novelraw Chapter 1674
Chapter 1674
Chapter 1674
Walking into the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, it was as if they had traveled through time and space and returned to the ancient royal world. As soon as they entered the Forbidden City, they were shocked by the magnificent architecture in front of them. Walking along the central axis, they visited the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony in turn. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest and most spectacular building in the Forbidden City. It is the place where major ceremonies are held, such as the emperor's enthronement and wedding. The golden dragon throne in the hall is high above, surrounded by exquisite dragon pillars and gorgeous decorations, showing the majesty and dignity of the royal family.
Li Xiao looked up at the Hall of Supreme Harmony and couldn't help but sigh: "This Hall of Supreme Harmony is so magnificent. Imagining the scene of the ancient emperor receiving the worship of all officials here really makes people feel the supremacy of the imperial power."
Zhang Yuedong also bought some beaded handkerchiefs. "These beaded handkerchiefs are very unique. Friends will definitely like them if I give them to them."
Lin Yifei has a special liking for fish skin peanuts. He bought several bags of fish skin peanuts. "These fish skin peanuts taste very good, fragrant and crispy. I will buy some more to eat slowly."
Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, these buildings are not only masterpieces of art, but also witnesses of history. They bear witness to the rise and fall of the Ming and Qing dynasties for hundreds of years."
The Hall of Central Harmony was where the emperor rested before going to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for grand ceremonies. It was relatively small in size, but its architectural style was equally refined and elegant. The Hall of Preserving Harmony was where the emperor held palace examinations and entertained princes and nobles. The golden brick floor inside the hall was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the superb skills of ancient craftsmen.
After visiting the three main halls, they came to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Jiaotai and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, where the emperor and the empress lived. The architectural style of the inner court was more cozy and full of life. The Palace of Heavenly Purity was the palace where the emperor handled daily government affairs and lived. The furnishings in the palace were simple and solemn. The Palace of Jiaotai was where the empress received congratulations on major festivals. A plaque with the word "Wuwei" written by Emperor Kangxi was hung in the palace. The Palace of Earthly Tranquility was the empress's bedroom, which was specially decorated according to the customs of the Manchu people. The East Warm Pavilion was the bridal chamber for the emperor's wedding.
During the visit to the Forbidden City, they also met a professional tour guide. The tour guide introduced the history, architectural features and stories behind the Forbidden City in detail, allowing them to have a deeper understanding of the Forbidden City. The tour guide told them that the architectural layout of the Forbidden City strictly follows the feudal etiquette system and embodies the idea of "harmony between man and nature". The buildings on the central axis symbolize the supremacy of imperial power, while the palaces on the east and west sides were built to match the central axis, forming a complete architectural system.
"It turns out that there are so many details behind the architecture of the Forbidden City. Every brick and every tile contains profound cultural connotations." Lin Yifei said with emotion.
The tour guide smiled and said, "Yes, the Forbidden City is not only a palace, but also a vivid history textbook. It has witnessed the glory and decline of ancient Chinese feudal society and is a treasure of the Chinese nation."
In addition to architecture, the Forbidden City also houses a large number of cultural relics and artworks, such as calligraphy and painting, ceramics, jade, gold and silver wares, etc. When they walked into the exhibition hall of the Palace Museum and admired these precious cultural relics, it was as if they had traveled through time and space and had an intimate dialogue with history. Exquisite calligraphy and painting works showed the superb skills and unique artistic style of ancient artists; exquisite ceramic utensils reflected the outstanding achievements of ancient Chinese ceramic craftsmanship; and those exquisitely shaped jade and gold and silver wares all showed the luxury and wealth of the ancient royal family.
"These cultural relics are truly precious. They are the crystallization of the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese nation." Li Xiao looked at the cultural relics in the display cabinet with awe in his eyes.
Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, through these cultural relics, we can better understand the history and culture of ancient China and feel the wisdom and aesthetics of the ancients."
In the Forbidden City, they also visited the Imperial Garden. The Imperial Garden is a place for the emperor and his concubines to relax and have fun. The garden is shaded by green trees, lush flowers and plants, and pavilions and towers are scattered in an orderly manner. The scenery is very beautiful. They strolled in the Imperial Garden, admiring the surrounding beauty and feeling the unique charm of the ancient royal garden. Duixiu Mountain in the garden is an artificial rockery with a Yujing Pavilion built on the mountain. Standing on the pavilion, you can overlook the scenery of the entire Imperial Garden.
"This imperial garden is so beautiful. In ancient times, the emperor and his concubines must have enjoyed themselves admiring the flowers and taking walks here," said Lin Yifei with a smile.
Li Xiao also responded with a smile: "Yes, the scenery here makes people feel as if they are in a fairyland, far away from the hustle and bustle of the world."
After visiting the Forbidden City, it was already afternoon. The three people's stomachs began to growl, so they decided to go to Nanluoguxiang to taste the special food of BJ. Nanluoguxiang is one of the most representative hutong blocks in BJ, where a variety of traditional snacks and specialty restaurants are gathered, full of the charm of old BJ.
As soon as they walked into Nanluoguxiang, the lively atmosphere hit them. There were many shops on both sides of the street, and the aroma of various delicacies filled the air, making people salivate. They first came to a fried bean paste noodle shop, ready to taste this traditional Beijing delicacy. Fried bean paste noodles are a frequent guest on the table of Beijingers, famous for their chewy noodles, rich fried sauce, and rich side dishes. The fried bean paste noodles in this shop are fried in small bowls, with oil and sauce separated, and are salty and delicious. After the noodles are cooked, they are scooped into a bowl, and side dishes such as cucumber shreds, water radish shreds, bean sprouts, etc. are added, and then a spoonful of rich fried sauce is poured on it, and it is stirred evenly. One bite is full of the taste of old Beijing.
Li Xiao ate the noodles with soybean paste in big mouthfuls and praised them highly: "This noodles with soybean paste is so delicious. The noodles are chewy and the flavor of soybean paste is very rich. It is really satisfying."
Zhang Yuedong also ate with gusto, saying as he ate: "Yes, this is the authentic Beijing noodles with soybean paste, which is completely different from what I have eaten elsewhere."
After eating noodles with soybean paste, they went to a roast duck restaurant. Beijing roast duck is the signature delicacy of Beijing, famous for its crispy skin, tender meat, fat but not greasy. The roast duck in this restaurant is freshly roasted and sliced. The chef skillfully cuts the roast duck into thin slices and neatly arranges them on the plate. The duck meat is paired with pancakes, shredded green onions, shredded cucumbers and sweet noodle sauce. Roll it up and put it in your mouth. The tenderness of the duck meat, the crispness of the duck skin, the softness of the pancakes and the freshness of the side dishes blend together, with a rich taste that makes people have endless aftertaste.
"This roast duck is so delicious, the skin is crispy and the meat is tender, it melts in your mouth, it is indeed a specialty of BJ." Lin Yifei praised while eating the roast duck. Li Xiao also smiled and said, "Yes, the taste of this roast duck is really amazing. If you come to BJ and don't eat roast duck, it's a waste of time."
In addition to noodles with soybean paste and roast duck, they also tasted other Beijing specialties, such as douzhi, Jiaoquan, and Luzhu. Douzhi is a traditional drink in Beijing, with a unique taste, sour and sweet. You may not be used to it at first, but the more you drink, the more you will find it delicious. Jiaoquan is a fried noodle with a crispy texture. It has a unique flavor when eaten with douzhi. Luzhu is a dish that cooks ingredients such as pig intestines, lungs, and fire cakes in a marinade. It has a rich flavor and a fragrant aroma.
After tasting the delicious food, they continued to stroll in Nanluoguxiang. There are many specialty shops here, selling various handicrafts, souvenirs and cultural and creative products. They walked into a cultural and creative store, which was filled with various products related to BJ culture, such as Peking Opera masks, Rabbit God, and cultural and creative products of the Forbidden City. Peking Opera masks are a form of facial makeup for Peking Opera actors, which express the character and identity of the characters through different colors and patterns. Red represents loyalty, black symbolizes uprightness, and white represents treachery. Each color and pattern contains rich cultural connotations. They selected several exquisite Peking Opera masks and prepared to take them back as souvenirs.
Li Xiao held the Peking Opera masks and said with a smile: "These Peking Opera masks are so beautiful. Each one is lifelike. They are not only works of art, but also symbols of Peking Opera culture."
Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, Peking Opera is the quintessence of China. These masks can help us better understand Peking Opera culture."
Then, they saw some Rabbit Gods. Rabbit Gods are traditional handicrafts in Beijing. They are clay sculptures with the image of rabbits, which have strong characteristics of old Beijing. According to legend, the Jade Rabbit was sent by Chang'e to Beijing to cure the plague. After the plague was cured, it returned to the Moon Palace. Therefore, Rabbit Gods are also regarded as mascots, which have the meaning of praying for blessings and exorcising evil spirits. Nowadays, Rabbit Gods have various shapes, some riding tigers, some riding elephants, and some wearing various fashionable clothes, which are very cute. They selected several Rabbit Gods with unique shapes and prepared to give them to relatives and friends.
Lin Yifei picked up a rabbit statue, looked at it carefully, and said, "This rabbit statue is so cute. It is not only a handicraft, but also a representative of BJ's traditional culture. I believe my friends will like it."
In Nanluoguxiang, they also encountered a Peking Opera performance. Peking Opera is the quintessence of China, with unique singing, performance forms and artistic style. The actors wore gorgeous costumes and sang, recited, acted and fought on the stage. Every move showed the unique charm of Peking Opera. They were attracted by this wonderful performance, so they found a seat and sat down to enjoy it quietly. The actors' singing was beautiful and the performance was vivid, showing the charm of Peking Opera to the fullest. The audience in the audience burst into warm applause and cheers from time to time.
"This Peking Opera performance was so wonderful. It was my first time to watch Peking Opera up close. I was really impressed by its charm." Li Xiao was so fascinated by the performance that he couldn't help but sigh.
Zhang Yuedong also smiled and said: "Yes, Peking Opera is worthy of being the quintessence of China. It combines multiple art forms such as music, dance, and acrobatics, which makes people feel the profoundness of Chinese traditional culture."
After enjoying the Peking Opera performance, the sky gradually darkened. The three of them left Nanluoguxiang with a full harvest and a happy mood. This day's trip to BJ gave them a deeper understanding and love for this city. They look forward to continuing to explore more wonderful things in BJ in the coming days.
After BJ's trip, the three people's trip to China was also coming to an end. They embarked on the return journey with full luggage and more fulfilled hearts. On the train back home, the three people had mixed feelings, feeling a little reluctant to end the trip, but also feeling extremely satisfied with this unforgettable experience.
Li Xiao looked at the scenery passing by quickly outside the window and said with emotion: "This trip is really unforgettable. Every city has its own unique charm. It allowed me to see the vastness and rich culture of our motherland."
Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, Chengdu's food and Three Kingdoms culture, Guilin's landscapes and folk customs, Xiamen's literary atmosphere and Minnan culture, BJ's historical sites and traditional culture have all left a deep impression on me."
Lin Yifei also smiled and said: "And through this trip, we not only enjoyed the beautiful scenery and tasted delicious food, but also met many interesting people and gained many precious friendships."
Recalling every bit of their journey, their hearts were filled with emotion. The amazement in the scenic spots, the satisfaction in front of the food stalls, the intoxication in the folk performances, and the selection in the specialty stores have become the most precious fragments in their memories. Together, they felt the charm of the Three Kingdoms culture in the Wuhou Temple, enjoyed the picturesque landscape in the Lijiang River, experienced the slow life of literature and art in Gulangyu, and appreciated the majesty and solemnity of the royal family in the Forbidden City. These experiences not only gave them a deeper understanding of the motherland, but also deepened their friendship.
"I think the biggest gain from this trip is that it makes me love our motherland even more." Li Xiao said seriously, "I only learned about the beautiful mountains and rivers and long history of our motherland from books and TV before. This time I experienced it in person and truly realized the greatness and charm of our motherland."
Zhang Yuedong also feels the same way: "Yes, every time I go to a place, I can feel the enthusiasm and simplicity of the local people. They inherit and promote Chinese culture in their own way, which touches me deeply."
Lin Yifei smiled and said: "This trip also made me understand that there are many wonderful things in life waiting for us to discover. As long as we have a heart that loves life, we can gain endless happiness during the journey."
As the train slowly pulled into the station, their journey officially came to an end. Although they were a little tired, their faces were filled with happy smiles. This trip to China was not only a simple journey, but also a journey of spiritual baptism and growth. With full of memories and expectations for the future, they left the train station and returned to their own lives.
However, they all know that the end of this trip is not the end, but a new starting point. They look forward to the next trip, looking forward to embarking on the journey of exploring the motherland again, to discover more beautiful scenery, food and culture, and to experience the infinite possibilities of life. In the days to come, they will remember the experience and feelings of this trip in their hearts, face life with a more positive attitude, and pursue their dreams. And those bits and pieces of the journey will become the most precious wealth in their lives and accompany them throughout their lives.