Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1747

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Let's take some pictures. It would be a shame not to take pictures of such a beautiful scenery."

So, they lined up and waited, and finally it was their turn to take pictures. They posed in various positions on the pier and asked Zhang Yuedong to help take pictures. While taking pictures, Zhang Yuedong instructed them: "Li Xiao, stand a little to the left, Lin Yifei, smile, yes, that's it, very good."

After taking photos, they continued on their way. They passed many beautiful scenic spots along the way, such as Xizhou Ancient Town and Shuanglang Ancient Town. In Xizhou Ancient Town, they saw large rice fields, with golden rice ears swaying in the breeze, like a golden ocean. The ancient Bai ethnic minority houses were scattered around the rice fields, with green tiles, white walls, flying eaves and brackets, full of quaint charm.

"These houses are so beautiful. It feels like walking into an ancient painting." Li Xiao exclaimed.

Zhang Yuedong nodded and said, "Yes, the Bai people's architectural style is very unique, integrating the characteristics of Central Plains culture and local ethnic culture."

Lin Yifei curiously walked into a house and chatted with an old Bai woman, who enthusiastically introduced the history and culture of Xizhou Ancient Town to them and invited them to taste the homemade milk fan.

Rushan is a traditional delicacy in Dali. It is made of milk and is shaped like a fan. It has a crispy texture and is sweet and delicious. Lin Yifei took a bite and praised it highly: "It's so delicious. This Rushan is fragrant and sweet, and full of milk flavor."

Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong also tried it and were full of praise for the taste of the Ru Shan. They also bought some Ru Shan to bring back for their family and friends to taste.

After leaving Xizhou Ancient Town, they continued to Shuanglang Ancient Town. Shuanglang Ancient Town is located on the northeast coast of Erhai Lake. It is a small town full of artistic atmosphere. There are many characteristic homestays, cafes and handicraft shops here, which attracts many tourists to visit.

They strolled in Shuanglang Ancient Town, admiring its beautiful scenery and unique architectural style. The roadside cafes smelled of coffee, so they walked into a cafe, ordered three cups of coffee, and sat by the window, sipping coffee while admiring the beautiful scenery of Erhai Lake.

"It's such a pleasure to drink coffee and look at the scenery in a place like this," Li Xiao said comfortably.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Yes, it feels like all the troubles have disappeared."

Lin Yifei looked at the Erhai Lake outside the window and suddenly said, "I really want to go down and play in the water."

Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong looked at each other and said with a smile, "Okay, it's still early, let's go to the Erhai Lake to play in the water."

So they came to the edge of Erhai Lake, took off their shoes and walked into the water. The water was clear and cool, and it was very comfortable. They played and frolicked in the water, as if they had returned to their childhood.

After playing for a long time, they sat on the beach to rest. At this time, the sun was gradually setting in the west, and the sky was covered with beautiful sunset glow, dyeing the entire Erhai Lake orange-red, which was beautiful beyond words.

"Wow, the sunset is so beautiful!" Lin Yifei couldn't help but exclaimed.

Li Xiao was also shocked by the beautiful scenery. He took out his camera and took a picture of this beautiful moment. He said: "This will be one of the most unforgettable pictures of my trip."

Zhang Yuedong sat quietly aside, admiring the beautiful sunset, his heart filled with awe and praise for nature.

After enjoying the sunset, their stomachs started to growl. They decided to try the special food of Dali. They went to a local restaurant and ordered a casserole fish, a piece of raw skin, a piece of rice noodle and some other side dishes.

Clay pot fish is a traditional dish of Dali. It is made of fresh fish from Erhai Lake, with tofu, ham, mushrooms and other ingredients, and stewed in a clay pot. It is delicious and nutritious. Raw skin is a special delicacy of the Bai people. Fresh pork is specially processed, cut into thin slices, and eaten with seasoning. It has a fresh and tender taste and a unique flavor.

Li Xiao picked up a piece of casserole fish, took a bite, and praised it highly: "This casserole fish is so delicious, the fish meat is tender, the soup is rich, and the taste is really amazing."

Zhang Yuedong also tried the rawhide. Although he was not used to it at first, after a few bites, he thought it tasted good and said, "This rawhide is quite unique and has a very special taste."

Lin Yifei ate the rice noodle soup with big mouthfuls, saying, "This rice noodle soup is also delicious, soft and chewy."

They also tasted other Dali delicacies, such as cold chicken rice noodles, carved plum pork, etc. They enjoyed every dish with gusto.

After dinner, they went to the street to watch the folk performance of the Bai people. The performance venue was in a square, surrounded by spectators. On the stage, actors dressed in colorful Bai costumes were performing wonderful programs.

The first performance was the Bai ethnic group's Ba Wang Whip Dance. Actors held Ba Wang whips in their hands and jumped and danced happily on the stage. The colorful silk on the whip tips flew with their movements, making crisp sounds. The whole performance was full of vitality and rhythm.

"This Overlord Whip Dance is so wonderful. Their movements are so flexible." Li Xiao exclaimed.

Next was the Bai ethnic group's three-course tea performance. The three-course tea is the traditional tea culture of the Bai ethnic group, which is divided into bitter tea, sweet tea and aftertaste tea. The actors showed the audience the production process of the three-course tea and invited the audience to taste it on stage. Li Xiao and Lin Yifei were invited to the stage to taste the three-course tea and felt the hospitality and unique tea culture of the Bai people.

"The taste of these three cups of tea is really special, bitter at first, then sweet, and with a faint aftertaste at the end." Li Xiao said after drinking the tea.

Lin Yifei also nodded in agreement: "Yes, just like life, there are bitterness and sweetness. Only after experiencing it can you have a deeper understanding."

After watching the folk performance, they went to a nearby specialty store to buy some tie-dye and other specialties to bring back to their family and friends. Tie-dye is a traditional handicraft of the Bai ethnic group, famous for its unique patterns and colors. The specialty store is filled with a variety of tie-dye products, including clothes, scarves, handkerchiefs, tablecloths, etc., each of which is exquisite.

Li Xiao chose a blue tie-dyed scarf with a blooming flower pattern on it, which was very beautiful. He said, "I'll give this scarf to my mother, she will definitely like it." Zhang Yuedong bought a tie-dyed shirt with the traditional pattern of the Bai ethnic group, full of ethnic characteristics. He said, "I will wear this shirt myself. When I go back, I will remember the good times in Dali when I wear it."

Lin Yifei walked around the store and finally picked out a few tie-dyed handkerchiefs. He said: "I will give these handkerchiefs to my friends so that they can also experience the traditional culture of the Bai people."

After buying the local specialties, they returned to the B&B with great satisfaction. Today's trip to Dali allowed them to experience the beautiful scenery of Erhai Lake, the traditional culture of the Bai people and the unique food, and also gave them a deeper understanding and love for this city. They are looking forward to tomorrow's journey, wondering what kind of surprises will be waiting for them.

After spending a leisurely and wonderful time in Dali, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei set off for Lijiang with great anticipation. They took a car and drove along the winding mountain road. The scenery outside the window gradually changed from the sparkling Erhai Lake to the rolling green mountains and dense forests. Along the way, the three excitedly discussed the beautiful scenery and delicious food in Lijiang, and were full of anticipation for the upcoming journey.

"I heard that Lijiang Ancient Town has a history of more than 800 years, and the buildings inside are very unique." Li Xiao said as he looked at the guide on his mobile phone.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, and there is also the Mu Mansion, which is the residence of the Mu chieftain of Lijiang. The building is very magnificent. It is said that Xu Xiake praised it as "a palace as beautiful as that of an emperor."

Lin Yifei said with anticipation: "I also heard that the food in Lijiang is very good, such as Lijiang Baba and cured pork ribs. I am drooling just by hearing the names."

After several hours of driving, they finally arrived in Lijiang. As soon as they got off the car, they were attracted by the unique atmosphere of Lijiang. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers and soil, and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance was shining silver under the sunlight, like a beautiful painting.

They took a taxi to the inn they had booked near Lijiang Ancient Town. The inn was a typical Naxi building, with green tiles, white walls, flying eaves and brackets. The yard was full of various flowers and a small pond with a few goldfish swimming freely among the lotus leaves.

After Li Xiao completed the check-in formalities and got the room card, he said to everyone, "Our room is on the third floor, and we can see part of the ancient city."

The three of them came to the room, put down their luggage, and then went to the balcony. As expected, the ancient city was in full view, with crisscrossing stone roads, ancient buildings on both sides, and the sunlight shining on the green tiles, as if bringing them back to ancient times.

"It's so beautiful! This is the ancient town of Lijiang, it's even more beautiful than I imagined." Lin Yifei couldn't help but exclaim.

Zhang Yuedong also took out his camera and kept taking pictures, saying, "I want to take pictures of all these beautiful views and enjoy them slowly later."

Li Xiao closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. He said, "Being here really makes people forget all their worries and feel very relaxed."

After a short rest, they decided to go for a stroll in the ancient city. They walked into the ancient city along the stone road, as if they had walked into an ancient world. Most of the buildings in the ancient city are wooden structures, adopting the traditional Naxi layout of "three squares, one screen wall, four courtyards and five patios", which is both beautiful and practical. The paintings and carvings on the walls are exquisite, showing the wisdom and artistic talent of the Naxi people.

"Look, the carvings on these buildings are so exquisite, every detail is lifelike." Li Xiao said, pointing to the doors and windows of a building.

Zhang Yuedong looked at it carefully and nodded, saying, "Yes, these carvings not only reflect the traditional culture of the Naxi people, but also integrate the artistic styles of the Han and Tibetan peoples. They are really amazing."

Lin Yifei walked into a courtyard curiously and chatted with an old lady who was basking in the sun. The old lady enthusiastically introduced the history and culture of the ancient city to them and invited them to taste the homemade butter tea.

Butter tea is a traditional drink of the Naxi people. It is made from tea leaves, butter, salt and other ingredients. It has a strong flavor and high nutritional value. Lin Yifei took a sip. Although he was not used to it at first, he found it tasted good after a few sips. He said, "This butter tea is quite unique. After drinking it, I feel warm all over."

Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong also tried it and praised the taste of the butter tea. They also bought some butter tea to bring back for their family and friends to taste.

After leaving the old lady's yard, they continued to stroll in the ancient city. Along the way, they saw many special shops, some selling ethnic costumes, some selling handicrafts, and some selling special snacks. They walked into a handicraft shop, which was filled with various wood carvings, silver jewelry, Dongba paper and other handicrafts, each of which was exquisite and irresistible.

Li Xiao picked out an exquisite wood carving with a lifelike phoenix on it. He said, "I'll give this to my sister. She will definitely like it."

Zhang Yuedong bought a pair of silver bracelets, which were engraved with traditional Naxi patterns and were very beautiful. He said: "I gave this pair of bracelets to my girlfriend, who has always wanted a pair of silver bracelets."

Lin Yifei walked around the store and finally picked out a notebook made of Dongba paper. He said, "I will keep this notebook for myself. I can use it to write a diary and record my travel experiences in the future."

After buying handicrafts, they came to the Mu Mansion. Located in the south of the ancient city, the Mu Mansion was the residence of the Mu chieftains of Lijiang for generations. The architecture of the Mu Mansion is magnificent, integrating the architectural style of the Central Plains of the Ming Dynasty with the craftsmanship of the Bai and Naxi peoples, and is exquisite.

When they walked into the Mu Mansion, the first thing that caught their eyes was a tall wooden memorial archway with four characters "天雨流芳" written on it. "天雨流芳" is the homonym of "去学吧" in Naxi language, which reflects the wisdom of Naxi people who value knowledge and education.

"This archway is so beautiful, and the words on it are very meaningful." Li Xiao exclaimed.

Zhang Yuedong nodded and said, "Yes, the Naxi people attach great importance to cultural education, which can be seen from this archway."

They continued to walk inside and came to the meeting hall. The meeting hall was where the Mu chieftains of Lijiang discussed politics. It was dignified and magnificent. There was a huge mahogany table in the hall, surrounded by rows of chairs, as if people could feel the scene of the chieftains discussing matters in the past.

"Just imagine, the chieftains discussed the important affairs of Lijiang here back then. It must have been very majestic," said Lin Yifei.

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Of course, but they also shoulder a great responsibility. It's not easy to manage a place as big as Lijiang."

Then, they visited Wanjuan Tower, Dharma Protector Hall, Guangbi Tower, Yuyin Tower, Sanqing Hall, etc. Each building has a unique style and historical background, which opened their eyes.