Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

They ordered a shuangyang hotpot, with a spicy hotpot on one side and a clear soup on the other. Soon, the hotpot was served, with red peppers and Sichuan peppers bubbling in the pot, and the aroma was fragrant. They put various ingredients into the pot and cooked them, then dipped them in the special sauce and ate them with relish.

"Wow, this hotpot is so delicious. It's spicy and numb." Li Xiao said as he ate, his lips turning red from the spiciness.

"Haha, yes, but the clear soup base is also very delicious and can relieve the spiciness." Huang Pengfei said with a smile.

After eating the hot pot, they returned to the hotel and rested for a while. The next day, they went to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base to visit the lovely giant pandas. The giant panda is China's national treasure and is deeply loved by people.

They came to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base and saw many cute giant pandas, some of which were eating bamboo, some were sleeping, and some were playing. Their naive appearance made people laugh.

"Wow, these giant pandas are so cute and round." Li Xiao said excitedly.

"Yes, their movements are so cute." Huang Pengfei also said with a smile.

They visited the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base for a while and learned about the living habits and protection of giant pandas. Afterwards, they came to the souvenir shop in the base and bought some giant panda-related products, such as dolls, key chains, postcards, etc.

After leaving the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, it was already noon. They decided to have an authentic Sichuan meal. They came to a Sichuan restaurant and ordered classic Sichuan dishes such as Mapo Tofu, Twice-cooked Pork, and Kung Pao Chicken.

These Sichuan dishes are delicious and tasty, which will whet your appetite. Mapo tofu is spicy and fresh, and the tofu is tender and delicious; twice-cooked pork is fat but not greasy, and has a strong aroma; Kung Pao chicken is sweet and sour, and the chicken is tender.

"Well, these Sichuan dishes are so delicious. They are indeed classic Sichuan dishes." Li Xiao said while eating.

"Yes, there are so many delicious foods in Chengdu, and each one is very memorable." Huang Pengfei said with a satisfied smile.

After dinner, they strolled around the city and bought some Chengdu specialties, such as Shu embroidery, Sichuan tea, Pixian bean paste, etc. These specialties are all Chengdu's specialty products with high artistic and practical value.

After buying local specialties, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei returned to the hotel, packed their luggage, and prepared to go to the next destination. They were very satisfied with this trip to Chengdu. Not only did they taste the food, but they also learned about the history and culture of Chengdu. They are looking forward to the next trip, and they don't know what kind of excitement will be waiting for them...

carry on
Chapter 4: The Historical Charm of Xi’an

Leaving behind the leisure and food of Chengdu, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei set off on a journey to Xi'an. Xi'an, an ancient capital with a thousand-year history, is like a shining pearl, exuding a unique charm, attracting countless tourists to explore its past.

After several hours of flight, they arrived at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. As soon as they left the airport, a strong historical atmosphere hit them. This ancient city seemed to tell of its past glory on every inch of land.

They took the airport bus to the city and checked into the hotel near the Bell and Drum Tower that they had booked in advance. After putting down their luggage, they immediately went to the Bell and Drum Tower Square. The Bell and Drum Tower is a landmark building in Xi'an. The two ancient buildings echo each other from afar and are magnificent.

When night falls, the bell and drum towers are illuminated by lights, and the golden lights set off the quaint buildings, making them look particularly spectacular. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei stood in the square, looking up at these two buildings that have gone through the vicissitudes of time, and their hearts were filled with awe.

"Wow, Pengfei, look at this bell and drum tower, it's so shocking! It feels like I have traveled back to ancient times." Li Xiao said excitedly.

"Yes, it's really hard to imagine how the ancients built such a magnificent building." Huang Pengfei couldn't help but sigh.

After enjoying the night view of the Bell and Drum Tower, they came to the nearby Muslim Street. Muslim Street was brightly lit and bustling, and the aroma of various delicacies filled the air. Here gathered all kinds of Xi'an's special snacks, which made people dazzled.

They first tried mutton soup with steamed buns. When they walked into a steamed bun shop, the owner warmly invited them to sit down and served them two large bowls and two steamed buns.

“Come, break the steamed bun into pieces yourself and then give it to the chef to cook with mutton soup.” said the boss with a smile.

Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei picked up the steamed bun and began to break it carefully. The steamed bun looked simple, but it was not easy to break it into fine and even pieces. They broke the steamed bun while chatting, enjoying this unique dining experience.

"Why do you have to break the steamed bun yourself when making this soup?" Li Xiao asked curiously.

"I think this may be a tradition. It also allows us to participate more in the food-making process and enjoy the fun of it," Huang Pengfei replied.

After finally breaking the steamed bun and handing it to the chef, a bowl of steaming mutton soup steamed bun was served soon. The soup of the steamed bun was rich and delicious, the mutton was tender and juicy, and the steamed bun was soaked in the soup, soft in the mouth, and full of fragrance.

"Well, it's delicious! The taste is amazing." Li Xiao praised it highly after taking a bite.

"Haha, it really lives up to its reputation." Huang Pengfei also ate with gusto.

After eating Pao Mo, they tried other snacks, such as sesame sauce cold noodles, zonggao, roujiamo, etc. Each snack left them with an endless aftertaste.

The next day, they went to the Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. The Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warriors and Horses are known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and are a golden name card of the glorious civilization of ancient China.

When they arrived at the museum, they saw lifelike terracotta warriors and horses, as if they had traveled through time and space and saw the mighty Qin army. These terracotta warriors and horses have different shapes and rich facial expressions, some with smiles, some with serious expressions, and some with firm eyes, which makes people marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship of the ancients.

"Wow, these terracotta warriors are so spectacular! It's hard to believe that they were created more than two thousand years ago." Li Xiao exclaimed.

"Yes, this is the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient Chinese working people. You see, every detail of the Terracotta Warriors is handled very well, it's really amazing." Huang Pengfei was also deeply moved.

They visited the museum for a long time, carefully admired each terracotta warrior, and learned about the historical background and production process of the Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shihuang. After visiting the Terracotta Warriors, their hearts were filled with awe and pride for ancient Chinese history.

After leaving the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, it was already afternoon. They came to a restaurant and tasted Xi'an's specialty food - Hulutou Pao Mo. Hulutou Pao Mo is different from mutton Pao Mo. It is made with ingredients such as pig intestines and pig stomachs, and has a unique taste. After eating, they went to the Xi'an City Wall. The Xi'an City Wall is one of the largest and most well-preserved ancient city walls in China. They climbed the city wall, rented two bicycles, and rode along the wall. The scenery on the city wall is beautiful, and you can overlook the scenery of the entire city.

"Look, that's the Big Wild Goose Pagoda over there, and the Bell and Drum Tower over there. Looking down from the city wall, it feels like Xi'an is really big." Li Xiao said to Huang Pengfei while riding a bike.

"Yes, this city has both ancient historical charm and modern atmosphere. It is really unique," Huang Pengfei responded.

After riding on the city wall, it was getting dark. They came to a square under the city wall and watched a wonderful folk performance. The performance included traditional art forms of Xi'an such as Qinqiang and shadow play. The wonderful performance of the actors won rounds of applause from the audience.

"These folk performances are really interesting and give us a deeper understanding of Xi'an's culture," Li Xiao said to Huang Pengfei.

"Yes, that's right. This trip to Xi'an really brought us a lot. Not only did we see so many precious historical relics, but we also tasted so many delicious foods and enjoyed folk performances." Huang Pengfei nodded in agreement.

On the third day, they strolled around the city and bought some Xi'an specialties, such as Terracotta Warriors and Horses models, shadow puppets, Xi'an Forest of Steles rubbings, etc. These specialties all have strong Xi'an characteristics and are a wonderful souvenir of their trip.

After buying local specialties, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei packed their bags and prepared to go to their next destination. They were reluctant to leave Xi'an, an ancient and charming city, but also full of expectations for the future journey...

Bidding farewell to the historic Xi'an, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei came to the poetic Hangzhou. Hangzhou, a city known as the "paradise on earth", attracts many tourists with its beautiful natural scenery and long history and culture.

After they arrived at Hangzhou East Station by high-speed rail, they went directly to the hotel they booked by the West Lake to check in. After putting down their luggage and taking a short rest, the two of them couldn't wait to walk towards the West Lake.

As soon as they arrived at the West Lake, they were intoxicated by the beautiful scenery before them. The lake water was clear and green, and the breeze blew over the lake, causing ripples on the surface. The mountains in the distance were rolling, and the lake water set off each other, forming a picturesque scene.

"Wow, Pengfei, West Lake is so beautiful! It's like a natural ink painting." Li Xiao couldn't help but admire.

"Yes, it really lives up to its reputation. 'If I were to compare the West Lake to Xi Shi, light makeup or heavy makeup would always be suitable', this line from Su Shi's poem is so apt." Huang Pengfei also sighed.

They strolled along the lake, enjoying the beauty of the West Lake. The willow trees by the lake were swaying, and their slender branches fluttered in the wind, as if they were green ribbons given to the West Lake by nature. On the lake, cruise ships passed by from time to time, and bursts of laughter and joy could be heard.

As they walked, they came to the Broken Bridge. The Broken Bridge is one of the famous attractions of West Lake. According to legend, Xu Xian and White Snake met here. Although it was not winter and they could not see the beautiful scenery of the Broken Bridge covered with snow, the ancient charm of the Broken Bridge still fascinated them.

"Do you think Xu Xian and White Snake really met here?" Li Xiao asked Huang Pengfei with a smile.

"Haha, that's just a legend, but it also adds a lot of romance to the bridge," Huang Pengfei replied.

On the Broken Bridge, they met a local photographer who was taking photos of the beautiful scenery of West Lake. The photographer greeted them warmly and introduced some shooting angles and the best viewing time of West Lake.

"You can go to the long bridge by the lake in the evening to watch the sunset. The scenery there is very beautiful," suggested the photographer.

After thanking the photographer, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei continued their trip to West Lake. They came to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, where three stone towers stood on the lake, like three treasure gourds. On full-moon nights, lights were lit in the towers, and the holes were covered with thin paper, through which the lights shone, like many moons reflected on the lake, magnificent.

"It's really magical. The design of the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is so ingenious." Li Xiao said, looking at the stone tower.

"Well, the wisdom of the ancients is really admirable." Huang Pengfei nodded in agreement.

After walking around the West Lake, it was already noon. They came to a restaurant by the West Lake to taste the specialties of Hangzhou. West Lake vinegar fish is one of the famous dishes in Hangzhou. The fish is tender, sweet and sour, and has a light crab flavor. Dongpo pork is also indispensable. It is bright red, fat but not greasy, and melts in the mouth. They also ordered a portion of Longjing shrimp. The shrimp is tender and smooth, with the fragrance of Longjing tea, and the taste is very unique.

"Well, these dishes are so delicious. Hangzhou's cuisine is really unique and tastes different from other places." Li Xiao said while eating.

"Yes, the taste of West Lake Vinegar Fish is very special, I like it very much." Huang Pengfei also praised these delicacies.

After finishing their meal, they took a short break and then headed to Lingyin Temple. Lingyin Temple is a famous ancient temple in Hangzhou with a long history and profound cultural heritage. The temple has magnificent and solemn buildings, and the smoke of incense is lingering, giving people a sense of tranquility and peace.

Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei visited the temple, admiring the ancient buildings and Buddha statues. They also lit incense in front of the incense burner in the temple, praying for peace and good fortune.

"In such an ancient temple, I feel my soul is purified." Li Xiao said softly.

"Well, the atmosphere here is really relaxing." Huang Pengfei responded.

After coming out of Lingyin Temple, they followed the photographer's suggestion and came to Changqiao. It was evening, and the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the lake, dyeing the entire lake surface golden. On the Changqiao, many tourists were admiring the sunset. Everyone was attracted by the beautiful scenery and took out their cameras to take pictures.

Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei were no exception. They found a good angle and took many beautiful photos. Under the setting sun, their smiles looked particularly brilliant.

"I had a really great time today. I saw so many beautiful scenery," said Li Xiao.

"Yes, Hangzhou is really a very romantic city," said Huang Pengfei.

As night fell, they returned to the hotel, washed up, and lay on the bed recalling the wonderful experience of the day. The beautiful scenery of West Lake, the delicious food, and the tranquility of Lingyin Temple all left a deep impression on them.

The next day, they went to the Silk Museum in Hangzhou. Hangzhou is one of the important silk production areas in China. The Silk Museum shows the development of Chinese silk and the profoundness of silk culture. (End of this chapter)