Chapter 414 - 6_2

They arrived at Central Avenue, a century-old street brimming with exotic charm. Both sides were lined with European-style buildings, their exquisite carvings and decorations making it feel as if they had been transported to Europe.

“Hey, Old Li, look at these buildings! They’re beautiful! It feels like we’re in another country,” Huang Pengfei said, looking all around.

Li Xiao was also captivated by the unique scenery. “Central Avenue is a fusion of multiple architectural styles. It’s one of Harbin’s signature attractions. Come on, let’s go try some of the local specialties.”

They went into a Russian restaurant and ordered red sausage, Dalieba bread, and kvass. Before long, the food was brought to their table.

“Wow, this red sausage is delicious! And this Dalieba bread—it’s huge!” Huang Pengfei exclaimed as he ate.

Li Xiao took a sip of kvass. “Mm, the flavor is very unique. It has a faint, bready aroma.”

After their meal, they arrived at the banks of the Songhua River. The river had already frozen over with a thick layer of ice, and many people were out on the surface, skating and playing in the snow.

“Old Li, the Songhua River is magnificent! Look at all those people—they look like they’re having so much fun,” Huang Pengfei said excitedly.

“Come on, let’s go have some fun too,” Li Xiao said, pulling Huang Pengfei out onto the ice.

They rented a pair of ice skates each and skated to their hearts’ content on the river’s surface. Though they were a bit wobbly at first, they quickly got the hang of it and began to enjoy themselves.

“Haha, this feels amazing!” Huang Pengfei said with a laugh.

After they finished skating, they went to visit the Ice and Snow World. The moment they stepped inside, they were left breathless by the dazzlingly colorful ice and snow sculptures.

“Oh my god! This is just too beautiful!” Huang Pengfei’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping.

Li Xiao was also captivated by the sight before them. “These ice and snow sculptures are truly masterpieces. It feels like we’ve stepped into a fairytale world.”

They strolled through the Ice and Snow World, admiring the various exquisite sculptures. There were castles, animals, historical figures, and more—each one astonishingly lifelike.

“Old Li, how do you think they even carve these things? It’s incredible,” Huang Pengfei asked curiously.

“It requires immense skill and patience. The artisans have to work in the frigid cold, which is incredibly difficult,” Li Xiao said.

After touring the Ice and Snow World, they were hungry again. They decided to try another of Harbin’s specialties: iron pot stew.

“I hear iron pot stew is a classic dish from the Northeast. Let’s go give it a try,” Li Xiao suggested.

“Yes, absolutely! I’ve been wanting to try it for ages,” Huang Pengfei said eagerly.

They found an iron pot stew restaurant and ordered the stewed goose. A short while later, a huge iron pot was brought to their table, filled with fragrant, stewed goose and a variety of side vegetables.

“Wow, that aroma… it’s incredible,” Huang Pengfei said, taking a deep sniff.

Li Xiao picked up a piece of goose with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth. “Mm, the meat is tender, and the flavor is so rich. Delicious!”

After finishing the iron pot stew, they sampled other Harbin specialties like frozen pears and tanghulu. Each delicacy left them with a lingering, delicious memory.

After their meal, they headed to a folk performance venue in Harbin. An “Errenzhuan” from the Northeast was being performed. The actors’ witty and humorous performance had them roaring with laughter.

“This Errenzhuan is so much fun! The performers are hilarious,” Huang Pengfei said, clapping.

“It is. Errenzhuan is a traditional part of Northeast culture. It’s very distinctive,” Li Xiao said.

After the performance, they started shopping for local products. Harbin’s red sausage, wood ear mushrooms, and other fungi are all famous local specialties. They picked out a few things they liked, planning to bring them back as gifts for friends and family.

“Old Li, this trip to Harbin has been so rewarding,” Huang Pengfei said, his hands full of shopping bags.

“It has. We not only got to see the beautiful ice and snow scenery, but we also tasted amazing food, watched folk performances, and bought local products. Now, it’s time for our next destination,” Li Xiao said.

With their backpacks on and faces full of anticipation, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei arrived in Kunming. The moment they stepped off the plane, the warm sunshine and fresh air lifted their spirits.

“Hey, Old Li, Kunming feels amazing! It really lives up to its name as the Spring City,” Huang Pengfei said with a long stretch.

Li Xiao smiled and nodded. “It does. The climate in Kunming is wonderful, like spring all year round. Come on, let’s go check out Dianchi Lake first.”

They arrived at the shore of Dianchi Lake, where the vast, boundless water shimmered under the sun. In the distance, West Mountain resembled a sleeping beauty, resting peacefully beside the lake.

“Wow, Dianchi Lake is so beautiful! And look at West Mountain—it really does look like a sleeping beauty,” Huang Pengfei said excitedly.

Li Xiao was also captivated by the beautiful scenery. “Dianchi Lake is the jewel of Kunming. The view here is truly intoxicating. Come on, let’s take a boat out and experience its charm.”

They boarded a tour boat, which moved slowly across Dianchi Lake. A gentle breeze brushed against their faces, bringing a trace of coolness. They admired the picturesque lake and mountains, feeling completely at ease.

“Old Li, the water in Dianchi Lake is so clear! And look at all these seagulls, they’re so cute,” Huang Pengfei said, watching the gulls flying over the lake.

“It is. Every winter, huge flocks of seagulls come to Dianchi Lake to winter over. It’s become one of Kunming’s unique attractions,” Li Xiao said.

After their tour of Dianchi Lake, they went to Shilin, the Stone Forest. Shilin is one of nature’s masterpieces, and its bizarrely shaped rock formations were enough to make one gasp in amazement.

“Oh my god! This Stone Forest is incredible! Look at these rocks—some look like elephants, some look like mushrooms, some look like swords. They come in every strange shape imaginable,” Huang Pengfei marveled as they walked.

Li Xiao was also in awe of the peculiar landscape. “The Stone Forest is a classic example of karst topography. These rocks were all formed by geological processes over an immense period of time.”

They wound their way through the Stone Forest, admiring all the bizarrely shaped rocks. Every so often, they would run into other tourists posing for pictures.

“Old Li, how do you think these rocks were formed? It’s just unbelievable,” Huang Pengfei asked curiously.

“It’s the masterful work of nature itself. These unique formations were created through hundreds of millions of years of erosion and weathering,” Li Xiao said.

After touring the Stone Forest, they were hungry again. They decided to go sample the local cuisine of Kunming.

“I hear the crossing-the-bridge noodles in Kunming are very famous. Let’s go try them,” Li Xiao suggested.

“Yes, absolutely! I’ve been wanting to try them for ages,” Huang Pengfei said eagerly.

They found a crossing-the-bridge noodle shop, sat down, and ordered two bowls. Before long, a server brought over a large tray holding an assortment of side dishes and a bowl of piping hot broth.

“Wow, look at all this! This crossing-the-bridge noodle set is a feast!” Huang Pengfei said, looking at the ingredients on the tray.

Li Xiao picked up his chopsticks and began adding the ingredients to the broth one by one. “Come on, dig in.”

Huang Pengfei lifted a bundle of noodles to his mouth and savored the taste. “Mmm, the noodles are smooth and chewy, and the broth is so savory. Delicious!”

Li Xiao also took a sip, nodding in approval. “It really is good. The food in Kunming is definitely distinctive.”

After finishing the crossing-the-bridge noodles, they sampled other Kunming specialties like douhua rice noodles and steamed pork with rice flour. Each dish left a memorable, delicious impression.

After their meal, they went to a folk performance venue in Kunming. A song and dance performance by the Yi Clan was underway. The performers, dressed in vibrant traditional clothing, were singing and dancing in a lively, spectacular show.

“What a brilliant performance!” Huang Pengfei said, applauding.

“It is. This is the folk culture of Kunming. It has a lot of charm,” Li Xiao said.

After the performance, they started shopping for local products. Kunming’s famous specialties include flower cakes and wild mushrooms. They picked out a few things they liked, planning to bring them back as gifts for friends and family.

“Old Li, this trip to Kunming has been so rewarding,” Huang Pengfei said, his hands full of shopping bags.

“It has. We not only got to see the beautiful scenery, but we also tasted amazing food, watched folk performances, and bought local products. Now, it’s time for our next destination,” Li Xiao said.

With their backpacks on and hearts full of anticipation, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei arrived in Shaoxing. The moment they set foot in the city, they were met with a palpable, rich cultural atmosphere.