" Huang Pengfei exclaimed while eating.

Li Xiao smiled and responded, "Yes, the roast duck here is indeed well-deserved. But don't just focus on eating, we also have to watch the Peking Opera performance."

After eating and drinking, the two went to the Peking Opera House, where they enjoyed a wonderful Peking Opera performance and felt the charm of traditional Chinese opera.

After the performance, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei bought some Peking Opera masks as souvenirs at a stall outside the Peking Opera Theater.

"Pengfei, our BJ trip is about to end, and we will head to the next city tomorrow." Li Xiao said.

"Brother Xiao, I can't wait to see the scenery of the next city." Huang Pengfei said excitedly.

Under the moonlight, the two of them, carrying their bags, set off on a journey to the next city. The autumn atmosphere and the aroma of roast duck in BJ will remain in their memories forever. Li Xiao stood in the bustling train station, holding a ticket to Yunnan tightly in his hand. The sun shone through the glass skylight of the station, shining on his slightly immature face, reflecting a touch of expectation. His friend Huang Pengfei, a burly and smiling young man, squeezed through the crowd carrying a huge travel bag.

"Xiaoxiao, are you ready?" Huang Pengfei patted Li Xiao's shoulder, his voice full of excitement.

Li Xiao turned around, a hint of mischief flashed in his eyes: "Pengfei, I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Let's start our journey from here!"

The two smiled at each other and boarded the train to Yunnan. In the carriage, they found their seats, the scenery outside the window began to slowly recede, and Li Xiao's mood also soared.

"Pengfei, where is our first stop?" Li Xiao asked curiously.

Huang Pengfei took out a carefully prepared itinerary and pointed to the first destination on it: "Our first stop is Lijiang Ancient Town, where there are beautiful ancient city scenery and a variety of delicious snacks."

"It sounds exciting!" Li Xiao's eyes lit up.

As the train sped along the track, the conversation between the two gradually became relaxed and pleasant. They talked about their respective dreams and shared their visions for the future. Time passed quietly in the pleasant conversation.

Finally, the train slowly pulled into Lijiang Station. The two of them carried their bags and walked out of the station. The sunshine in Lijiang was warm and bright, and the outline of the ancient city was faintly visible in the distance.

"Wow, this is the ancient city of Lijiang!" Li Xiao exclaimed. Huang Pengfei smiled and nodded: "Let's go, let's find a place to stay first, and then we can start our exploration journey."

They found an inn with local characteristics, and after putting down their luggage, they couldn't wait to start their tour of Lijiang Ancient Town. The stone pavement, quaint buildings, and melodious Naxi ancient music made the two of them feel as if they had traveled through time and space.

"Xiaoxiao, look at the snack stand over there, let's go and try something!" Huang Pengfei pointed to the snack stand not far away, his eyes flashing with anticipation.

The two walked to the snack stand and ordered a local specialty snack - chicken bean jelly. It was sour, spicy and delicious, which made people's appetites grow.

"This tastes amazing!" Li Xiao exclaimed as he ate.

Huang Pengfei responded with a smile: "This is just the beginning. We will taste more delicious food later."

The two of them tasted the food while touring every corner of the ancient city. They watched the Naxi dance on Sifang Street and felt the enthusiasm and vitality of the local people. When night fell, they listened to the live Naxi ancient music in a bar in the ancient city and enjoyed this unique night.

"Pengfei, today's journey was so wonderful!" Li Xiao said with emotion.

Huang Pengfei raised his glass and said, "This is just the beginning. Tomorrow we will go to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, where the scenery is even more spectacular."

The first ray of sunlight in the morning shone through the curtains, waking up the sleeping Li Xiao. He rubbed his eyes, sat up from the bed, and looked out the window into the distance. The towering shadow of Yulong Snow Mountain looked particularly spectacular in the morning light.

"Pengfei, get up quickly, we are going to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain today!" Li Xiao excitedly woke up Huang Pengfei who was still dreaming.

Huang Pengfei rubbed his sleepy eyes and yawned: "Okay, okay, I'll get up right away."

The two quickly packed their bags, took the necessary equipment, and set off on their journey to Yulong Snow Mountain. Along the way, they enjoyed the scenery along the way and talked and laughed.

"Xiaoxiao, look at that mountain over there. Doesn't it look like a giant dragon?" Huang Pengfei said, pointing to the mountains in the distance.

Li Xiao looked in the direction of his finger, and sure enough, the mountain was winding like a soaring dragon: "It's amazing, no wonder it's called Jade Dragon Snow Mountain."

They took the cable car and slowly ascended. As the altitude increased, the temperature gradually dropped, but the two people's interest became more and more high. When they reached the top of the mountain, they were deeply shocked by the scenery in front of them: the snow-white mountain top, surrounded by clouds and mist, seemed to be in a fairyland.

"The air here is so fresh. I feel refreshed." Li Xiao took a deep breath and felt the breath of the mountains.

Huang Pengfei took out his camera and recorded this rare beauty: "Xiaoxiao, come here, let me take a picture of you."

Li Xiao stood in the snow, with the magnificent snow-capped mountains behind him and a satisfied smile on his face. Huang Pengfei pressed the shutter to freeze the beauty of this moment.

They stayed at the top of the mountain for a while, and then decided to go down the mountain to explore more attractions. On the way down the mountain, they met a group of local Naxi people who were holding a traditional sacrificial ceremony.

"Xiaoxiao, let's go and take a look at their activities. This is a rare opportunity." Huang Pengfei suggested.

The two joined the crowd, watching the solemn sacrificial ceremony of the Naxi people, and feeling their awe of nature and love of life.

"Pengfei, look at their movements, each one is full of power and rhythm." Li Xiao was deeply attracted by the dance of the Naxi people.

Huang Pengfei nodded: "Yes, this is really an unforgettable experience."

With the end of the sacrificial ceremony, the two also ended their visit to Yulong Snow Mountain. They returned to the inn with a lot of gains and memories.

"Today's journey was really wonderful, Pengfei, what do you think?" Li Xiao asked while sorting out the photos in the camera.

Huang Pengfei smiled and replied: "Of course, every trip brings new discoveries and experiences, and that is the charm of travel."

The two were on the terrace of the inn, tasting local Pu'er tea while planning their itinerary for tomorrow. Tomorrow, they will go to Dali to continue their trip to China.

In the morning, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei enjoyed the sunshine of Yunnan on the terrace of the inn, preparing for their trip to Dali. Dali, a poetic place, is famous for its romantic scenery and is another expectation of their trip.

"Xiaoxiao, have you heard of Erhai Lake in Dali? The scenery there is breathtakingly beautiful." Huang Pengfei said excitedly while packing his luggage.

Li Xiao nodded, his eyes sparkling with anticipation: "Of course, I've wanted to go and see it for a long time. I heard that the wind, flowers, snow, and moon there are all very beautiful."

The two took a car, crossed the green fields, and finally arrived in Dali. They first came to the edge of Erhai Lake, where the endless lake sparkled in the sun, and the Cangshan Mountain in the distance stood like a screen.

"The scenery here is so beautiful, Pengfei, how about we rent a bicycle and ride around the lake?" Li Xiao suggested.

Huang Pengfei immediately agreed: "Good idea, this way we can experience the beauty of Erhai Lake from a closer distance."

They rented two bicycles and started riding along the Erhai Lake Ring Road. Along the way, they admired the beautiful scenery of Erhai Lake and felt the local customs and customs of Dali.

"Xiaoxiao, look at the Bai ethnic group houses over there, aren't they very distinctive?" Huang Pengfei said, pointing to the buildings on the roadside.

Li Xiao slowed down and observed carefully: "Indeed, the roofs and decorations of these buildings are very delicate and full of ethnic characteristics."

After the ride, they arrived at the ancient city of Dali, where the quaint streets, bustling markets, and locals in ethnic costumes made them feel the rich historical and cultural atmosphere.

"Pengfei, let's go try the three-course tea here. I heard it's very famous." Li Xiao suggested.

The two walked into a teahouse and tasted the three local teas - bitter tea, sweet tea, and aftertaste tea. Each tea has its own unique flavor, which makes them linger in the aftertaste.

"This tea has a unique flavor, bitter with sweetness, and sweet with fragrance." Li Xiao exclaimed.

Huang Pengfei nodded: "Yes, just like our life, there are bitterness and sweetness, but in the end it is all beautiful."

As night fell, they tasted local specialties such as pickled fish, chicken bean jelly, etc. in a restaurant in the ancient city. After dinner, they strolled along the streets of the ancient city, enjoying the tranquility of the night.

"Xiaoxiao, how was your journey today?" Huang Pengfei asked.

Li Xiao smiled and said, "It's perfect. Every place in Dali is so charming that one will never want to leave."

The two continued their night tour under the moonlight of the ancient city until late at night. This day's journey gave them a deeper understanding and experience of Dali's natural beauty and cultural customs. (End of this chapter)