novelraw Chapter 1675
Chapter 1675
Chapter 1675
Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei were originally friends with completely different life trajectories. Li Xiao was a busy office worker, working hard for his dream in the cubicle of an office building every day; Zhang Yuedong was a freelance photographer, capturing the beauty of the world with his lens;
Lin Yifei is a vibrant college student who is full of curiosity and desire to explore the world. During a chance meeting, they talked about their desire to travel, and they hit it off and decided to embark on a trip to China to experience the local customs and practices of various parts of the motherland.
They came from different cities and came to BJ to meet with great anticipation. When Li Xiao walked out of BJ Daxing International Airport, he took a deep breath of BJ air and said excitedly: "I finally came to BJ, a city full of historical charm and modern atmosphere. Just thinking about it makes me excited!"
Zhang Yuedong was carrying his camera equipment, his eyes sparkling with excitement, and he smiled and responded, "Yes, I must use the camera to record every wonderful moment this time." Lin Yifei was like a happy little deer, jumping and saying, "BJ, here I come, delicious food and fun things, all waiting for me!"
As soon as they arrived in BJ, they were attracted by the unique atmosphere of the city. High-rise buildings and ancient alleys interweave with each other, modern transportation and traditional human-powered tricycles run side by side on the streets, and the shops on the street have both internationally renowned brands and traditional handicraft shops full of the charm of old BJ. This unique scene of the fusion of ancient and modern times makes them full of expectations for the next journey.
The next morning, the three of them arrived at the Palace Museum. Standing in front of the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, the tall and majestic red city gate and the golden door nails on the vermilion gate gleamed with light, making them marvel at the grandeur of ancient architecture. Li Xiao looked up at the Meridian Gate and said with emotion:
"This is where the ancient emperors came in and out. It feels like history has suddenly come alive." Zhang Yuedong quickly raised his camera and recorded this shocking moment with a "click". He said: "This scene is so historical, I must take a picture of it."
Entering the Forbidden City, they seemed to have traveled through time and space and returned to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. They were amazed by the grandeur of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The golden glazed tiles sparkled in the sun. The huge golden dragon columns and exquisite caissons in the hall all demonstrated the majesty and luxury of the royal family. The tour guide enthusiastically introduced:
"The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest hall in the Forbidden City. It is also where the emperor holds important court ceremonies. Important ceremonies such as coronation, wedding, and enthronement of the empress are all held here." Lin Yifei looked around curiously and asked, "Wouldn't the emperor feel a sense of accomplishment sitting on it?" This made the surrounding tourists laugh.
They continued walking and came to the Zhonghe Hall. This small and exquisite palace was where the emperor rested and received worship before attending important ceremonies. The decorations inside the hall were equally exquisite, especially the twelve ridge beasts arranged on the four corners, which were of different shapes and lifelike. Li Xiao carefully observed the ridge beasts and said:
"These ridge beasts are not only beautiful, but they must have some special meanings." The tour guide explained with a smile: "These ridge beasts do have special meanings. They represent good luck and ward off evil spirits. Different numbers and arrangement orders also have different meanings."
Afterwards, they visited the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and other palaces. In the Imperial Garden, ancient trees are lush and green, strange-shaped rockeries are scattered in an orderly manner, and there are winding paths and clear ponds. Zhang Yuedong took photos while walking, not missing any beautiful corner. Lin Yifei excitedly shuttled among the flowers and said:
"This place is simply like a paradise. I can't imagine what kind of leisurely life the ancient emperors and concubines led here." Li Xiao quietly appreciated the surrounding scenery and felt the sedimentation of history.
During the visit, they also met a group of foreign tourists. The foreign tourists were also curious about the architecture and history of the Forbidden City and kept asking questions to the tour guide. One of the foreign friends asked in not very fluent Chinese: "Why are the buildings here so beautiful and so imposing?" Li Xiao took the initiative to introduce them in English:
"The Forbidden City is the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It embodies the wisdom and efforts of countless craftsmen and represents the highest level of ancient Chinese architectural art." After hearing this, the foreign friend nodded repeatedly, gave a thumbs up and praised: "China, amazing!"
After coming out of the Forbidden City, the three were already hungry, so they decided to try authentic Beijing roast duck. They came to a time-honored roast duck restaurant, which was decorated in an antique style and full of the charm of old BJ. The waiter came up to them warmly, arranged seats for them, and introduced the characteristics and eating methods of roast duck.
After a while, a roast duck with a reddish color, shiny and crispy was pushed up. The chef skillfully sliced the roast duck into thin slices, each slice was evenly sized, and the skin and meat were perfectly combined. Li Xiao looked at the roast duck on the table, swallowed his saliva, and said:
"This roast duck looks so tempting, I can't wait to eat it." Zhang Yuedong also said with a smile: "This is BJ's signature delicacy, I must try it today."
Following the waiter's instructions, they picked up a thin lotus leaf pancake, put a few slices of roast duck on it, added scallion, cucumber and sweet noodle sauce, then rolled it up and put it in their mouths. The roast duck had a crispy and delicious skin, tender and juicy meat, and was paired with the spicy,
The refreshing cucumber shreds and the sweetness of the sweet noodle sauce have rich taste layers, which makes people have endless aftertaste. Lin Yifei ate with his mouth full of oil, and kept praising: "It's so delicious, this is the best roast duck I have ever eaten, it's simply the delicacy of the world!" Li Xiao also nodded in agreement: "This taste is really amazing, no wonder Beijing roast duck is so famous."
While tasting the roast duck, they also ordered some other Beijing specialties, such as bean juice fried dough sticks and donkey rolls. Although the taste of bean juice was a bit unique, Lin Yifei was a little uncomfortable at first, but with the encouragement of Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong,
He still plucked up the courage to taste a few mouthfuls, and gradually he also realized the charm of it. Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "This bean juice is like the culture of BJ. You need to savor it slowly to discover its unique charm."
In the evening, the three of them came to a theater to watch a Peking Opera performance. Peking Opera is the quintessence of China, and they have long wanted to appreciate the charm of this traditional art. When they walked into the theater, the antique stage setting and the exquisite costumes and props made them feel the strong artistic atmosphere.
The performance began. As soon as the actors appeared on stage, they attracted the attention of the audience with their superb skills and unique performance style. Their singing was beautiful and melodious, sometimes passionate and high-pitched, sometimes gentle and melodious, and every note seemed to carry the charm of history.
The actors' movements are also very particular, and each move has been carefully designed, showing elegance and grandeur in every gesture.
Lin Yifei was deeply attracted by the wonderful performances of the actors. He stared at the stage without blinking and exclaimed from time to time: "This Peking Opera is so beautiful. The actors' skills are really amazing. The costumes and makeup are so beautiful." Li Xiao also watched with great interest and said:
"Beijing opera is not only a performing art, but also a manifestation of traditional Chinese culture. It contains many elements such as literature, music, dance, and fine arts. It is really profound."
During the performance, they watched the classic play "Farewell My Concubine". The actor who played Xiang Yu vividly interpreted the heroism and tragic end of the king through passionate singing and tragic performance. The actor who played Yu Ji showed her deep affection and helplessness for Xiang Yu with her graceful dance and delicate emotions. Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but sigh: "These actors are so amazing. They use their performances to make us feel the weight of history and the emotions of the characters."
After the performance, the audience burst into warm applause. The three of them also stood up and applauded the actors for their wonderful performance. They walked out of the theater, still immersed in the charm of Peking Opera, and discussed the performance all the way.
On the last day in BJ, the three of them came to Wangfujing Pedestrian Street, ready to buy some BJ specialties to bring back to their relatives and friends. The pedestrian street was bustling with all kinds of shops and specialty shops lined up next to each other.
They first came to a Forbidden City cultural and creative store, where the cultural and creative products are inspired by the cultural relics and architecture of the Forbidden City, with exquisite designs and creativity. There are exquisite Forbidden City calendars, small Forbidden City architectural models, stationery and accessories printed with Forbidden City elements, etc. Li Xiao picked out a few Forbidden City calendars and said, "This calendar not only allows you to check the date, but also allows you to understand the history and culture of the Forbidden City. It is very meaningful to give it to a friend." Zhang Yuedong bought some Forbidden City architectural models and planned to put them in his studio when he returned.
Then, they came to Daoxiangcun Bakery, which was filled with various traditional Chinese cakes, such as Daoxiangcun's signature products, ox tongue biscuits, green bean cakes, and self-made red cakes, which smelled delicious.
Lin Yifei looked at the cabinet full of cakes and said excitedly, "These cakes look delicious. I'm going to buy some more and bring them back for my family to try." They selected cakes of various flavors, packed them into gift boxes, and prepared to take them back to share with relatives and friends.
Finally, they bought some Erguotou liquor. Erguotou is a traditional liquor in BJ, with a mellow taste and rich aroma. Li Xiao said: "This Erguotou is a specialty of BJ. I will bring it back for my dad to drink. He will definitely like it."
After buying local specialties, the three ended their pleasant trip to BJ with a lot of harvest. With good memories of BJ and expectations for the next stop, they embarked on a new journey, ready to explore the charm of more Chinese cities.
Bidding farewell to BJ, which is full of historical charm and modern atmosphere, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei set off for Chengdu with anticipation for the next stop. The plane slowly landed at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The moment they walked out of the airport, a unique leisurely atmosphere hit them. In stark contrast to the fast pace of BJ, the streets and alleys of Chengdu are filled with a sense of comfort and leisure.
The teahouses on the street are filled with people drinking tea, chatting, and playing mahjong, with relaxed smiles on their faces, as if time has slowed down here.
Li Xiao took a deep breath and said with emotion: "The feeling in Chengdu is completely different from BJ. I feel relaxed all of a sudden." Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the pace of life here is so slow, it feels very comfortable." Lin Yifei looked around excitedly and said: "I can't wait to explore the delicious food and beautiful scenery in Chengdu!"
On the first day in Chengdu, they came to Wuhou Temple, which is located in Wuhou District, Chengdu City. It is the only temple in China that worships both the emperor and his ministers. It is also a temple that commemorates Zhuge Liang and other heroes of Shu Han, and carries a profound Three Kingdoms culture.
As soon as they arrived at the gate of Wuhou Temple, the simple and solemn architectural style attracted their attention. The vermilion gate was inlaid with rows of golden door nails, which looked particularly majestic. The three big characters "Wuhou Temple" were hung high on the lintel, which looked vigorous and powerful. The stone lions at the gate were majestic, as if they were guarding this sacred land.
Walking into the Wuhou Temple, it feels like traveling through time and space, back to the Three Kingdoms era when heroes emerged in large numbers. The temple is full of towering ancient trees, shady green trees, and quiet and peaceful.
They first came to the Liu Bei Hall, where a statue of Liu Bei was enshrined. He sat on the throne with a dignified look and deep eyes, as if he was overlooking the world. The statues of civil officials and military generals on both sides were lifelike, some holding books and some holding weapons, as if they were waiting for the master's orders at any time.
Li Xiao looked at these statues and couldn't help but sigh: "Liu Bei's rise in troubled times and the establishment of the Shu Han regime were inseparable from the assistance of these civil officials and military generals." Zhang Yuedong also nodded and said:
"Yes, Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, etc., are all heroes, and their stories have been passed down through the ages." Lin Yifei asked curiously: "Where is Zhuge Liang's temple? I really want to see his statue."
Continuing along the central axis, they arrived at the Zhuge Liang Hall. The statue of Zhuge Liang sat in the hall, wearing a feather fan and a long scarf, looking calm and confident, showing wisdom and composure. His eyes revealed a kind of firmness and confidence, as if he could see through everything. The plaques and couplets in the hall were full of praises for Zhuge Liang, such as "Devote all my life to the cause until my death", which highly summarized his life.
During the visit, they also met a senior Three Kingdoms fan, who enthusiastically explained the history of Wuhou Temple and the Three Kingdoms story to everyone. He pointed to the inscriptions in the temple and said:
"These inscriptions are precious historical relics. They record historical events and deeds of figures from the Three Kingdoms period. They are of great value for studying the history of the Three Kingdoms." Li Xiao and others listened with great interest, raised questions from time to time, and communicated and discussed with him.
After leaving the Wuhou Temple, the three were still immersed in the atmosphere of the Three Kingdoms culture. They sat on a bench outside the temple and discussed their views on the characters and history of the Three Kingdoms. Li Xiao said: "Zhuge Liang is really amazing. His wisdom and loyalty are admirable. In order to realize Liu Bei's last wish, he went to Qishan six times and conquered the Central Plains in the north. Although he failed in the end, his spirit is always worth learning from."
Zhang Yuedong also agreed: "Yes, Guan Yu's