Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1608 2.
Li Xiao scratched his head and said with a smile: "I didn't see much either. It seems that the shapes of these horses are hidden in the texture of the rocks. It takes a strong imagination to see them."

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Oh, it doesn't matter if you can't see it. It's quite interesting to just appreciate the unique appearance of this mountain."

Before they knew it, it was noon and the cruise ship had docked. Their stomachs started growling, so they decided to try Guilin's delicacies. They found a local restaurant and ordered Yangshuo beer fish, Lipu taro braised pork, Guilin rice noodles and other special dishes.

When the Yangshuo beer fish was served, a strong aroma of beer and fish meat mixed with each other hit the nose. Li Xiao took a deep breath and exclaimed: "Wow, this smells so good, I know it must be delicious just by smelling it."

Zhang Yue picked up a piece of fish and tasted it. His eyes lit up immediately and he said, "Well, this fish is so tender and fresh, and it has a light beer flavor. It doesn't taste fishy at all. It's really great."

Lin Fei also tried the Guilin rice noodles and praised them while eating: "This Guilin rice noodles has a smooth texture, the taste of the brine is also very unique, plus these side dishes, it is so refreshing, no wonder it is so famous."

After eating and drinking, they found out that there was a folk performance nearby that they could watch, which was a duet of Zhuang folk songs with Guilin characteristics. When they arrived at the performance venue, they saw the Zhuang brothers and sisters on the stage wearing colorful ethnic costumes, singing one after another, crisp and pleasant. Although they did not understand the specific meaning of the lyrics, the cheerful melody and enthusiastic atmosphere infected everyone of them.

"This Zhuang folk song is so beautiful. It feels very energetic and full of strong ethnic customs." Li Xiao said with a smile, swaying his body gently to the rhythm.

Zhang Yue also agreed: "Yes, the folk culture of each place has its own unique charm. This trip of ours is really an eye-opener."

After watching the performance, they went to visit the local specialty store and bought some Guilin's three treasures - chili sauce, fermented bean curd, Sanhua wine, and exquisite Zhuang brocade products. Li Xiao took a beautiful Zhuang brocade handkerchief and said lovingly: "The pattern of this Zhuang brocade is so exquisite. I will definitely be very popular if I take it back and give it to my friends."

The whole day was spent happily with the beautiful scenery of the Li River, delicious food, folk performances and local specialties. As the sun set, they set off on the road back to their residence with full of good memories, and they were already looking forward to what unforgettable scenery they would encounter at the next stop.

After bidding farewell to the picturesque Guilin, Li Xiao, Zhang Yue and Lin Fei set out for Lijiang. The ancient city of Lijiang is a place full of romance and style, as if it has a kind of magic that makes people intoxicated. They stepped into the embrace of this ancient city with full expectations.

The moment you step into the ancient city, you will see mottled stone pavement under your feet. Time has left deep and shallow traces on it, as if telling a long story of the past. On both sides of the street are old but unique traditional Naxi buildings, with flying eaves and corners, and wooden doors and windows carved with exquisite patterns, exuding a simple and elegant atmosphere.

"Wow, this Lijiang Ancient Town feels so charming as soon as I enter. Every place exudes that ancient and mysterious atmosphere." Li Xiao exclaimed sincerely while looking around, his eyes full of novelty and love.

Zhang Yue nodded gently and said with a smile: "Yes, look at these buildings, it feels like they carry the memories of many generations, and the layout of this ancient city is also very interesting, with winding paths, it seems that there are countless surprises waiting for us to discover."

Lin Fei picked up his phone with great interest, turned on the camera mode, and said, "Then we must record it well. It's such a beautiful place, every corner is worth taking a picture of as a souvenir."

Walking slowly along the stone road, they came to Sifang Street. Sifang Street is the center of the ancient city. It was very lively at this time, with people coming and going. Naxi women dressed in traditional costumes set up various special stalls, some selling handmade silver jewelry, those silver bracelets and silver necklaces were unique in shape, shining softly in the sun; there were also stalls selling traditional Naxi handicrafts Dongba paper products, the simple paper was painted with mysterious Dongba characters and patterns, which made people want to explore.

Li Xiao walked to a small stall selling silver jewelry, picked up a silver bracelet engraved with patterns, and asked the stall owner, "Auntie, what special meaning does the pattern on this silver bracelet have?"

The stall owner smiled enthusiastically and explained: "Young man, these patterns are auspicious patterns of our Naxi people, representing good luck and happiness. They look good and auspicious when worn."

Zhang Yue, who was listening, also found it interesting, so she said, "Mom, then pick a nice one for me too. I also want to get some of this auspicious blessing."

After leaving Sifang Street, they continued to stroll along the river. The water was clear and gurgling, with small stone bridges on the river connecting the two banks. From time to time, you can see colorful fish swimming in the river, and the weeping willows on the bank swaying in the wind, contrasting with the old buildings, forming a beautiful picture of the Jiangnan water village. Although this is Lijiang, it has a different water village charm.

"It's so poetic to have a river in this ancient city. It makes this place more lively." Li Xiao said with a smile, bending down and reaching out to touch the cool river water.

Lin Fei also agreed: "Yes, walking by the river, listening to the sound of flowing water, and looking at the surrounding scenery, the whole person relaxes, it's so comfortable."

Before they knew it, it was noon and their stomachs started to growl, so they started looking for delicious food in Lijiang. They walked into a local restaurant and ordered special dishes such as Naxi grilled fish, cured pork ribs hot pot, and chicken bean jelly.

When the Naxi grilled fish was served, the aroma of the grilled fish instantly spread. Zhang Yue sniffed and said with a smile: "Oh, it smells so good. Looking at this golden grilled fish, it feels delicious."

Li Xiao picked up a piece of fish and tasted it, praising it: "Well, the fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and it has a unique spice flavor. It's really great. It turns out that grilled fish in every place has a different flavor."

After eating the Naxi grilled fish, we tried the cured pork ribs hotpot. The cured pork ribs in the pot were stewed very well, the meat was firm, and the more you chewed, the more fragrant it became. It was paired with a variety of fresh vegetables and had a unique taste. The chicken bean jelly was smooth and delicious, and paired with a special sauce, it was sour and spicy and appetizing, making people unable to stop eating.

After eating, they heard that there was a folk performance in the ancient city, which was a bonfire party of the Naxi people, so they hurried to join in the fun. When they arrived at the performance venue, they saw a blazing bonfire in the middle. Naxi men, women, old and young gathered around the fire, holding hands and happily dancing traditional dances. The three of them were also enthusiastically invited to join in and danced to the rhythm of everyone. Laughter, singing, and footsteps intertwined together, and the whole atmosphere was warm and cheerful. "Haha, this bonfire party is so interesting, it feels so energetic, and this atmosphere of everyone dancing together is great." Li Xiao said loudly while dancing, with a happy smile on his face.

Zhang Yue also responded with a smile: "Yes, this is the charm of folk culture. It allows everyone to integrate into it and forget all their worries."

After watching the performance, they went to buy some Lijiang specialties, such as Lijiang baba, spirulina products, handmade shawls, etc. Li Xiao took a colorful handmade shawl and said, "This shawl is really beautiful. I will take it back to my family. It will definitely be very warm in winter, and it also has ethnic characteristics."

A day passed quickly in this colorful trip to Lijiang Ancient Town. The ancient town's style, food, folk performances and specialties left a deep impression on them. With a full harvest, they returned to their residence, looking forward to what kind of charming scenery they would encounter at the next stop and continue their wonderful journey story.

With fond memories of the ancient city of Lijiang, Li Xiao, Zhang Yue and Lin Fei traveled to Xiamen, a city full of seaside style. Gulangyu Island was undoubtedly the highlight of their trip. Just hearing that the island was covered with old buildings of various styles and had charming island scenery was enough to make them fascinated.

The moment you step onto Gulangyu Island, you will be greeted by a fresh sea breeze, which is mixed with a hint of ocean scent, making you feel relaxed and happy. The island is shaded by green trees, and the poinciana trees on both sides of the road stretch out their branches. The umbrella-like canopy shields people from the scorching sun, casting patches of mottled light and shadow.

"Wow, the air on Gulangyu Island is so fresh. It feels like every breath can refresh me." Li Xiao opened his arms and enjoyed the pleasant sea breeze to his heart's content, with an intoxicated look on his face.

Zhang Yue also took a deep breath and said with a smile: "Yes, and the greening on this island is really well done. It is lush and green everywhere. It is very comfortable to look at. It feels like walking into a big garden."

Lin Fei couldn't wait to look at the surrounding buildings. As he looked, he said, "Look at these houses. They all have different styles. Some are Chinese, some are Western. It feels like there is a story behind each one."

They walked slowly along the winding path and saw many old villas with historical charm along the way. For example, the Bagua Building, with its unique red roof, was particularly eye-catching. The dome design was unique among all the buildings, revealing a different kind of elegance and solemnity.

Li Xiao came forward curiously, looked at the exquisite carvings on the building, and asked, "This Bagua Building looks so magnificent. What was it used for in the past?"

Zhang Yue thought for a moment and replied, "I remember it was the private residence of a wealthy businessman in the past, but it has had other uses since then. Anyway, it is very representative among the buildings on Gulangyu Island."

Lin Fei kept taking pictures and kept saying, "I have to take more pictures of such a unique building. I will organize them well when I go back and tell my friends about these beautiful views of Gulangyu Island."

As they walked, they came to Shuzhuang Garden. This garden cleverly borrowed the scenery from the sea. There were mountains and sea in the garden, as well as the exquisite pavilions, winding corridors, and small bridges and flowing water, which contrasted with the vast ocean outside the garden, creating a unique beauty.

"The design of Shuzhuang Garden is so exquisite. The sea is integrated into the garden. It feels like here I can appreciate the beauty of the garden and the grandeur of the sea. It really kills two birds with one stone." Li Xiao exclaimed, standing on the bridge, looking at the sea level in the distance, feeling particularly comfortable.

Zhang Yue also nodded in agreement and said with a smile: "Yes, this design is really unique and hard to find elsewhere. It seems that the owner who built it had a lot of ideas."

After walking around for a while, their stomachs started to growl, so they went to look for food on Gulangyu Island. They walked into a snack bar and ordered local specialties such as shacha noodles, fried oysters, and peanut soup.

When the shacha noodles were served, the rich aroma of shacha sauce instantly spread. Li Xiao looked at the tempting noodles and rich ingredients, and said with a smile: "This shacha noodles looks very filling. When I smell it, I feel my appetite is aroused immediately."

Zhang Yue took a bite and his eyes lit up. He praised, "Well, this shacha noodles has a strong flavor, the noodles are smooth, the shacha sauce is fragrant and mellow, and with these seafood, meatballs and other ingredients, it's delicious."

Lin Fei also tried the fried oysters and said, "This fried oyster is also very good, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The oysters are very fresh and have a light egg aroma. It is indeed a specialty of Gulangyu Island."

After lunch and a short rest, they heard that there was a folk performance on the island, which was the Taiwanese opera. When they arrived at the performance venue, they saw the actors on the stage wearing colorful costumes, singing in melodious voices, and showing their charm in every gesture, performing ancient and moving stories.

"This Taiwanese opera is quite nice. Even though we can't quite understand some of the lines, it's very interesting just to listen to the singing and watch the performance." Li Xiao whispered to his companions.

Zhang Yue responded: "Yes, this is the charm of folk culture. Every place has its own unique art form. We can take this opportunity to learn more about it."

After watching the performance, they wandered around some specialty stores on the island and bought some Gulangyu pies, fish skin peanuts, Kinmen tribute sugar and other specialties. Li Xiao held a box of Gulangyu pies and said with a smile: "This pie looks delicious. I'll take it back for my family to try, so that they can also feel the taste of Gulangyu."

The day was spent happily with the beautiful scenery, delicious food, folk performances and specialties of Gulangyu. As the sun set, they left Gulangyu by boat with full of good memories and returned to their residence, already looking forward to what kind of different scenery they would encounter at the next stop.