Coach: Coaching the Grizzlies at the beginning, playing the bantam

As the plane slowly landed at Luoyang North Suburb Airport, Lu Yong and his girlfriend Hannah's trip to Xi'an came to a successful conclusion, and a new journey quietly began in Luoyang, known as the "Millennium Imperial Capital".

The sunlight shone through the porthole onto their faces, bringing with it a hint of early autumn warmth, and also indicating that the upcoming journey would be full of infinite possibilities.

"Finally arrived in Luoyang!" Lu Yong stretched his arms, his eyes flashing with a desire to explore the unknown.

Hannah held his hand tightly, her eyes full of anticipation: "Yes, I've heard that Luoyang has a profound historical and cultural heritage. This time I can finally see it with my own eyes."

The two of them walked out of the airport dragging their suitcases, and a scent belonging to the Central Plains blew in their faces, a unique charm that mixed the ancient and the modern, the quiet and the noisy.

They took the airport bus straight to the city center. The scenery along the way was like a flowing painting, which made Hannah take out her mobile phone and take pictures all the way.

It was already afternoon when we arrived at the booked hotel.

The hotel is located in the city center with convenient transportation and antique decoration style, which complements the temperament of the city of Luoyang.

Lu Yong and Hannah quickly completed the check-in procedures and after putting their luggage away, they smiled at each other, and their desire for delicious food was instantly ignited.

"Yong, you said that to judge whether a place is attractive, we should first look at its special snacks, right?" Hannah blinked and asked mischievously.

Lu Yong smiled and nodded: "That's right, the food of a place often hides its soul. Let's go to the snack street and start our food tour in Luoyang!"

The two of them strolled along a busy snack street near the hotel. There were shops lining both sides of the street, the air was filled with aromas, and the sound of people was bustling.

The first thing that catches your eye is a time-honored Luoyang beef soup restaurant. The mottled marks on the sign tell of its long history.

"Two bowls of beef soup!" Lu Yong shouted without hesitation.

They found a place to sit down, and soon, two bowls of steaming beef soup were brought up.

The soup is clear but mellow, the beef slices are as thin as cicada wings, and paired with green chopped green onions and coriander, it really whets your appetite.

Hannah blew gently, took a sip, and her eyes lit up immediately: "Wow, this soup is so delicious! The beef is so tender!"

Lu Yong smiled and nodded: "Luoyang beef soup is all about the word 'fresh'. This soup base is made from beef bones that have been boiled for a long time, and with the addition of secret seasonings, the taste is naturally extraordinary."

The two of them ate and chatted, enjoying this simple yet sincere happiness.

After eating the beef soup, they continued to explore the snack street.

Not far away, the aroma from a Luoyang roast chicken restaurant attracted their attention.

Lu Yong knew that Luoyang roast chicken was one of the specialties here, so how could he miss it?

"Boss, give me a Luoyang roast chicken!" he shouted.

While waiting, Lu Yong told Hannah the history of Luoyang roast chicken: "The production process of Luoyang roast chicken is complicated. It must be marinated first, then fried, and finally stewed. Each step requires careful attention to the heat and seasoning, so that the skin is crispy, the meat is tender, and the taste is fragrant but not greasy."

As we were talking, the roast chicken was already on the table.

The golden skin has an attractive luster. Gently tear the chicken off the bones and the aroma is fragrant.

Hannah took a bite and praised it highly: "The chicken is so tender and tastes so good!"

The two of them ate with relish, enjoying this delicious gift from the thousand-year-old imperial capital.

After eating the roast chicken, they did not stop exploring, but continued to look for the next target in the snack street.

At this time, a pot sticker shop attracted their attention.

"Pot stickers are one of Luoyang's specialty snacks, we have to try it!" Lu Yong pulled Hannah in.

The pot stickers in the store are made to order, and each pot exudes an enticing aroma.

While waiting, Lu Yong and Hannah talked about their respective impressions and expectations of Luoyang.

Hannah said: "I have always felt that Luoyang is a very mysterious place with so many historical stories and cultural heritage. I am really happy to be here this time."

Lu Yong smiled and responded: "Yes, Luoyang not only has a long history, but also has so many delicious foods. I think that what makes a place memorable, besides its scenery, is the food that touches the taste buds."

The pot stickers were finally served. They were golden in color, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Every bite was filled with the delicious filling and the crispy aroma of the pot stickers.

The two of them ate with gusto, smiling at each other from time to time, enjoying this simple and pure happiness.

After eating the pot stickers, the two were already a little full, but Lu Yong suggested: "There is also a special snack in Luoyang called Bufan Tang. Let's go and try it!"

Although Hannah was a little overwhelmed, she readily agreed when she heard Lu Yong say that.

They came to a no-frills soup restaurant and ordered some to try.

The uniqueness of Bufan Soup lies in its rich but not greasy soup base, rich and varied ingredients, distinct taste and unique flavor.

"This soup has an interesting name and tastes good," Hannah said as she drank it.

Lu Yong smiled and explained: "The reason why it is called this is because you don't need to turn the bowl over when drinking soup. This is also the life attitude of Luoyang people, simple and direct, without beating around the bush."

The two of them drank the soup without stirring it, and were completely full.

But there were still so many delicious foods waiting for them to explore on the snack street, so they decided to continue strolling around and digesting the food.

As they walked, they came to a Luoyang noodle restaurant.

"Braised noodles are one of Henan's specialty noodles, we must try it!" Lu Yong suggested again.

Although Hannah was a little hesitant, she nodded when she saw Lu Yong's expectant eyes.

They ordered a bowl of stewed noodles and sat in the store waiting.

After a while, a bowl of steaming hot noodles was served.

The noodles are chewy and smooth, the soup is rich and delicious, and the combination with various ingredients makes people want to feast on it.

"This stewed noodles is so delicious!" Hannah exclaimed as she ate.

Lu Yong smiled and said: "Yes, Luoyang's stewed noodles are famous. The noodles are hand-pulled and very chewy. The soup is also made from a variety of ingredients, so it tastes naturally delicious."

After finishing the stewed noodles, the two were completely unable to walk.

They decided to stroll around the snack street to digest their food.

At this moment, a unique fragrance attracted their attention.

They followed the smell and found a stall selling Hu La Tang.

"Hu La Tang is also one of the special snacks in Henan Province. Let's try it!" Lu Yong suggested again.

Although Hannah was a little overwhelmed, she couldn't help but nodded when she saw Lu Yong's enthusiastic look.

They ordered a bowl of spicy soup and sat at the stall waiting.

After a while, a bowl of steaming hot and tempting Huo La Tang was served.

The aroma of spicy soup filled their noses, and Lu Yong and Hannah couldn't help but sniff. They picked up the spoon and tasted it, and were instantly conquered by the rich taste.

The taste of Hu La Tang is rich and varied: spicy, numb, and fragrant. The various flavors are intertwined together, making people unable to stop.

"This spicy soup is so delicious!" Hannah couldn't help but exclaim.

Lu Yong smiled and said: "Yes, the charm of Hu La Tang lies in its rich flavors. Every bite can bring you different surprises. Moreover, drinking Hu La Tang can warm your body and drive away the cold."

The two drank and chatted, enjoying the warmth and beauty from Luoyang.

Before I knew it, the sky had gradually darkened.

The lights on the snack street gradually light up, adding a touch of modern flavor to this ancient city.

Lu Yong and Hannah looked at each other and smiled, their hearts filled with satisfaction and happiness.

"I ate so much today!" Hannah said with a smile, touching her round belly.

Lu Yong held her hand and said gently, "Yes, Luoyang's food is indeed well-deserved. However, this is just the beginning. We still have to visit Luoyang's attractions tomorrow!"

Hannah nodded, her eyes shining with anticipation for tomorrow.

The two walked hand in hand on the snack street, feeling the warmth and rhythm of the city.

They knew that this trip to Luoyang would be an unforgettable experience, and this experience would become one of the most beautiful memories of their love.

When we got back to the hotel, it was already past nine o'clock in the evening.

After Lu Yong and Hannah finished washing up, they lay on the bed and chatted.

They reviewed today's food journey and shared their feelings and gains with each other.

Hannah said: "Yong, I think Luoyang is really a magical place. It has a profound historical and cultural heritage, and there are so many delicious special snacks."

Lu Yong held her hand tightly and said affectionately: "Me too. Moreover, I feel most fortunate to have left wonderful memories here with you. No matter where we go in the future, these memories will become the most precious treasure in our hearts."

When Hannah heard this, her eyes sparkled with emotion.

She snuggled tightly in Lu Yong's arms, feeling the warmth and happiness from the bottom of her heart.

She knew that no matter how the future changed, they would go through every spring, summer, autumn and winter hand in hand and heart to heart like they do now.

As the night deepened, Lu Yong and Hannah slowly fell asleep.

They dreamed of strolling on Luoyang’s snack street again, tasting all kinds of delicious snacks; they dreamed of standing on the ancient city wall, overlooking the magnificent scenery of this thousand-year-old imperial capital; they dreamed of walking hand in hand in the long river of history, feeling the happiness and beauty that belonged to them...

And tomorrow, when the first ray of sunshine shines on this ancient city, they will embark on a journey of exploration again to discover more beauty and wonders of Luoyang.

The first ray of sunlight in the early morning shone through the gap in the curtains, gently waking up Lu Yong and Hannah who were sleeping.

The two opened their eyes, their eyes shining with anticipation for a new day.

They quickly got up, washed, changed into clean and comfortable clothes, and prepared to start their journey to Luoyang.

"Yong, where is our first stop today?" Hannah asked while fixing her hair.

Lu Yong smiled and replied: "Of course it's the Longmen Grottoes! I've wanted to come to this place for a long time. Just imagine those ancient Buddha statues, stone carvings, and the heavy sense of history. It's exciting just to think about it."

Hannah nodded, her eyes full of anticipation: "Yes, I also heard that the Longmen Grottoes are very spectacular. Let's set off quickly!"

The two walked out of the hotel hand in hand, facing the early autumn breeze, and set out on the journey to Longmen Grottoes.

Along the way, they chatted and shared their impressions and expectations of the city of Luoyang.

Before we knew it, the Longmen Grottoes came into view.

Standing at the foot of the Longmen Grottoes, Lu Yong and Hannah looked up and saw towering grottoes built against the mountain, which were magnificent.

The sunlight shines on the grottoes, as if covering these ancient works of art with a golden coat.

"Wow, this is so shocking!" Hannah couldn't help but exclaim.

Lu Yong also nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement: "Yes, this is more spectacular than I imagined. Let's go in and take a look."

The two bought tickets to enter the Longmen Grottoes scenic area, and the first thing that caught their eyes was the Xishan Grottoes.

There are many Buddha statues, some sitting and some standing, in various shapes and all look lifelike.

Some Buddha statues have kind eyes and a sweet smile; others are majestic and solemn, with an imposing aura.

"Yong, look at this Buddha statue. Its expression is so vivid!" Hannah said, pointing to a Buddha statue.

Lu Yong observed carefully and nodded: "Yes, these Buddha statues were carved by ancient craftsmen one by one, and each cut contains their hard work and sweat. These Buddha statues not only have extremely high artistic value, but also witness history."

The two walked and looked around, stopping from time to time to take photos.

They shuttled between caves, as if they were in a mysterious world.

The Buddha statues seemed alive, telling them stories of the past.

"Hannah, did you know that Longmen Grottoes is China's largest and most extensive stone carving art treasure house?" Lu Yong introduced Hannah as they walked. "There are not only the West Hill Grottoes, but also the East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple and Baiyuan. Each place has its own unique charm and story."

Hannah listened with great interest and nodded in agreement from time to time.

She held Lu Yong's hand and said excitedly, "Let's go to the Dongshan Grottoes! I want to see how the Buddha statues there are different from those in the Xishan Grottoes."

The two came to the Dongshan Grottoes, where they saw that the Buddha statues were equally exquisite.

Unlike the Xishan Grottoes, the Buddha statues in the Dongshan Grottoes pay more attention to details and emotional expression.

Each Buddha statue seems to have its own soul and story, which makes people moved.

"Yong, look at the eyes of this Buddha statue, it seems to be looking at us!" Hannah said, pointing to a Buddha statue.

Lu Yong looked carefully and found that it was indeed the case.

The eyes of the Buddha statue seemed to be able to see into people's hearts, making people feel inexplicably shocked.

He exclaimed: "These Buddha statues are so amazing! They not only have artistic value, but also contain a mysterious power."

The two lingered in the Dongshan Grottoes, stopping from time to time to take pictures, observe and discuss.

They were deeply attracted by the artistic charm and historical heritage of these Buddha statues, as if they were in an ancient and mysterious world.

"Hannah, let's go to Xiangshan Temple!" Lu Yong suggested. "Xiangshan Temple is an important part of Longmen Grottoes and also a historical and cultural site. I think there must be a lot of places worth exploring there."

Hannah readily agreed, and the two walked hand in hand towards Xiangshan Temple. (End of this chapter)