Chapter 408 - 32

Chapter 408: Chapter 32

"Wow, this Ancient City has such a great vibe," Huang Pengfei said excitedly, looking all around. "Old Li, look! That handicraft is so beautiful."

Li Xiao followed his gaze and saw a stall overflowing with exquisite handicrafts. "Come on, let’s go take a look."

They walked up to the stall, where the owner enthusiastically introduced the various handicrafts. Huang Pengfei’s eye was caught by a wood carving, which he picked up to examine closely. "Old Li, what do you think of this? I want to buy it as a souvenir."

"It’s nice, very distinctive. Go for it," Li Xiao said with a smile.

After buying the wood carving, they continued to stroll through the Ancient City. As they walked, they heard the sound of melodious music. Following the sound, they discovered a small plaza where a group of people was performing a folk dance.

"Hey, Old Li, this dance is beautiful. Let’s go join in the fun," Huang Pengfei said, pulling Li Xiao into the crowd.

They joined the group of dancers and began to move to the rhythm. Their movements might have been a little clumsy, but they were full of joy.

After dancing, they felt a bit hungry and began to search for some local cuisine. Before long, they found a restaurant selling cured pork ribs.

"Old Li, I heard Lijiang’s cured pork ribs are famous. Let’s give them a try," Huang Pengfei suggested.

"Okay."

They entered the restaurant and ordered a portion of the cured pork ribs. A few moments later, a large pot of ribs was brought to their table. The fragrant aroma was appetizing and made their mouths water.

"Wow, this is delicious," Huang Pengfei said, picking up a rib and taking a bite. "Old Li, you have to try it."

Li Xiao tried a piece and nodded in approval. "It really is good. The meat is tender and the flavor is rich."

After their meal, they continued to wander through the Ancient City. When they passed a teahouse, they decided to go inside for a bit and sample some of Lijiang’s specialty teas.

The teahouse had an elegant atmosphere, and the owner enthusiastically told them about the various teas. They ordered a pot of Pu’er Tea and sat by the window, sipping their tea while admiring the view of the Ancient City.

"Old Li, life in Lijiang is so relaxing. I wish we could stay here forever," Huang Pengfei said with a sigh.

"Haha, we can’t do that. We still have a lot of other places to see," Li Xiao replied with a laugh.

By the time they left the teahouse, it was already getting dark. They decided to go see a folk performance. The venue was packed, but they found a couple of seats and waited for the show to begin.

The show was spectacular, featuring folk songs, dances, acrobatics, and more. The performers’ brilliant acts earned thunderous applause from the audience.

After the show, they bought some local specialties in the Ancient City, like Lijiang’s yak jerky and Dongba Paper.

The next day, they went to Yulong Snow Mountain. After taking a cable car up the mountain, the view that greeted them was breathtaking. The snow-capped peaks against the azure sky looked like a magnificent painting.

"Old Li, Yulong Snow Mountain is so magnificent," Huang Pengfei said excitedly.

"It is. It really lives up to its name as Lijiang’s most iconic landmark," Li Xiao couldn’t help but agree.

They spent the entire day on the mountain, taking in all the beautiful scenery. As evening approached, they reluctantly left Yulong Snow Mountain.

"Old Li, Lijiang was incredible. Where are we headed next?" Huang Pengfei asked.

"Let’s go to Shangri-La next. I hear it’s a paradise on earth," Li Xiao said.

And so, the two packed their bags and set off on their journey to Shangri-La, looking forward to more surprises and wonderful memories.

Filled with anticipation, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei arrived in Shangri-La, the legendary paradise on earth. The moment they set foot in this land, they were stunned by the pure and magnificent natural scenery.

"Old Li, Shangri-La feels totally different from the other places we’ve been. It’s so grand," Huang Pengfei said, standing by the road and gazing at the distant, rolling mountain ranges and vast grasslands, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Yeah, it has a unique charm. Come on, let’s go drop our bags at the inn first," Li Xiao said, leading Huang Pengfei toward the inn they had booked.

The inn was built in a typical Tibetan style. Its vibrant decorations and exquisite carvings made them feel as if they had stepped into a fairytale world. After stowing their luggage, the two eagerly set out to explore Shangri-La.

Their first stop was Pudacuo National Park. The park’s lake was as clear as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and surrounding mountains. Strolling along the shore, they felt as if they had walked right into a beautiful painting.

"Wow, Old Li, this place is unbelievably beautiful. It feels like a fairyland," Huang Pengfei said, snapping photos nonstop as he walked.

"It is. And the air is so fresh. It’s incredibly refreshing," Li Xiao said, taking a deep breath to savor the beauty of nature.

They continued walking and came upon a stretch of grassland. Wildflowers of every color were in bloom, and cattle and sheep grazed leisurely. In the distance, a few Tibetan-style houses dotted the landscape, creating a scene of peace and serenity.

"Hey, Old Li, look! There are some horses over there. What do you say we go for a ride?" Huang Pengfei asked, pointing to a nearby herd.

"Okay."

They went over to the horses, rented two of them, and began to gallop across the grassland. With the wind whistling past their ears, the feeling of absolute freedom made them forget all their troubles.

After their ride, they felt a bit hungry and began to search for some local cuisine. Before long, they found a Tibetan restaurant.

"Old Li, I’ve heard Shangri-La’s butter tea and highland barley cakes are a must-try. Let’s get some," Huang Pengfei suggested.

"Okay."

They entered the restaurant and ordered butter tea and highland barley cakes. A few moments later, the food arrived. The butter tea was fragrant, and the barley cakes were crisp.

"Wow, this is delicious," Huang Pengfei said after taking a sip of the butter tea. "Old Li, you have to try it."

Li Xiao tried some and nodded in approval. "It’s definitely unique. The butter tea is very warming, and the barley cakes are delicious."

After their meal, they continued their tour of the park. Passing a performance area, they saw that a Tibetan Clan folk show was underway. They stopped to watch, captivated by the spectacular performance. The performers, dressed in magnificent Tibetan Clan costumes, sang and danced, showcasing the passion and spirit of their people.

After the show, they bought some local specialties in the park, such as handicrafts from the Tibetan Clan and yak jerky.

The next day, they visited the Songzanlin Temple. The temple sat on a mountainside, magnificent and splendid. They climbed the steps one by one, feeling the solemn and sacred atmosphere of the monastery.

"Old Li, this Songzanlin Temple is truly spectacular," Huang Pengfei said with awe, gazing up at the structure.

"It is. The whole place is filled with a mysterious, spiritual air," Li Xiao said, feeling a sense of reverence wash over him.

They toured the temple’s various halls, admiring the exquisite Buddha statues and murals. The monks there were very welcoming, explaining some of the principles of Buddhism and the temple’s history to them.

After leaving Songzanlin Temple, they went to Napa Lake. Napa Lake is a high-altitude lake surrounded by vast grasslands and mountain ranges. They strolled along its shore, admiring the beautiful scenery.

"Old Li, Shangri-La is just so beautiful. Every single place is enchanting," Huang Pengfei said.

"Mhm, it’s truly an unforgettable place. Where should we go next?" Li Xiao asked.

"How about we go to Xishuangbanna? I hear they have tropical rainforests and a unique ethnic culture," Huang Pengfei suggested.

And so, the two packed their bags and set off on their journey to Xishuangbanna, looking forward to more surprises and wonderful memories.

With high hopes for the next leg of their trip, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei arrived in the tropical region of Xishuangbanna. The moment they stepped off the plane, a wave of heat and a rich, exotic atmosphere washed over them.