eurekapd Chapter 145 Exploring the Ancient City
Chapter 145 Exploring the Ancient City
When the convoy finally entered the city of Xi'an, the lights came on, neon lights flashed, and the hustle and bustle of life hit us. The streets were bustling with cars and pedestrians, and all kinds of shops were dazzling.
Zhang Bei slowed down the car, his eyes were a little overwhelmed, and he exclaimed in amazement: "The night in Xi'an is so lively!" Following the navigation instructions, they arrived at the hotel smoothly.
Everyone hurriedly unloaded their luggage and checked in. As soon as Sister Tao entered the room, she eagerly threw herself on the bed, exclaiming, "Oh, I'm so tired, but it's worth it for tomorrow's delicious food!"
Zhang Tingjian and Zhang Nan, full of energy, stood by the window, gazing at the bustling night scene outside and discussing whether they should go out and explore the area, perhaps finding the legendary food alley. Zhang Bei and Xiao Xing fed Abao some water and dog food, and the little guy gobbled it up voraciously, apparently starving from the long journey.
"Let's go out for a walk and feel the hustle and bustle of Xi'an." Zhang Bei suggested. Xiao Xing naturally agreed with both hands and followed him out with Abao in her arms.
Not far from the hotel is a bustling snack street with various aromas intertwined together, which makes people's stomachs rumble.
The lamb skewers sizzle with oil over the charcoal fire, and the stall owner skillfully sprinkles cumin and chili powder on them, and the aroma spreads instantly; there is a long queue in front of the cold noodle shop, and the crystal clear cold noodles are paired with green cucumber shreds and bright red chili oil, which makes people salivate at the sight; and there is also the roujiamo that has just come out of the pot, with the crispy bun skin filled with chopped braised meat, and the juice overflows when you take a bite.
Xiao Xing stood in front of a stall selling mirror cakes, unable to move, staring longingly at the steaming mirror cakes: "Zhang Bei, I want to eat this, it looks so sweet."
Zhang Bei immediately paid for one portion. Seeing Xiao Xing's mouth covered in glutinous rice grains, he smiled and joked, "Eat slowly. No one's trying to snatch it from you. Be careful not to choke."
Not far away, Li Fugui and Sister Xiao Tao were also walking among the crowd, holding various snacks in their hands, eating as they walked, and giving satisfied exclamations from time to time.
Zhang Tingjian and Zhang Nan were attracted by a street stall filled with antiques and small items. They squatted there, picking and choosing, bargaining with the stall owner, and having a lot of fun.
There is a TV series called "The Longest Day in Chang'an". The story tells that on the eve of the Lantern Festival in the third year of Tianbao, rebels led by Long Bo instigated a rebellion in an attempt to overthrow the Tang Dynasty.
Zhang Xiaojing, the former bad commander, must organize his operation within twelve hours, otherwise Chang'an will be destroyed. To protect the people of Chang'an, Zhang Xiaojing stepped forward, but was involved in a larger conspiracy.
This TV series is so good! It's about ancient Xi'an.
That night, Xi'an entertained these travelers from afar with its hospitality and delicious food. Everyone fell asleep with joy and anticipation for the journey in the next few days. Their dreams were filled with the fantastic scenery of the ancient city and the wonderful taste of the food.
The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, Sister Tao was outside the door yelling like an alarm clock: "Wake up! Let's go see the Terracotta Warriors!"
Everyone got up sleepily, washed up quickly and then rushed to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang Scenic Area.
The scenic area is already crowded with people, and tourists from all over the world gather here just to catch a glimpse of this wonder of the world.
Following the tour guide, they slowly walked into Pit No. 1. In an instant, everyone was shocked speechless by the spectacular military formation before them.
Thousands of terracotta figures are neatly arranged, each one looking incredibly lifelike. It's as if you've traveled through time for millennia, and you can still feel the majestic momentum of the Qin army sweeping across the six kingdoms. "Oh my god, how much effort must have gone into creating this!" Xiao Xing exclaimed in amazement.
Zhang Bei also had a serious expression on his face. He slowly said, "This is a priceless treasure left to us by our ancestors. There might be a story behind each of these figurines."
A Bao squatted at Xiao Xing's feet, tilting his head to look at the terracotta warriors in the pit, and seemed to be stunned by the grand scene.
Everyone walked slowly along the passage, listening to the guide's detailed explanation, from the production process of the Terracotta Warriors to the history of the Qin Dynasty, and they were all fascinated.
When we came out of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Scenic Area, it was almost noon and the sun was high in the sky.
We randomly found a roadside shop and ordered a few bowls of mutton soup with steamed buns, ready to try the authentic Xi'an flavor.
You have to break the steamed buns yourself. Zhang Bei and Li Fugui were very skilled and quickly broke the steamed buns into small, even pieces. Xiao Xing and Xiao Taojie took a lot of effort and broke the buns into pieces of different sizes, which made everyone laugh.
The steaming hot mutton soup steamed bun is served on the table. The rich aroma of mutton soup is fragrant, and the softened steamed bun is full of soup. One bite and the freshness, fragrance and warmth instantly bloom on the tip of the tongue.
"It's delicious, delicious. A bowl of it in winter makes me feel comfortable all over!" Zhang Tingjian ate it with big mouthfuls and gave a thumbs up.
In the afternoon, they rushed to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda without stopping.
This ancient pagoda stands quietly under the blue sky, solemn and dignified, like a wise man who has experienced many vicissitudes of life, silently guarding the city.
People strolled along the corridors beneath the pagoda, gently touching the bricks and stones, feeling the traces of time. The Buddha statues within the pagoda were compassionate and peaceful, and the curling incense smoke calmed people's hearts unconsciously.
"It would be nice to watch the sunset here," Zhang Nan said softly. Everyone responded and sat down on the steps next to the tower, quietly waiting for the sun to set.
As the red sun gradually sank to the west, the afterglow gave the Big Wild Goose Pagoda a golden edge. The whole scene was so beautiful as a poem and a picture. Everyone raised their mobile phones to freeze this moment.
Xi'an at night has a completely different charm. The Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps is ablaze with lights, as if you're dreaming back to the heyday of the Tang Dynasty.
Dancers in ancient costumes danced gracefully on the streets, actors who played the roles of literati reciting poems and composing couplets interacted with tourists, and various traditional handicraft stalls were crowded with people.
Sister Tao immediately went into a shop selling Tang Dynasty suits and tried on several outfits. Finally, she chose a gorgeous ruqun (a traditional Chinese skirt). She put it on happily and spun around in front of everyone: "What do you think? Do I look like a noble lady from the Tang Dynasty?"
Everyone laughed and joked, strolled and played along the way, and watched the wonderful water dance and light show. The gorgeous lights and the dynamic water curtain intertwined, interpreting the romantic legend of the thousand-year-old capital.
In the next few days, they traveled through the streets and alleys of Xi'an, visited Muslim Street and the Bell and Drum Tower, tasted various delicacies such as zonggao, spicy soup, buckwheat noodles, and went to the Shaanxi History Museum to appreciate the long history of Chinese civilization through each precious cultural relic.
Everywhere we go, we find new surprises and touching moments. This city is like a thick book, and no matter how many times we turn the pages, we can never get enough of it. As the day of departure quietly approaches, everyone is filled with reluctance to leave.
On the morning of his return trip, Zhang Bei filled the trunk of his pickup truck with souvenirs and local specialties he had bought in the past few days.
Xiao Xing hugged Abao, her eyes red: "Abao, we have to say goodbye to Xi'an." Abao seemed to understand and whimpered.
Over in the RV, Sister Xiao Tao looked out the window for a long time and said softly, "This trip to Xi'an is truly unforgettable. We must come again in the future."
Everyone nodded, the car started slowly, and the outline of Xi'an gradually blurred in the rearview mirror. However, this journey full of laughter, food and cultural baptism has been deeply imprinted in everyone's heart, becoming the most colorful stroke in the long scroll of memory, waiting to be savored and relived countless times in the future.