novelraw Chapter 1667
Chapter 1667
Chapter 1667
Li Xiao stood in front of the mirror, carefully adjusting the shoulder straps of his backpack, his eyes gleaming with excitement, muttering, "I have to relax this time and put all the worries about work out of my mind."
He was the most careful of the three and had made a full travel guide that included everything from the special attractions in each city to the niche food. At this moment, he was carefully stuffing the guide into the outer pocket of his backpack.
Zhang Yuedong was fiddling with his camera, trying out the lens and adjusting the parameters, with a childlike smile on his face:
"My camera will be of great use. I must record all the gorgeous scenery and make this trip the most exciting one among my friends." He is a photography enthusiast. For this trip, he bought a wide-angle lens specially, hoping to take some breathtaking movies.
As for Lin Yifei, he was lying lazily on the sofa with his feet on the coffee table, scrolling through his phone, and saying from time to time: "I can't wait to try the delicacies from all over the world. I heard that the hot pot in Chengdu and the roujiamo in Xi'an are so delicious!" As the "foodie" among the three, he had already collected a bunch of food guides from all over the world on the Internet. The list of restaurants he collected was frighteningly long, and he was just waiting to check in one by one when he arrived at the local places.
Finally, everything was ready, and they dragged their suitcases, carried their backpacks, and stepped out of the house. The sun shone on them, as if they were coated with a layer of golden light. With infinite longing for an unknown journey, they strode towards the airport. In the waiting hall, people came and went, and they sat on chairs, excitedly discussing the itinerary of the first stop.
"When we get to BJ, let's go to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag-raising ceremony and feel the solemn atmosphere." Li Xiao suggested, his eyes full of longing.
Zhang Yuedong responded immediately: "Okay, okay, I'll take a picture of the whole flag-raising process, it will definitely be super shocking. After that we'll go straight to the Forbidden City to explore the stories behind those ancient palaces."
Lin Yifei smacked his lips and said, "After visiting the Forbidden City, we must try the Old Beijing Noodles with Soy Sauce. I saw several restaurants recommended online and they all have very high reviews."
When the announcement for boarding sounded, they smiled at each other and stood up to line up for boarding. The plane took off slowly, and looking at the city gradually going away outside the window, the three of them were full of expectations for this trip. A wonderful Chinese city exploration journey kicked off.
After several hours of flight, the three arrived in Kunming. After a short rest, they rushed to the Stone Forest Scenic Area. As soon as they entered the scenic area, they were instantly shocked by the scene in front of them and were speechless.
Countless stone peaks rose from the ground, piercing the sky like sharp swords, and standing like giants. They were densely packed throughout the area, making people feel as if they were in a fantasy forest made of stone.
Li Xiao's eyes widened and he exclaimed, "This is simply too spectacular! I've seen photos of the Stone Forest in books, but when I was there in person, I realized that the photos couldn't show how stunning it is."
As he spoke, he gently stroked the rough stone wall beside him, as if he wanted to feel the traces of billions of years of carving by nature.
Zhang Yuedong had already excitedly raised his camera and kept pressing the shutter, muttering to himself:
"This angle is amazing. The light hitting the rocks creates an alternation of light and dark, with a full sense of layers. The photos taken will definitely have a blockbuster feel." He squatted down and took an upward shot of the towering stone peaks to show their grandeur; then he ran away to capture the panoramic view of the stone forest, trying to capture this shocking beauty in one fell swoop.
Lin Yifei took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and quietly listened to the sound of the breeze blowing across the stone peaks, as if it was an ancient piece of music played by nature. After a long time, he opened his eyes and sighed:
"It's worth the trip to see such a magical landscape. This stone forest is like the secret garden of the earth, hiding endless surprises."
They walked along the winding path, passing between the stone peaks. In the Dashilin Scenic Area, the Lotus Peak was like a giant stone lotus blooming between heaven and earth, with layers of petals that were lifelike. Li Xiao couldn't help but exclaim: "This Lotus Peak is truly a masterpiece of nature. Nature is the best sculptor."
The water of Jianfeng Pool is crystal clear, and the surrounding stone peaks are like swords, with their reflections swaying in the water. Zhang Yuedong lay by the pool, snapping away, muttering, "This picture is so beautiful that it seems unreal. I feel like I have captured a fairyland."
As they walked, the road ahead became narrower and narrower, and the stone walls on both sides seemed to be about to squeeze in at any time. Lin Yifei quickened his pace nervously and whispered:
"If I were a little fatter, I really wouldn't be able to get through. It feels like an adventure." After finally walking out of the narrow road, a wide open scene suddenly appeared before my eyes, making me feel relaxed and happy.
Just as they were immersed in the magnificent scenery of the stone forest, a cheerful and unique sound of music came into their ears. The three followed the sound and found that a group of Sani people dressed in bright Yi costumes were performing folk shows in the open space ahead.
The dancers wore colorful clothes embroidered with exquisite patterns, and danced to the rhythmic music. The men carried a meter-long dasanxian on their backs, playing and dancing vigorously, with every move full of power; the women danced gracefully, like fluttering butterflies, with handkerchiefs flying in the air, drawing beautiful arcs.
An enthusiastic Yi uncle came up and invited them in not very fluent Mandarin: "Friends from afar, let's dance together!" The three of them gladly agreed and joined the dance team.
Li Xiao tried hard to imitate the dancers' movements. Although he was a little clumsy, he enjoyed it. He smiled and said to his companions, "This dance is so contagious. I feel like all the fatigue in my body has been swept away."
Zhang Yuedong stopped dancing from time to time and quickly captured some wonderful moments. He shouted excitedly: "I can brag about this picture for a year when I go back. It's so ethnic." Lin Yifei swayed his body to the rhythm and exchanged a few words with the Yi girl next to him from time to time to learn about the story behind the dance.
After the performance, the three were still not satisfied. They sat around and listened to the Yi elder telling the legend of the Stone Forest. The elder said in a vicissitudes and charming voice:
"A long time ago, this was a vast ocean. Later, when the sea receded, the stones slowly emerged and became the current stone forest. There is also the story of Ashima, who turned into a stone for love and forever watched over this land..." The three listened attentively, as if they had traveled through time and space to witness that legendary period. After playing for most of the day, their stomachs began to growl. The three said goodbye to their enthusiastic Yi compatriots and went to a restaurant near the scenic spot to find food. In the restaurant, waves of tempting aroma wafted out. They ordered the local signature food - Yiliang roast duck, Shilin roast tofu, and several plates of special wild vegetables.
After a while, the Yiliang roast duck was served on the table. The skin was yellow and crispy but not burnt, and it was shiny and oily. The sliced duck meat was neatly arranged on the plate, and the aroma was fragrant.
Li Xiao couldn't wait to pick up a piece and put it in his mouth. The duck meat was crispy, soft and tender, sweet and tender. He couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "This roast duck has crispy skin, tender meat and rich flavor. Compared with Beijing roast duck, it has a different flavor. It is worthy of being a classic delicacy in Yunnan."
Zhang Yuedong also took a bite and nodded in praise: "It is really delicious. The texture of the duck meat is very delicate, and paired with the unique dipping sauce, it is absolutely amazing." As he said that, he picked up another piece and devoured it.
Next, the roasted tofu was served. The square pieces of tofu were roasted until golden, sizzling with oil, and rolled in a special dipping sauce. When you put it in your mouth, it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a fragrant bean aroma.
Lin Yifei's mouth was full of oil as he ate. He said incoherently: "This fried tofu looks insignificant, but it tastes so good. I feel like I can finish a whole plate." The three of them enjoyed the food and shared their experiences of the day's trip. Laughter and joy echoed in the restaurant.
After eating and drinking, they went shopping in the shops around the scenic area, preparing to pick some specialties to take back. The shops were filled with a wide variety of goods, including exquisite copper crafts, colorful Sani embroidery, and simple folk musical instruments.
Li Xiao was attracted by a small ornament made of mottled bronze, on which was carved a lifelike scene of a stone forest.
He picked up the ornament, looked at it carefully, and said to his companion: "This bronze handicraft is so exquisite. It is perfect to use it to commemorate this trip to Shilin." Zhang Yuedong has a special liking for Sani embroidery. He couldn't put down a handkerchief embroidered with Yi totems. He said:
"The embroidery has delicate needlework and the patterns are full of ethnic characteristics. It is very meaningful to bring them back as gifts to friends." Lin Yifei picked out a few small ethnic musical instruments, such as bamboo flute and Hulusi, and said with a smile: "I will take these back and play them when I have nothing to do, and I can also recall the good times in Shilin."
The three returned with great memories of the Stone Forest and set off on their journey to the next stop. They knew that the excitement along the way had just begun.
When the night fell softly over the mountain city of Chongqing like a huge piece of black silk, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei, with expectations for the unknown, stepped into the fantasy world of Hongyadong.
As soon as they approached, the brilliant scene of lights hit their visual nerves like a heavy punch. The stacked stilt-style buildings were built on the mountain, like a brightly lit castle in the sky, or a dream castle from a fairy tale.
The orange-yellow lights cascade down like a waterfall, outlining the contours of the building. Against the backdrop of the night, it exudes a mysterious and charming atmosphere.
Li Xiao couldn't help but stop and look up, eyes full of amazement: "This is too shocking! It feels like walking into a Miyazaki Hayao animation. How can there be such a dreamy place in reality?"
His voice trembled slightly, with uncontrollable excitement. Zhang Yuedong quickly picked up the camera, constantly changing the angle, the shutter sound rang like dense raindrops: "I must take a picture of this beautiful scene, develop it and hang it on the wall when I go back, so that I can look back on it every day."
Beads of sweat oozed out of his forehead, but he was completely unaware, as he was fully immersed in the filming. Lin Yifei took a deep breath, his nose filled with the aroma of delicious food wafting from the surroundings. He smacked his lips and said with a smile: "This place looks delicious and fun. We'll have something to visit tonight."
They walked up the steps step by step into Hongya Cave. The wooden railings and simple architectural style made people feel as if they had traveled through time and space and returned to the old Bayu.
The shops along the street are full of souvenirs and handicrafts. In one shop, there are exquisite Shu embroidered handkerchiefs, with delicate needlework embroidering lifelike landscape patterns. Li Xiao picked up one, stroked it gently, and said to his companion:
"This handkerchief is so exquisite. It must be very thoughtful to bring it back as a gift to my elders." Walking further ahead, there is a shop selling miniature models of traditional Bayu architecture. Zhang Yuedong's eyes suddenly lit up. He carefully picked up a model of Hongya Cave and looked at it carefully: "The workmanship is so fine. Buying it and putting it on the desk is like bringing Hongya Cave back home."
The three of them shuttled among the crowd, feeling the unique Bayu style, and laughter echoed in every corner of Hongya Cave.
They were tired from shopping and their stomachs started to growl. At this moment, the aroma of hot pot in the air became stronger and stronger, like an invisible hand, leading them into a bustling hot pot restaurant.
The store was bustling with people, and the steam rising from the hot pot, mixed with the rich aroma of chili, peppercorns and butter, instantly ignited their appetites.
The waiter came over enthusiastically, led them to their seats, and handed them the menu. Li Xiao looked at the densely packed dishes on the menu and rubbed his hands excitedly: "We have to eat as much as we can. Tripe, duck intestines, tender beef, these are all must-orders!"
Zhang Yuedong nodded at the side: "There is also yellow throat. I heard that the yellow throat in Chongqing hot pot is particularly crispy. I must try it." Lin Yifei stared at the special snacks on the menu with shining eyes: "I must also order crispy pork. The crispy pork just out of the pot is fragrant and crispy. I'm drooling just thinking about it."
After a while, the boiling red soup base was brought to the table. The bright red oil was surging in the pot, and the chili peppers and peppercorns were tumbling up and down with the bubbles, like a hot "red sea".
The waiter skillfully put the nine-grid grid into the pot and introduced: "The middle grid has a high heat, which is used for hot-boiling ingredients such as tripe and duck intestines. The grids on the sides have a slightly lower heat, which can be used to cook more durable dishes." Li Xiao couldn't wait to pick up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of tripe, put it into the pot, and followed the local "seven ups and eight downs" method of shabu-shabu. The tripe quickly curled up in the pot and was covered with red oil.
He put the tripe into his mouth and bit it gently. The crispy and tender taste accompanied by the spicy stimulation instantly bloomed in his mouth. He couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "This tripe is too crispy, spicy and fragrant, so addictive!"
Zhang Yuedong was not to be outdone. He picked up a handful of duck intestines and put them into the pot. The duck intestines instantly changed color and curled up in the boiling soup. He quickly scooped them up, dipped them in sesame oil and mashed garlic, and put them in his mouth to chew. The smoothness of the duck intestines and the freshness of the seasoning blended perfectly. He said vaguely: