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Chapter 13

The sun shone through the window on Li Xiao's face. He squinted his eyes and looked through the travel guide on his phone. His heart was full of expectations for the journey that was about to begin. "Zhang Yuedong, Lin Yifei, we must see all the great rivers and mountains of China this time!" Li Xiao shouted excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong put down the book in his hand and responded with a smile: "That's for sure, I can't wait to set off."

Lin Yifei was tidying up his luggage and muttering: "I brought my camera and power bank with me. I must take a lot of good photos this time."

The three of them are college classmates. After graduation, they are busy with work, but their love for travel has never faded. An accidental gathering made them decide to take a trip to China, explore those cities that they have never set foot in and experience the customs and customs of different regions.

On the night before departure, they gathered at Li Xiao's house and discussed the itinerary again. "Let's go to Xi'an for the first stop. The ancient capital of the Thirteenth Dynasty has a profound historical and cultural heritage, including Terracotta Warriors, ancient city walls, and various delicacies." Li Xiao said while pointing to the map.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Okay, I have long wanted to try the authentic Roujiamo and mutton soy steamed buns. I heard that the Huimin Street in Xi'an has a wide range of delicious food, and I can drool just by thinking about it."

Lin Yifei also became interested: "And there are many folk performances in Xi'an, such as the old Huayin accent, which is particularly shocking. You must go to the scene to experience it."

The more they chat, the more excited they are, and they are full of fantasy about the upcoming journey. Thinking about the beautiful scenery they are about to see, the delicious food they are tasted, and the folk culture they are experiencing, the excitement and curiosity in their hearts become stronger.

Early the next morning, they dragged their suitcases to the airport. In the waiting hall, people were coming and going, full of travel. Li Xiao looked at the plane outside the window and sighed: "We are finally going to start our adventure, I can't believe it."

Zhang Yuedong patted his shoulder: "Don't be moved, hurry up and buy a cup of coffee to refresh yourself, there's something to do next."

Lin Yifei was busy taking photos and recording the moment of departure. "When I get old in the future, it will definitely make sense to look at these photos." He said with a smile.

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With the announcement of boarding on the radio, the three of them stood up and walked towards the boarding gate with light steps. Their hearts were full of expectations for an unknown journey. They knew that this would be an unforgettable trip and would leave a deep mark in their lives.

After several hours of flight, they finally arrived at BJ. As soon as they got off the plane, Li Xiao took a deep breath and said excitedly: "BJ, we are here! This city full of historical charm must have many surprises waiting for us."

Zhang Yuedong responded with a smile: "Yes, I can't wait to go to the Forbidden City to see it. It was the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, carrying hundreds of years of history."

Lin Yifei was busy taking photos, saying while taking photos: "Everything here feels very story-provoking. I want to take more photos and slowly reminisce about it when I go back."

They took the subway to the Palace Museum. Standing in front of the Meridian Gate of the Palace Museum, Li Xiao was shocked by the magnificent building in front of him. The vermilion gate and golden door nails looked particularly solemn under the sunlight. "This is the Palace Museum. It is truly one of the largest palace complexes in the world. It is so spectacular!" Li Xiao sighed.

Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but exclaim: "Yes, these red walls and yellow tiles, flying eaves and corners, and every detail shows the majesty and luxury of ancient royals."

They walked into the Forbidden City with the crowd, and the first thing they caught their eye was the Hall of Supreme Harmony. This magnificent hall, standing on the three-story white marble base, looks particularly majestic. The golden dragon throne, carved beams and painted roads in the hall, makes people feel like they have traveled back to the ancient times and saw the scene of the emperor holding a grand ceremony here.

Li Xiao walked around the Hall of Supreme Harmony, carefully observing every architectural detail, and couldn't help but sigh: "The ancient craftsmen were so amazing that they could build such a wonderful building. Every pillar and every tiles of the Hall of Supreme Harmony contained their wisdom and hard work."

Zhang Yuedong was very interested in the historical story of the Forbidden City. He pulled the tour guide and kept asking questions: "Tour guide, how many times has this Supreme Hall been rebuilt?" The tour guide patiently answered: "The Supreme Hall has been burned and rebuilt many times since its completion. The current building is the shape of the reconstruction after the 34th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. It has witnessed countless historical changes, and each reconstruction carries the culture and skills of the time."

Lin Yifei was busy recording these beautiful moments with his camera. He kept changing angles and photographing various sides of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. "A beautiful building must be taken so that more people can see it." He said to himself.

Then, they came to the Qianqing Palace. The Qianqing Palace was the bedroom of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Although the interior decoration was relatively simple, it still had the royal style. Li Xiao looked at the furnishings in the palace and imagined the scene of the emperor living here, and sighed: "Living in such a palace, although enjoying glory and wealth, he also shouldered heavy responsibilities."

Zhang Yuedong nodded: "Yes, every brick and tile here has witnessed the vicissitudes of history, and major historical events may occur in every corner."

Walking in the Forbidden City, they seemed to travel through time and space, enjoying the glory and glory of ancient royals. The palaces, pavilions, gardens, and every place along the way were full of historical charm. Before they knew it, a day passed quietly in the long river of history.

After coming out of the Forbidden City, their stomachs were already roaring. Li Xiao suggested: "Let's go eat Beijing roast duck. This is BJ's specialty food. It would be a pity if BJ doesn't eat roast duck."

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei agreed. So, they came to the famous Quanjude. As soon as they walked into the store, the rich aroma of roast duck came to their noses, making people salivate.

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! The waiter welcomed them warmly, arranged seats for them, and handed over the menu. Zhang Yuedong looked at the menu and smiled and said, "Today we have to try this authentic Beijing roast duck. I heard that Quanjude's roast duck skin is crispy and tender, fat but not greasy, and is the best among roast duck."

After a while, the roast duck was served. The master skillfully cut the roast duck into thin slices and placed it neatly on the plate. The roast duck was bright red and crisp, with a tender skin, which made people's appetite increase just by looking at it.

Li Xiao picked up a pancake, put a few slices of roast duck, and added shredded scallions, shredded cucumber and sweet noodle sauce. He rolled it up and took a bite. Suddenly, the aroma of duck meat, the spicy scallions, the refreshing cucumber and the mellowness of sweet noodle sauce blended in his mouth, making people feel endless aftertaste. "It's so delicious! This roast duck is indeed well-deserved, and it's simply a delicious food in the world." Li Xiao praised it endlessly.

Zhang Yuedong also ate with relish. He joked while eating: "This roast duck is a delicacy that the royal family could only enjoy before. Today we have experienced a 'roasted enjoyment on the tip of the tongue'."

Lin Yifei was busy taking photos. He posted the photo of the roast duck to his friends, which attracted friends to like and comment. "You must let everyone know such delicious roast duck." He said with a smile.

They also ordered some special side dishes from Quanjude, such as mustard duck feet, salted duck liver, etc. Each dish was exquisite and delicious, making people satisfied. With laughter, they enjoyed this hearty meal and felt BJ's unique food culture.

After eating roast duck, they came to a theater and prepared to watch the Peking Opera performance. Peking Opera is the national treasure of China and has a unique artistic charm. Li Xiao has always been very interested in Peking Opera. He said: "The singing style, performance and costumes of Peking Opera are very distinctive. Today I finally have the opportunity to experience it on the spot."

Zhang Yuedong also expressed his expectations: "I heard that the performance of Peking Opera is very particular, and every move contains a profound cultural heritage, so I have to appreciate it."

Lin Yifei was particularly fascinated by the costumes and makeup of Peking Opera. He said: "The costumes and makeup of Peking Opera actors are so beautiful, they are simply works of art. I want to take more photos."

The performance began, and the first one was the classic drama "Farewell My Concubine". As soon as the actors appeared, they attracted the attention of the audience with their superb performances and gorgeous costumes. The actor who played Yu Ji was wearing a gorgeous costume, wearing a phoenix crown, holding a double sword in his hand. His dance posture was graceful and his singing style was graceful, which fully interpreted Yu Ji's affection and helplessness.

Lin Yifei was attracted by the costumes and makeup of Peking Opera actors. He stared at the stage intently and kept taking photos. "The costumes and makeup are too exquisite, and every detail is handled just right, and it is truly a national treasure." He exclaimed.

Li Xiao was immersed in the plot, and he was moved by the love story between Yu Ji and Xiang Yu. "This plot is so touching, and the actors' performances are also very good, making me feel as if I am there." He sighed.

Zhang Yuedong admires the singing style and performance skills of Peking Opera very much. He said: "The singing style of Peking Opera is really unique, sometimes high and exciting, sometimes melodious, and the performances of the actors are also very delicate. Each action has its own unique meaning."

In "Farewell My Concubine", Yu Ji's sword dance is a masterpiece. With the rhythm of the music, her sword dance is as smooth as flowing water, and the movements are light and graceful, making people fascinated by it. The sword seems to have life in her hands, sometimes like a dragon going out to sea, sometimes like a colorful phoenix spreading its wings, and in conjunction with her singing and expression, Yu Ji's emotions are fully expressed.

The audience was impressed by the actors' wonderful performances and burst into warm applause and cheers from time to time. After the performance, they were still immersed in the artistic atmosphere of Peking Opera and were reluctant to leave for a long time.

After watching the Peking Opera performance, they came to Dashilan. This is BJ's famous commercial street, with many time-honored shops selling various BJ's specialties and souvenirs.

Li Xiao said: "When I come to BJ, I have to bring some specialties back to my family and friends. There are many kinds of things here, and I can definitely choose the right one."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, I also want to buy some souvenirs for myself to remember this trip."

They walked into a shop in Daoxiangcun, which was filled with all kinds of pastries, dazzling. When Li Xiao looked at these pastries, he couldn't help but think of the snacks he had eaten when he was a child. He said: "The pastries in Daoxiangcun are very famous. I really liked to eat them when I was a child. These pastries not only taste good, but also have exquisite packaging, which is very suitable for giving to family and friends."

So he started to choose and bought some jujube crisps, hawthorn pots, beef tongue cakes, etc., which are all signature products of Daoxiangcun. While choosing, he said: "These pastries are all taste of old BJs, and I believe that family and friends will definitely like them."

Zhang Yuedong bought some Poria cocos cakes himself and prepared to eat them on the way. He said: "Poria cocos cakes have a crispy taste, sweet but not greasy taste, and are very suitable as snacks."

Then, they came to Liubiju. Liubiju's pickles are one of the characteristics of BJ, with a long history and unique flavor. Li Xiao bought some sweet sauce eight-treasure dishes, sweet sauce cucumber and sugar garlic. He said: "These pickles are delicious and have a crispy texture. They can be used to serve rice or porridge, which is very good."

Zhang Yuedong also bought some pickles. He said: "The pickles in Liubiju are a time-honored brand and have guaranteed quality. Take them back for their family to try so that they can also feel the taste of BJ."

In Dashilan, they also purchased some other specialties, such as BJ's Sword Man, Tu'er Ye and other handicrafts. These handicrafts are exquisitely made, have rich Beijing characteristics, and are good souvenirs.

Carrying a full shopping bag, they walked on the streets of Dashilan and felt the prosperity and excitement of BJ. Today's BJ trip made them very rewarding. They not only appreciated BJ's history, culture and natural scenery, but also tasted BJ's specialty food and purchased BJ's specialty products. They knew that this was just the beginning of their trip, and there were more exciting things waiting for them to explore in the future.

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Farewell to BJ, they embarked on a journey to Chongqing. The plane slowly landed at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. As soon as they got off the plane, the stuffy and humid air rushed over, allowing them to instantly feel the unique atmosphere of this mountain city.

Li Xiao took a deep breath and said excitedly: "Chongqing, we are finally here! I have heard that this is a magical city, with climbing hills everywhere, and you have to experience it today."

Zhang Yuedong responded with a smile: "Yes, and there is also the Chongqing hotpot I'm thinking about, I feel satisfying just thinking about it."

Lin Yifei was busy taking photos and recording the moment he arrived in Chongqing. "The architectural style here is completely different from that of BJ. It is built along the mountain, layered and layered, which is so distinctive." He sighed.
Chapter completed!
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