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Mei Mei with a big grin and 宝宝 the chubby panda with sparkling eyes, both standing in a colorful hot air balloon basket floating above clouds. The sky is bright and cheerful, and the cityscape of Beijing is faintly visible below.
Mei Mei grinned as she and Chomp Chomp floated up in their colorful hot air balloon. “Are you ready for our food adventure?” she giggled. Chomp Chomp leaned over the basket, his eyes sparkling. “I can’t wait to taste everything!” he cheered. The wind danced around them, carrying their balloon toward Beijing. Their stomachs rumbled with excitement!
Mei Mei whispering beside 宝宝 the panda, both peeking into a restaurant window at a golden Peking Duck spinning on a rack. A chef with a tall white hat stands nearby, and a small bowl of sweet sauce is visible under his hat.
In Beijing, they spotted crispy Peking Duck spinning in a restaurant window. “Let’s find the hidden sweet sauce!” Mei Mei whispered. Chomp Chomp sniffed around, searching high and low. “I found it!” he shouted, pointing under the chef’s hat. They dipped the duck into the sauce, grinning with every tasty bite. The adventure had only just begun!
Mei Mei with wide eyes and 宝宝 the panda poking dumplings in bamboo baskets on a crowded dim sum cafe table. The background is filled with steam and stacks of bamboo baskets.
The balloon floated into a busy Guangdong dim sum cafe. Mei Mei’s eyes widened at all the dumplings in bamboo baskets. “Let’s count them!” she laughed. Chomp Chomp poked each dumpling with his paw. “One, two, three… so many!” They munched as they counted, giggling between bites.
Mei Mei with watery eyes and 宝宝 the panda fanning his mouth, sitting at a table with a bubbling hot pot filled with red broth and floating chilies. Steam rises from the pot, and cups of tea are on the table.
In Sichuan, hot pot bubbles steamed on the table. Mei Mei tried a spicy bite—her eyes watered! Chomp Chomp fanned his mouth, saying, “Too hot!” They each drank cool tea to calm the heat. “Ready for another taste?” Mei Mei asked bravely. Together, they giggled and tried again.
Mei Mei and 宝宝 the panda at a rustic Xi’an table, both slurping long Biangbiang noodles from large bowls. Mei Mei is laughing with cheeks puffed out, and 宝宝 holds up a noodle like a ribbon.
Xi’an welcomed them with bowls of Biangbiang noodles. “Who can find the longest noodle?” Mei Mei challenged. They slurped and searched, noodles hanging from their mouths. Chomp Chomp cheered, holding up his noodle like a ribbon. “Look how long it is!” Mei Mei laughed until her cheeks hurt. Noodle fun was the best!
Mei Mei and 宝宝 the panda sitting at a Shanghai table with a steaming bamboo basket of Xiaolongbao. Mei Mei is carefully sipping soup from a dumpling, while 宝宝 smiles contentedly, holding a dumpling.
In Shanghai, tiny Xiaolongbao steamed in bamboo. “Careful,” Mei Mei said, “the soup is hot inside.” Chomp Chomp gently nibbled, then slurped the soup. “Yum, it tastes like a cozy hug!” he smiled. Mei Mei sipped hers, too, warming her hands on the basket. Shanghai was delicious and cozy!
Mei Mei pinching her nose and laughing, while 宝宝 the panda bravely takes a bite of stinky tofu on a plate. The background shows a busy Hunan street market with colorful stalls.
Hunan greeted them with stinky tofu. Mei Mei laughed, pinching her nose at the funny smell. “Will you try it, Chomp Chomp?” she asked. Chomp Chomp took a brave bite and grinned. “It tastes better than it smells!” they both cheered. Laughter filled the air as they finished every piece.
Mei Mei and 宝宝 the panda leaning over a bubbling Chongqing hot pot filled with bright red chili peppers. Mei Mei is giggling, and 宝宝 is pointing at the peppers, both with amused expressions.
Chongqing’s fiery hot pot bubbled with bright chili peppers. Mei Mei and Chomp Chomp peeked at the pot. “Let’s count the peppers,” giggled Mei Mei. Chomp Chomp pointed, “One, two, three…so many!” They dipped their food, careful not to eat too many chilies. Their mouths tingled, and they burst out laughing.
Mei Mei and 宝宝 the panda sitting at a seaside table in Xiamen, with a bowl of seafood porridge in front of them. Mei Mei is searching her bowl with chopsticks, and 宝宝 is excitedly holding up a shrimp.
The balloon sailed to Xiamen by the sparkling sea. A bowl of seafood porridge waited, warm and tasty. Mei Mei searched for hidden shrimp in her bowl. Chomp Chomp gasped, “I found one!” They both cheered each discovery, tasting every delicious bite. Sea breezes tickled their faces as they ate.
Mei Mei and 宝宝 the panda hugging in their colorful hot air balloon, floating above rooftops at sunset. Both are smiling and look content, with the balloon drifting toward home.
After their adventure, Mei Mei and Chomp Chomp floated home in their balloon. “What was your favorite dish?” Mei Mei asked. Chomp Chomp thought and smiled, “All of them!” They hugged tightly, happy and full. Their hearts were filled with happy memories. Home, at last, but the adventure wasn’t over yet!
Mei Mei wearing an apron and 宝宝 the panda gathering noodles, tofu, and sauce on a kitchen table. They are both laughing and high-fiving over a steaming bowl labeled 'Friendship Noodles.'
Back home, Mei Mei grabbed her apron. “Let’s invent our own dish!” she said. Chomp Chomp gathered noodles, tofu, and sauce. They mixed, stirred, and tasted everything together. Laughing, they made a brand new creation. “Let’s call it Friendship Noodles!” said Mei Mei, and they high-fived.
A blank table with colorful cutout ingredients—dumplings, noodles, tofu, and vegetables—scattered across it. A pair of hands is assembling a dish in a bowl, ready for a creative meal.
It’s your turn! With colorful cutouts, choose your favorite Chinese ingredients. Make a tasty dish on the last page. What will you put in your bowl? Maybe dumplings, noodles, or tofu? Be creative and share with your friends! Every dish is special when made with joy.