They decided to take a bamboo raft tour on the Li River. The raft drifted slowly across the water, and a cool, gentle breeze brushed against their faces. As the boatman poled the raft, he introduced them to the sights along the way. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei quietly admired the beautiful scenery, taking out their cameras from time to time to capture the moment.
"Look, that’s Nine Horses Painting Mountain!" the boatman said, pointing to a distant peak. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei followed his finger and saw that the mountain’s rock face had naturally formed patterns that looked just like nine galloping steeds. Li Xiao carefully counted the horses on the cliffside and said with a laugh, "How come I can only count eight horses? Where’s the last one?" Huang Pengfei joked, "Maybe that horse is hiding. It doesn’t want us to see it."
The bamboo raft continued on, revealing many more beautiful sights. They saw the reflection at Yellow Cloth Shoal, where the calm river surface acted like a giant mirror, perfectly reflecting the inverted peaks. They also passed through the Xingping Scenic Area, where the landscape was so enchanting it felt as if they had entered a fairyland.
After touring the Li River, they were getting hungry. So, they went to a local restaurant to try some of Guilin’s specialty dishes. Guilin has many delicacies, such as Guilin rice noodles, Yangshuo Beer Fish, and Lipu Taro Pork. They ordered a bowl of Guilin rice noodles and the Yangshuo Beer Fish. When the rice noodles were served, Li Xiao took a sniff and said, "These noodles smell amazing!" He eagerly took a bite, and his eyes lit up. "These noodles are so smooth and chewy, and the broth is rich and flavorful. This is delicious!" Huang Pengfei also tried a piece of the beer fish and was full of praise. "This beer fish is incredible. The meat is fresh, tender, and juicy, and the unique seasoning leaves an unforgettable aftertaste."
After eating their fill, they went to Xiangshan Park in Guilin. Xiangshan is one of Guilin’s iconic landmarks, named because its shape resembles an elephant. They climbed Xiangshan and looked down at the beautiful cityscape of Guilin. Li Xiao said with emotion, "Looking down from here, Guilin is just so beautiful. The mountains, the water, the city... they form a magnificent painting." Huang Pengfei added, "Yeah, the scenery in Guilin really lives up to its reputation."
After spending some time at Xiangshan Park, they went to see a folk culture performance. The show included songs and dances from the Zhuang Clan and the long drum dance of the Yao Clan. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei were captivated by the wonderful performance, applauding and cheering for the performers from time to time. Li Xiao said, "These folk performances really let us feel the charm of Guilin’s ethnic cultures." Huang Pengfei nodded in agreement.
After the performance, they went to browse Guilin’s night market. The market was filled with stalls selling all sorts of specialty snacks and handicrafts. They sampled snacks while picking out souvenirs. Li Xiao bought some of Guilin’s landscape paintings and some Zhuang Clan handicrafts to bring back as gifts for friends and family. Huang Pengfei, on the other hand, bought some of Guilin’s local products, like Sanhua wine and Guilin chili sauce.
After two days in Guilin, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei set off on the next leg of their journey. They looked forward to more surprises and discoveries on the road ahead.
Leaving the picturesque landscapes of Guilin behind, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei traveled east to Hangzhou, a city known as "heaven on earth."
As soon as they arrived in Hangzhou, Li Xiao was captivated by the city’s gentle and graceful atmosphere. He said excitedly to Huang Pengfei, "Old Huang, you know the saying, ’Upstairs there is heaven, downstairs there are Suzhou and Hangzhou.’ We have to properly experience Hangzhou’s beauty." Gazing at the streetscape outside the car window, Huang Pengfei nodded. "Mm, this city certainly has a special charm."
The two found a hotel near West Lake. After dropping off their luggage, they couldn’t wait to head over to the lake. Before they even reached the shore, they could see the vast, sparkling expanse of water from a distance. Up close, the water of West Lake was crystal clear. A gentle breeze swept over it, creating ripples on its surface.
Strolling along the lakeshore, they admired the beauty of West Lake. The willow trees on the bank drooped their branches, as if whispering secrets to the water. In the distance, Leifeng Pagoda glistened in the sunlight, adding a touch of mystery to West Lake. Li Xiao sighed with admiration, "West Lake is just too beautiful. No wonder so many poets have written verses in its praise." Huang Pengfei added, "Yeah, this scenery is simply intoxicating."
They rented a small boat and rowed slowly across the lake. The boatman rowed while telling them about the history and legends of West Lake. Li Xiao listened with great interest, asking questions from time to time. Huang Pengfei, meanwhile, quietly admired the lake and mountain scenery, savoring the peace and beauty of the moment.
"Look, that’s Three Ponds Reflecting the Moon!" the boatman said, pointing to three small stone pagodas in the lake. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei followed his gaze and saw three small stone pagodas standing gracefully in the water, encircled by ripples. Li Xiao said excitedly, "Three Ponds Reflecting the Moon really lives up to its name! It’s so beautiful." Huang Pengfei also took out his camera and started snapping photos.
The boat continued across the lake, and they saw many more beautiful sights. There was the famous Broken Bridge. Although it wasn’t winter and they couldn’t see it covered in snow, they could still imagine the beautiful scene. There was also Su Causeway in Spring; the long Su Causeway was shaded by green trees and adorned with blooming flowers.
After touring West Lake, they were hungry again. So they went to a local restaurant to try Hangzhou’s specialty dishes. Hangzhou has many delicacies, such as West Lake Vinegar Fish, Longjing Shrimp, and Beggar’s Chicken. They ordered a West Lake Vinegar Fish and Longjing Shrimp. When the fish was served, Li Xiao sniffed it and said, "This fish smells amazing!" He eagerly took a bite, his eyes lighting up. "The fish is tender, sweet and sour, and tastes incredible." Huang Pengfei also tried the Longjing Shrimp and was full of praise. "These shrimp are so fresh and smooth, with the delicate fragrance of Longjing tea. It leaves a wonderful, lingering taste."
After their meal, they went to Song City in Hangzhou. Song City is a tourist park themed around the culture of the Song Dynasty, featuring a variety of exciting performances and activities. They watched a large-scale song and dance show called "The Romance of the Song Dynasty." Based on the history and legends of Hangzhou, the performance used spectacular dancing, music, and special effects to showcase a thousand years of the city’s charm. Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei were deeply moved by the show, frequently applauding and cheering for the performers’ incredible talent. Li Xiao said, "That show was absolutely brilliant. It really gave us a sense of Hangzhou’s deep historical and cultural heritage." Huang Pengfei nodded in agreement.
After the show, they went to browse the commercial street in Song City. The street was lined with stalls selling all sorts of specialty snacks and handicrafts. They sampled snacks while picking out souvenirs. Li Xiao bought some of Hangzhou’s silk and fans to bring back as gifts for friends and family. Huang Pengfei bought some Longjing tea and West Lake lotus root powder.
After two days in Hangzhou, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei set off on the next leg of their journey. They looked forward to more surprises and discoveries on the road ahead.
Leaving the poetic, picturesque city of Hangzhou, Li Xiao and Huang Pengfei traveled west, arriving in Chengdu, a city bustling with life.
As soon as they got off the plane, Li Xiao took a deep breath, taking in the city’s unique atmosphere. He smiled and said to Huang Pengfei, "Old Huang, they say Chengdu is a city you never want to leave once you’ve arrived. We’ve got to experience it for ourselves." Watching the lively crowds around them, Huang Pengfei nodded. "Yeah, this place feels very energetic."
The two went to their hotel, and after dropping off their luggage, they eagerly went out to explore the charms of Chengdu. They first went to Kuanzhai Alley. This area is composed of Wide Alley, Narrow Alley, and Well Alley, and its quaint, ancient-style buildings are full of Western Sichuan character.