Archive for June 14th, 2008

China Travel – Jiayu Pass

Saturday, June 14th, 2008

The Jiayu Pass is located in the southwest of the Jiayu City, Gansu Province.

 

 

The Jiayu Pass is not only the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), but also the vital passage of the famous Silk Road, which was first built in the 5th year (1372) of the Hongwu reign in the Ming Dynasty. It is so called because is built at the foot of Jiayu Mountain.

 

The circumvallation of the Jiayu Pass looks trapeziform and there is a thick wall built outside the western circumvallation, which makes the defense of the circumvallation stronger. The circumvallation is 11.7 meters high and 733.3 meters long in total. There is an area of more than 33,500 square meters of the circumvallation. Outside the northern and southern circumvallation are parallel low cob walls, which are called the additional wall built for defense. The city walls have two gates: the eastern one named Guanghua Gate and the western one named Rouyuan Gate, both of which have gate towers, 17 meters high, three-bay wide, with three-tiered gable and hip roof and surrounded by enclosing porches, looking grand and majestic. In the northern side inside the city walls is a wide slope horse way, directly leading to the top of the city wall. Outside the eastern and western gate, are built small enceintes of the gates. The gates of small enceintes open southwards, but are not connected with the main gates of the city walls. The eastern gate of enceinte is called Chaozong, while the western one called Huiji. More than 10 meters outside the western gate is quadrate double-barriers, side by side with the city walls, whose gate opens westwards. There is the name of the Jiayu Pass carved powerfully and vigorously on the upper part of the lintel.

Walking westwards out of the city gate, about more than 100 paces, one will see a big stone tablet on which are carved four big characters that mean impregnable pass in the world, which was set up in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). On the four corners of the city walls, there is a two-storeyed watchtower each, like a blockhouse. In the right middle of the northern and southern city walls is built a lookout tower each, which is two-bay wide with front porches. On the west, the south and the north sides of the additional walls also stands a watchtower each. It is said that when building the pass, workmen made a most precise estimation of materials and as a result only one brick was left. This brick is still kept on the eaves of the gate tower of the western enceinte. Outside the eastern enceinte there are some buildings such as the Wenchang Pavilion, the Guandi Temple and the Theatre Building, and inside it there is an Office of Guerrilla Warfare, which were all built in the Qing Dynasty.

 

After three large-scale repairs and decorations in 1950, 1957 and 1973, the Jiayu Pass took on a new look as an impregnable pass. Many visitors come to the Jiayu Pass to cherish the memory of the past.

(Source: chinaculture.org)

Chinese Characters: Aeolus (god of wind) 风神

Saturday, June 14th, 2008

Aeolus (god of wind):

Chinese Pinyin: feng1 shen2

(Source: about.com)

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 174

Saturday, June 14th, 2008

                                    Click to Watch Video Podcast

王渊源:快乐学汉语,

    Learn Chinese the fun way

    万里海疆行!

    and enjoy a happy journey

    across China!

    韩佳: 我是快乐的韩佳。

    I’m Merry Han Jia.

    王渊源:快乐的渊源也在。

    and I’m Happy Yuanyuan.

    不好意思,我忘了这是哪儿啊。

    I’m sorry I forgot what place

    it is here.

    韩佳: 赤壁。

    Chibi.

    王渊源:赤壁呀!

    Oh, Chibi!

    《三国演义》里

    The place where Zhuge Liang

    in the Romance

    诸葛亮巧借东风,

    of Three Kingdoms made use

    of an east wind

    以火攻,大败曹操。

    and routed Cao Cao with

    his attack by fire.

    原来历史上著名的赤壁之战

    It was here that the historically famous

    就在这里发生。

    Chibi Battle took place.

    韩佳: 你知道的历史知识倒是不少。

    You know quite a lot about history.

    不过今天可是安错地儿喽。

    But you made a mistake

    in locations.

    旁白: 位于福州市东南的赤壁景区,

    The Chibi Scenic Area southeast

    of Fuzhou

    和历史上的赤壁之战

    has nothing to do with

    还真是一点儿关系都没有。

    the historical Chibi Battle.

    只因为这里的山石

    Just because the mountain here

    以中生代火山岩为主,

    is mainly composed of the

    reddish Mesozoic

    略带红色,才有了赤壁这个名字。

    volcanic rocks, the place thus

    got the name Chibi.

    不过在我们看来,

    But what we see here

    映入眼帘更多的还是绿色。

    is mostly the green color.

    王渊源:这山上的树可真多呀!

    There are so many trees

    on the mountain!

    韩佳: 是啊。

    Yes.

    这儿的森林覆盖率达到了93%哪!

    The forest coverage here is

    nearly 93%!

    而且其中很多都是珍贵树种。

    And many of the trees here

    are rare species.

    王渊源:像个森林宝库一样。

    It is like a treasure-trove

    of forest.

    韩佳: 要知道十年前,

    You know what, ten years ago,

    这里可遭受过大面积的砍伐。

    large numbers of trees were

    cut down.

    不过人们很快就意识到

    But soon local people realized

    砍伐树木所带来的危害。

    the harm of deforestation.

    所以就开始坚持不懈地在山上种树。

    So they have persisted in planting

    trees on the mountain.

    王渊源:韩佳,

    Han Jia,

    我刚才想到了一句话,

    I just thought of a proverb,

    我觉得用在这里非常合适。

    which can be used here perfectly.

    韩佳: 我知道,是…

    I know you want to say …

    合: 十年树木。

    It takes ten years to

    cultivate tress.

    王渊源:“十年树木”是指培植树木

    ”Shi nian shu mu” means that

    需要十年的时间。

    it takes ten years to

    cultivate trees.

    韩佳: “十年树木”是指培植树木

    ”Shi nian shu mu” means that

    需要十年的时间。

    it takes ten years to

    cultivate trees.

    我们平时用的时候,

    When we use the phrase,

    常常会在后面再加上一句“百年树人”。

    it is often followed by “bai

    nian shu ren”.

    “十年树木,百年树人”是一个成语。

    ”Shi nian shu mu, bai nian shu ren”

    is an idiom.

    意思是说,培植树木需要十年的时间,

    It means that while it takes

    ten years to cultivate trees,

    而培育人才则需要百年的时间。

    it takes a century to rear

    talented people.

    王渊源:“十年树木,百年树人”

    ”Shi nian shu mu, bai nian shu ren”

    意思是培植树木需要十年的时间,

    means that while it takes ten years

    to cultivate trees,

    而培育人才则需要百年的时间。

    it takes a century to rear

    talented people.

    韩佳: 好,我们再来复习一遍。

    Okay, let’s read the idiom

    once again.

    Shí nián shùmù bǎinián shù rén

    十 年 树木 ,百年 树 人。

    It takes ten years to cultivate trees, but it

    takes a century to rear talented people.

    旁白: 赤壁的山好,树好,

    The mountains and trees at

    Chibi are both good,

    水则更是不用说了。

    let alone its waters.

    飞瀑流泉,溪流纵横。

    There are waterfalls, gurgling springs

    and crisscrossing streams.

    处处水清见底。

    The water here is crystal-clear.

    是不是有点儿小九寨的味道?

    Does it have the flavor of

    Jiuzhai Valley?

    在这秀丽的山山水水之间,

    In this beautiful scenery,

    我倒发现了一处特别的景观。

    I’ve found a very unique spectacle.

    王渊源:韩佳,韩佳,你快来看。

    Han Jia, Han Jia, come

    and look.

    韩佳: 哇,是古梯田啊!

    Wow, a tract of ancient

    terraced land!

    我早就听说这儿的山林里,

    I’ve long heard that in the

    forest here,

    有一片古时候遗留下来的梯田。

    there is terraced land from

    ancient times.

    王渊源:原来是古时候遗留下来的梯田哪。

    It’s actually terraced land from

    ancient times.

    “遗留”就是过去留下来的意思。

    ”Yiliu” means to leave behind,

    or hand down.

    韩佳: “遗留”就是过去留下来的意思。

    ”Yiliu” means to leave behind,

    or hand down.

    王渊源:你看这古梯田,

    Look, the edges of the

    ancient terraces

    边儿上是用小石头一点一点砌起来的。

    are all constructed with small stones.

    韩佳: 对呀。

    Yes.

    想想古时候的人,

    We can imagine

    要在这么高的山上种田,

    how difficult it was for

    the ancients

    真是挺不容易的。

    to grow crops on this mountain.

    王渊源:是啊。

    Yes indeed.

    韩佳,你说他在做什么呢?

    Han Jia, do you know what

    he is doing?

    韩佳: 不知道啊。

    No, I don’t.

    嘉宾: 你看,朝上面看。

    Look, look up there.

    韩佳: 哦,猴子!

    Oh, monkeys!

    王渊源:是猴子呀!你看,好多呀!

    Yeah, monkeys! Look, so

    many of them!

    韩佳: 师傅,您是要喂它们吗?

    Sir, are you going to feed them?

    嘉宾: 嗯。喂粮啊。

    Yes. I’m feeding them

    with cereals.

    王渊源:我们可以喂吗?

    Can we feed them?

    嘉宾: 那可以。

    Sure, of course.

    韩佳: 让我们试试。

    Let us have a try.

    嘉宾: 你们试试。

    Go ahead.

    这有花生。

    Here are some peanuts.

    韩佳: 你看它吃得多认真!

    Look, it is eating so seriously!

    王渊源:是啊。你看,它就盯着这花生呢,

    Yeah. Look, it is staring at

    the peanuts,

    一点儿都不理我们。

    paying no attention to us

    at all.

    韩佳: 猴子当然会盯着

    Monkeys of course pay attention

    它喜爱的食物了。

    to their favorite foods.

    那我们在汉语里,

    In Chinese,

    表示“看”的说法有几十种。

    the word “看” (see) has dozens

    of synonyms.

    这个“盯”是一个动词,

    ”Ding” is a verb,

    表示把视线集中在一点上,

    which means to stare

    非常注意地看。

    at something.

    王渊源:“盯”是一个动词,

    ”Ding” is a verb

    表示把视线集中在一点上,

    that means

    非常注意地看。

    to stare at.

    Hóuzi yìzhí dīng zhe tā ài chī de huāshēng

    猴子 一直 盯 着 它 爱 吃 的 花生。

    The monkey continuously stares at

    the peanuts it loves to eat.

    吃吧。

    Okay.

    韩佳: 请问一下,

    Please tell us

    这里一共有多少只猴子啊。

    how many monkeys there

    are here altogether.

    嘉宾: 两百余只。

    More than 200.

    韩佳: 两百多只呢!

    More than 200!

    来,小猴子,别客气。

    Come on, Little Monkey,

    help yourself.

    吃点花生。

    Eat some peanuts.

    渊源呢?

    Where’s Yuanyuan?

    王渊源:甭找了。我在这儿呢。

    Don’t look for me. I’m here.

    我听说,

    I heard

    这儿的山顶上有个火山口天池。

    there is a volcanic lake on

    the mountaintop.

    不过,我看看时间,

    But taking into account the

    time limit

    也看看这山路,

    and the long mountain path,

    想要在天黑之前

    I didn’t think it’s possible

    一步一步爬上去,

    for us to climb up step

    by step

    看上去是不太可能的。

    before sundown.

    所以我就在当地朋友的帮助下,

    So with the help of local friends,

    找到了这个。

    I found this.

    师傅,您好!

    Hello, sir!

    嘉宾: 您好。

    Hello.

    王渊源:这个能飞多高啊?

    How high can it fly?

    嘉宾: 这个

    The world record

    世界纪录是飞了九千多米。

    is more than 9,000 meters.

    王渊源:那我们要是想到那个天池

    How long will it take for us

    需要多长时间大概?

    to fly over the volcanic lake?

    嘉宾: 大概半个小时吧。

    About 30 minutes.

    王渊源:是吗?那您能带我去吗?

    Really? Can you take me there?

    嘉宾: 可以,可以。

    Sure, sure.

    王渊源:好。

    Okay.

    好了,观众朋友们,

    Well, audience friends,

    一切准备就绪。

    everything is ready.

    韩佳呀,我先走一步,

    Han Jia, I’m going first

    带大家领略一下

    to take our audience for a look

    这赤壁和天池的美景吧。

    at the beautiful Chibi and

    Tianchi Lake.

    好,飞吧!

    Okay, let’s fly!

    赏心悦目:

    福州赤壁是一座天然的森林公园

    Chibi in Fuzhou is a natural forest park.

    原始的自然风貌

    The unspoiled natural scenery

    丰富的动植物资源

    and many varieties of plants and animals

    构成了独特的旖旎风光

    are all tourist attractions.

    人工养殖的短尾猕猴

    The artificially-bred rhesus monkeys

    为这里增添了些许灵气

    add fun and delight to the forest park.

    飞瀑流泉 清澈见底

    Against the backdrop of waterfalls and

    crystal-clear springs,

    顺水漂流 饶有情趣

    an exciting spell of downstream rafting

    仿佛漫游于生态画卷之中

    makes you feel as if you were traveling

    in a picture of ecological beauty.

    韩佳: 哎呀,我们真的应该

    Oh, we should be really

    好好地感谢渊源,

    grateful to Yuanyuan

    让我们看到了

    for allowing us to have a

    glimpse of

    这么美丽的天池风光啊!

    the beautiful Tianchi Lake!

    王渊源:不客气,不客气。

    You’re welcome.

    应该的。

    My pleasure.

    韩佳: 不管怎么说,

    After all,

    你还是辛苦了嘛。谢谢。

    You did a good job.

    Many thanks.

    王渊源:不辛苦,不辛苦。

    I’m flattered.

    应该的。

    It’s what I ought to do.

    韩佳: 那你来给大家出今天的有奖问答题吧?

    Would you please set today’s

    award-winning question for us?

    王渊源:给大家出题呀?

    Set a question for our audience?

    应该的,应该的。

    Sure, my pleasure.

    您听好。

    Listen carefully.

    今天的有奖问答题是这样的。

    Here’s today’s award-winning question.

    (问题部分略)

    好了,我们今天的节目

    Okay, our program for today

    就先到这里了。

    has to end here.

    我们的口号是:

    Our slogan is:

    合: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下!

    Learn Chinese and make friends everywhere!

(Source: cctv.com)