Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei, a pair of good friends, have always cherished their longing for the beautiful mountains and rivers of their motherland, and finally embarked on their long-awaited Chinese travel trip. Their first stop was Guilin, which is known as "the best landscape in the world".

When they set foot on the land of Guilin, the fresh air and picturesque scenery instantly intoxicated them. Li Xiao opened his arms excitedly and shouted loudly: "Pengfei, we are finally in Guilin! This is simply a paradise on earth!" Huang Pengfei also smiled and responded: "Yes, Xiao, I feel that every inch of the air here is full of poetry."

They first came to the Li River Scenic Area. Standing by the Li River, looking at the clear water reflecting the mountains on both sides, Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh: "This scenery is so beautiful, I feel like I have walked into a huge ink painting." Huang Pengfei took out his camera and kept taking pictures: "I have to record all this beautiful scenery and show it off to my friends when I go back."

They boarded a cruise ship and sailed down the river. The boat moved slowly on the river, and the breeze brought coolness. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei sat at the bow of the boat, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way.

"Xiao, look at that mountain over there. Does it look like an elephant sucking water?" Huang Pengfei said excitedly, pointing to a mountain in the distance.

Li Xiao looked in the direction he pointed and replied with a smile: "It really looks like it! Nature is truly amazing."

While enjoying the beautiful scenery, they talked with other tourists on the boat. A local old man enthusiastically introduced the history and legends of the Li River to them, which gave them a deeper understanding of this beautiful landscape.

After the boat had sailed for a while, they arrived at a small pier. After getting off the boat, they strolled along the path along the river, feeling the tranquility and beauty of the Li River.

"Wow, the air here is so fresh. I feel refreshed." Li Xiao took a deep breath.

"Yes, you can't breathe such fresh air in the city." Huang Pengfei also agreed.

As they walked, they saw some local fishermen fishing by the river. Li Xiao walked over curiously to watch, and the fishermen enthusiastically showed them their catch and invited them to taste the fish they had just caught.

"This fish is so fresh!" Li Xiao praised it highly after taking a bite.

"Haha, this is fish from the Li River, of course it tastes delicious." The fishermen said with a smile.

After leaving the riverside, they came to a local restaurant to taste Guilin's specialties. The restaurant was busy and they ordered a bowl of Guilin rice noodles, a bowl of beer fish and some local specialties.

"I heard that Guilin rice noodles are Guilin's signature food. I must try it." Li Xiao said expectantly.

Soon, the steaming Guilin rice noodles were served. The delicate rice noodles, paired with the delicious brine and various side dishes, made people's appetite increase greatly. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei couldn't wait to eat.

"Well, this rice noodle is so delicious. It has a smooth texture and rich flavor." Huang Pengfei praised while eating.

After dinner, they came to a folk performance venue to watch Guilin's folk performances. On the stage, actors dressed in bright ethnic costumes performed Zhuang songs and dances, Dong songs and other programs. The wonderful performances won rounds of applause from the audience.

"These folk performances are really unique and allow us to feel the unique cultural charm of Guilin," Li Xiao said with emotion.

After the performance, they bought some Guilin specialties in nearby shops, such as Guilin Sanhua Liquor, Lipu Taro, etc.

"Take these specialties back and let my family and friends try them. They will definitely like them," Huang Pengfei said happily.

After two days of sightseeing in Guilin, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei set off on their journey to the next attraction with full memories and reluctance. They look forward to encountering more beautiful scenery and interesting things in the following trip.

After bidding farewell to the mountains and rivers of Guilin, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei came to Zhangjiajie in Hunan. The magnificent scenery of Zhangjiajie with its strange peaks and rocks had long attracted them.

As soon as they entered the Zhangjiajie scenic area, they were shocked by the strange mountains in front of them. The mountains were towering into the clouds and had different shapes. Some looked like swords piercing the sky, some looked like fairies descending to the earth, and some looked like monkeys watching the sea... Li Xiao's eyes widened and he exclaimed: "Pengfei, this is simply a magical stone kingdom!" Huang Pengfei was also attracted by the beautiful scenery in front of him. He quickly took out his camera and kept taking pictures: "I want to take pictures of these wonders and enjoy them slowly when I go back."

They walked along the path in the mountains, admiring various strange peaks and rocks along the way. From time to time, they would encounter some wild monkeys, which were very cute as they shuttled through the woods. Li Xiao couldn't help but take out some food to feed the monkeys, and the monkeys were not polite and ran over to scramble for the food, making them laugh.

"These monkeys are so interesting, they are like little elves here." Li Xiao said with a smile.

"Yes, they add a lot of vitality and vigor to this forest." Huang Pengfei replied.

As they walked, they came to an observation deck. Standing on the observation deck, overlooking the surrounding mountains, the magnificent scenery made them feel relaxed and happy. Li Xiao opened his arms and felt the breeze in the mountains, as if he had merged with nature.

"Wow, the scenery here is so beautiful! I feel like I'm standing on the top of the world." Li Xiao said excitedly.

Huang Pengfei also said with deep emotion: "The beauty of Zhangjiajie is truly unique, and every place is amazing."

After playing in the scenic area for a while, they felt a little hungry, so they came to a local restaurant. There are many specialties in the restaurant. They ordered a Zhangjiajie three-pot, a Tujia bacon and some wild vegetables.

"These three hot pots look very special. What ingredients are in them?" Li Xiao asked the waiter curiously.

The waiter smiled and replied: "The three-pot has bacon, tofu, radish and other ingredients fried with a special sauce. It tastes very delicious."

Soon, all the dishes were served. They tasted the local delicacies and were full of praise for the rich aroma and unique taste.

"This Tujia bacon is so delicious, fat but not greasy, and full of fragrance." Huang Pengfei praised while eating.

After dinner, they came to a folk square to watch local folk performances. The performances were rich and colorful, including the Tujia people's waving dance, Maogus dance, etc. The actors used passionate dances and vivid performances to show the traditional culture and living customs of the Tujia people, which opened their eyes.

"These folk performances are really interesting and give us a deeper understanding of Tujia culture," said Li Xiao.

After the performance, they bought some specialties of Zhangjiajie in the shops near the square, such as Zhangjiajie berry tea, kudzu root powder, etc. "These specialties are the characteristics of Zhangjiajie. Bring them back for family and friends to taste and let them feel the unique flavor here." Huang Pengfei said.

After a few days of sightseeing in Zhangjiajie, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei set off on a new journey. They look forward to the next attraction bringing them more surprises and touches.

Chapter 3: Leisure time in Chengdu

After leaving the strange peaks and rocks of Zhangjiajie, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei came to Chengdu, Sichuan, a city full of leisure and food.

As soon as they arrived in Chengdu, they felt the unique atmosphere of the city. The streets were filled with the aroma of hot pot, and people were leisurely sitting in teahouses drinking tea and chatting. Everything seemed so comfortable. Li Xiao took a deep breath and said with a smile: "Pengfei, I like the taste of this city. I feel that the pace of life here is so slow." Huang Pengfei also nodded in agreement: "Yes, it makes people feel very relaxed here. It is very suitable for enjoying life."

They first came to Wuhou Temple, a historical site commemorating Zhuge Liang. The temple is full of towering ancient trees and solemn buildings. While visiting, they learned about Zhuge Liang's life and Three Kingdoms culture. Li Xiao was very interested in history. He looked at each exhibit carefully and exchanged his views with Huang Pengfei from time to time.

"Zhuge Liang is such a remarkable man. His wisdom and loyalty are admirable," Li Xiao said with emotion.

"Yes, the history of the Three Kingdoms period is truly magnificent and full of legends," Huang Pengfei also responded.

After leaving Wuhou Temple, they came to Jinli Ancient Street. The ancient street was bustling with people. There were various specialty shops on both sides of the street, some selling traditional handicrafts, some selling special snacks, and some teahouses and bars. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei walked and strolled, feeling the fusion of Chengdu's traditional culture and modern atmosphere.

"Wow, there are so many fun things here!" Li Xiao looked at the shops excitedly.

"Yes, we can buy some souvenirs to take back," said Huang Pengfei.

They bought some Shu embroidery and bamboo handicrafts in a handicraft shop, and they couldn't put these exquisite handicrafts down.

After getting tired from shopping, they came to a teahouse, sat down and ordered two cups of tea from covered bowls. They enjoyed this leisurely time, watching the tea leaves tumbling in the water and smelling the light tea fragrance.

"Drinking tea in Chengdu is such a pleasure. It feels like time has slowed down." Li Xiao said as he took a sip of tea.

"Haha, that's right, this is the charm of Chengdu." Huang Pengfei replied with a smile.

At night, they certainly couldn't miss the delicacy of Chengdu - hot pot. They found a popular hot pot restaurant, which was full of diners and filled with the rich aroma of hot pot. They ordered a shuangyang pot, with a spicy hot pot base on one side and a clear soup base on the other, and a variety of meats, vegetables and soy products.

When the hot pot was served, the red peppers and boiling soup made people's appetite increase. Li Xiao couldn't wait to put the ingredients into the pot. After a while, the pot was boiling and the aroma was overflowing.

"Wow, this hotpot is so delicious! It's so spicy!" Li Xiao shouted while eating.

Huang Pengfei's face also turned red from the spiciness, but he kept stuffing food into his mouth: "Haha, Chengdu's hot pot is really as famous as it is said to be!"

After eating the hot pot, they walked on the street to digest the food. At this time, they saw some street performers performing, some singing, some dancing, and some performing acrobatics. They stopped to watch the performance and applauded the artists for their wonderful performance.

"The night in Chengdu is so colorful!" said Li Xiao.

"Yes, this place is full of the breath of life." Huang Pengfei replied.

After a few days of sightseeing in Chengdu, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei were about to set off for the next attraction. With their fond memories of Chengdu, they looked forward to having more wonderful experiences in the upcoming trip.

After bidding farewell to the leisurely time in Chengdu, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei came to Xi'an, Shaanxi, an ancient capital with a thousand-year history.

As soon as they set foot on the land of Xi'an, they were surrounded by the city's rich historical atmosphere. The ancient city walls and majestic ancient buildings seemed to tell the city's former glory. Li Xiao looked at the tall city walls and exclaimed: "Pengfei, this city is really full of historical charm! It feels like we have traveled back to ancient times." Huang Pengfei also said excitedly: "Yes, I have always wanted to see the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, and today I finally got my wish."

They first came to the Xi'an City Wall. The wall is tall and majestic, with a circumference of about 14 kilometers. They rented two bicycles and rode along the wall, enjoying the scenery inside and outside the wall while feeling the historical heritage of the city.

"Riding on the city wall, I feel like an ancient general patrolling my own city," Li Xiao said with a smile.

"Haha, you are really imaginative. However, this city wall is really spectacular. It has witnessed so many historical changes." Huang Pengfei replied.

After riding the city wall, they came to the Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. As soon as they entered the museum, they were shocked by the spectacular scene of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Thousands of Terracotta Warriors and Horses were neatly arranged in the underground tunnels, with various shapes and lifelike. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei walked carefully along the tunnels, carefully observing the details of each Terracotta Warrior and Horse.

"These terracotta warriors are so amazing! The wisdom and skills of the ancient people are truly amazing." Li Xiao exclaimed sincerely.

"Yes, it is hard to imagine how people created such a great miracle more than two thousand years ago." Huang Pengfei was also deeply moved.

They visited the museum for a long time and, listening to the guide's explanation, gained a deeper understanding of Qin Shihuang's Terracotta Warriors.

After coming out of the Terracotta Warriors Museum, they were already hungry. So they came to a local restaurant to taste the specialties of Xi'an. Xi'an's cuisine is mainly noodles and snacks. They ordered a mutton soup steamed bun, a roujiamo and a cold noodle.

"This mutton soup with steamed bun looks very interesting. You have to break the bun into pieces and then soak it in the soup." Li Xiao said curiously.

"Yes, this is also a kind of fun of eating mutton soup bun. Take your time to break it, don't rush." ​​Huang Pengfei said with a smile. (End of this chapter)