Archive for February 18th, 2009

Beijing Olympic – Special bank notes build on Olympic zest in HK

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

The Bank of China (Hong Kong) on Wednesday officially released the special HK dollar bank notes commemorating the upcoming Beijing Olympics, building on the expanding sports zest in the Olympic co-host city.

Many holders of previously issued purchase passes gathered again in front of the landmark Bank of China Tower in Central, Hong Kong, shortly after daybreak on Wednesday in hopes of touching what they wanted as early as possible.

“I am very, very happy, and a bit nervous because there are so many journalists,” said a woman surnamed Lai, the lucky first one to get the bank note packages. “I am a private collector. I wouldn’t trade it for even 100,000 dollars.”

BOC Hong Kong were selling 4 million pieces of 20-HK-dollar Olympic bank notes, or 3.14 million items, including some multiple-in-1 packages. Buyers in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region would get 2.93 million items, and the rest went to the Macao Special Administrative Region and other places outside the mainland.

Special packages, however, were only a minor part of the total, with only 20,000 items of the 35-in-1 uncut notes and similar figures for other packages, pushing the market prices for the packages to more than double their official release prices.

Queuing had started in Hong Kong as early as Monday afternoon, more than one day ahead of the notes’ official release. Hundreds held on until late Monday when thunderstorms forced BOC Hong Kong to register those queuing in the lines.

Most of the queuers got purchasing passes on Tuesday afternoon.

Still many more joined the lines Tuesday and some on Wednesday, although the bank announced late Tuesday they had run out of passes for three of the five categories and that they would continue issuing purchasing passes for later days of July.

About 100 people lined up in front of the Bank of China Tower overnight, and some said they were hoping to get purchases passes for the remaining packages.

Single-note items were also on offer starting from Wednesday at BOC Hong Kong offices in Hong Kong, although the queuing lines were much shorter.

BOC Hong Kong unveiled the special note last week. The front features a picture of a plinth, the Beijing 2008 logo and the Bank of China tower in Hong Kong. On the reverse is the image of the Beijing Olympic stadium, also known as the “Bird’s Nest”.

Some of the buyers said they were hoping to make a profit by reselling the notes, while others said they would keep them as souvenirs commemorating the Olympic Games.

“I bought all the five categories of note packages as part of my private collection. I am interested because it carries a lot of history. It is the first time ever that China will host the Olympic Games,” said a youth surnamed Chan.

(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 423

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
 
 

     合: 快乐学汉语,轻松又好记。

  Learn Chinese with fun.

  It’s delightful and easy to remember.

  我是快乐的韩佳。

  I am the happy Han Jia.

  大牛:我是快乐的大牛。

  And I am the happy Daniel.

  韩佳:好了,大牛,上船吧。

  Okay, Daniel, get aboard the boat.

  大牛:韩佳,等等。我们今天去哪儿啊?

  Han Jia, wait a minute.

  Where are we going today?

  韩佳:我们要去游山水长廊。

  We are going to tour a landscape gallery.

  哦不,诗画长廊,

  Oh, no, it’s a gallery of poetry

  and landscape

  哦,还有还有…历史长廊。

  and also history.

  大牛:到底是哪个啊?

  What kind of galley is it, after all?

  你有没有谱啊?

  Are you sure?

  韩佳:就是集山水、诗画、

  It’s a comprehensive gallery of landscape,

  历史长廊于一身的建德富春江。

  poetry and history-the Fuchun

  River near Jiande.

  走。

  Come on.

  大牛:这样说我就知道了。

  Now I am clear.

  韩佳:两岸青山相对出,

  ”Two picturesque mountains face

  each other on the banks.

  一脉秀水迤逦来。

  A graceful river flows below meanderingly.”

  大牛:韩佳,你背的是谁的诗?

  Han Jia, whose poem are you reciting?

  听着还挺悦耳。

  It sounds so pleasant to the ears.

  韩佳:谁的诗?我也记不清了。

  Whose poem? I don’t quite remember.

  我只是觉得用这两句诗

  But I think these two lines

  来形容我们眼前的美景

  can most aptly describe the scenery

  再合适不过了吧。

  before us.

  大牛:合适。不过你刚才说了一个词

  Yes, indeed. But I don’t understand

  “迤逦”我不懂。

  the word “yi li” you said.

  韩佳:迤逦就是形容曲曲折折、连绵不断的样子。

  ”yi li” means “meandering

  and endless”.

  用来形容我们眼前的江水

  Is it a most suitable word to be used

  还挺合适的吧?

  to describe the river before us?

  大牛:挺合适。

  Yes, very suitable.

  迤逦,读三声,形容曲曲折折、连绵不断的样子。

  ”yi li”, two third tones, means both

  meandering and endless.

  迤逦。

  ”yi li”.

  韩佳,我们干吗放着快艇不坐

  Han Jia, why should we take a sampan

  非要坐帆船呢?

  since there are speedboats here?

  Wǒmen gànmá fàngzhe kuàitǐng bú zuò, fēi yào zuò fānchuán ne?

  我们 干吗 放着 快艇 不 坐,非 要 坐 帆船 呢?

  Why do we have to go on this sailboat

  if there are speedboats available?

  韩佳:我不是想让你体验一下

  That’s because I want you to experience

  七里扬帆的快感嘛。

  the great joy of “qi li yang fan”.

  大牛:你别说七里,我们前后的帆船

  Seven li? All the boats both before and

  加起来也不到一百米长呢。

  behind us put together are no more

  than 100 meters in length.

  韩佳:七里扬帆不是指江上的船只

  ”qi li yang fan” does not refer to boats

  加起来有七里长。

  put together being seven li in length.

  而是指扬起风帆的船只全速前进

  It means to sail at full speed

  二十公里的水路就像七里那么短。

  to cruise this 20-kilometer waterway as if

  it were only seven li (3.5 kilometers) long.

  大牛:这里有一块石碑“胥江野渡”。

  Here is a stone stele inscribed with

  ”xu jiang ye du”.

  这石碑上的字什么意思?

  What does the inscription mean?

  韩佳:胥是一个人的名字,

  ”xu” is a person’s name, referring to

  就是指伍子胥。渡就是指渡口。

  Wu zixu. “du” in here means a ferry.

  大牛:原来说的是吴国大臣伍子胥啊。

  Oh, it actually refers to Wu Zixu,

  a minister of the State of Wu.

  韩佳:没错。你听说过一句歇后语没有:

  Exactly. Have you ever heard of this

  xiehouyu (two-part allegorical saying):

  “伍子胥过昭关,一夜白了头。”

  ”Wu Zixu passed Zhaoguan-but

  his hair turned white overnight.”

  大牛:这可是我头一次听说。

  This is the time I’ve ever heard of it.

  他怎么会一夜之间头发就白了呢?

  How could his hair turn white overnight?

  韩佳:伍子胥是春秋时期的楚国人。

  Wu Zixu was a man of the State

  of Chu.

  他被楚王追杀逃到了昭关。

  He was chased by the king of Chu

  all the way to Zhaoguan.

  他看见昭关这个地方

  At Zhaoguan, he saw his portrait

  到处都张贴着他的画像。

  posted everywhere.

  于是心急如焚,

  Due to his great anxiety,

  一夜之间头发全白了。

  his hair turned all white overnight.

  大牛:那伍子胥跟这个渡口

  Then did Wu Zixu have anything

  有什么关系呢?

  to do with this ferry?

  韩佳:伍子胥逃到富春江边,

  Cornered at the bank of the Fuchun River,

  看见江水很急

  Wu Zixu found the currents very rapid

  后面又有官兵追杀。

  and the chasing troops closely behind.

  一位老翁划着船把他送到了对岸,

  Then an old man rowed a boat over

  and sent him to the other bank,

  也就是我们现在站的这个地方。

  which is exactly where we are

  standing now.

  他就是从这儿顺利地逃到吴国的。

  It was from here that he successfully

  fled to the State of Wu.

  大牛:所以这里被叫做子胥渡?

  That’s why this place is called

  the Zixu Ferry?

  韩佳:没错。

  Exactly.

  大牛:没想到,在这里曾经发生过

  I didn’t expect that such a thrilling story

  这么惊心动魄的事情。

  could have taken place right here.

  Zhèli céngjīng fāshēngguo zhème jīng xīn dòng pò de shìqing!

  这里 曾经 发生过 这么 惊 心 动 魄 的 事情!

  Such startling events happened here.

  韩佳:好了好了,看过了子胥渡,

  Well, after seeing the Zixu Ferry,

  我们现在应该去看看

  we’d better go and take a look

  铁拐李的宝葫芦。走。

  at the Treasure Gourd of Tiguai Let’s go.

  大牛:这里真安静。

  It’s so quiet here.

  除了鸟叫声就是水声。

  All we hear are the chirping of birds

  and the gurgling of water.

  韩佳:这里是富春江上的一个小峡湾。

  Here’s a little bend along the

  Fuchun River.

  你看,碧水之上青峰耸立。

  Look up at the green peaks

  above the clear water.

  像不像一个天然的大盆景?

  Does it look like a huge natural bonsai?

  大牛:有点儿意思。

  That’s interesting.

  不过我们怎么看上大盆景了?

  But why are to see this huge

  bonsai there?

  不是要去看看铁拐李的葫芦吗?

  Did you say we are going to see

  the Treasure Gourd of Tieguai Li?

  在哪儿呢?

  Where is it?

  韩佳:别急嘛。上了岸你就能看见了。

  Be patient. You’ll see it as soon

  as we get ashore.

  大牛,你看那儿。

  Daniel, look over there.

  那就是葫芦。

  That’s the gourd.

  大牛:原来你说的是一处瀑布。

  It is actually a waterfall.

  我看出来了。

  Now I’ve found it.

  两处岩洞相连还真像是个大葫芦。

  The two rock caves linked together

  does look like a giant gourd.

  韩佳:传说铁拐李云游到此,

  Legend has it that when Tieguai

  Li traveled here,

  被这里秀丽迷人的风光所吸引,

  he was so enchanted by the

  scenery here

  于是迷迷糊糊地

  he subconsciously left

  就把盛酒的葫芦都落在这儿了。

  his wine-containing gourd here.

  大牛:这铁拐李怎么老丢东西?

  How did Tieguai Li always lose things?

  Tā zěn me lǎo diū dōngxi a?

  他 怎么 老 丢 东西 啊?

  Why is he always losing things?

  这铁拐李怎么老丢东西?

  How did Tieguai Li always lose things?

  他身上还有多少东西

  How many things would he still have

  禁得起这么丢啊。

  to “jin de qi” his carelessness.

  韩佳:禁得起这个词用得地道。

  You used the word “jin de qi” perfectly.

  “禁得起”就是承受得住的意思。

  ”jin de qi” means to be up to.

  大牛:没错。

  Exactly.

  “禁得起”就是承受得住的意思。

  ”jin de qi” means to be up to.

  例如,禁得起考验。

  ”jing de qi kao yan” to be up to

  the challenge.

  禁得起。

  ”jin de qi”.

  韩佳,我这个词用得不错吧?

  Han Jia, did I use the word perfectly?

  韩佳:好极了。

  Yes, indeed.

  大牛:其实不是我大牛自吹,

  I am not bragging but it is true that

  很多人都夸我汉语说得标准流畅。

  many say to me that I speak Chinese

  correctly and fluently.

  韩佳:瞧瞧他,说他胖,他就喘了。

  You see, if you said he is fat,

  he would huff and puff.

  大牛:这句话什么意思?

  What doe it mean?

  韩佳:反正不是夸你。至于什么意思呢,

  The fact is that I am not flattering you.

  As for its meaning,

  你自己慢慢琢磨吧。

  you’d better try and figure it out yourself.

  我们去看看今天的赏心悦目。

  Time now for today’s Feast for the Eyes.

  一会儿见。

  See you later.

  赏心悦目:

  素有“小三峡”之称的富春江风景秀丽

  The Fuchun River is famed for its scenery,

  comparable with that of the Lesser Three Gorges.

  葫芦瀑布因铁拐李的传说而闻名

  The Hulu Waterfall is known for a legend

  that relates to Tieguai Li,

  山洞的葫芦形是罕见的自然风景

  The gourd-shaped caves are a unique natural

  spectacle of the mountain.

  葫芦湾碧水映着青山

  The clear Hulu River reflects the images of

  green mountains on the banks.

  子胥渡记载着当年惊心动魄的故事

  The Zixu Ferry bears witness to an

  ancient thrilling story.

  七里杨帆是这里独有的景观

  Qiliyangfan is an extraordinarily scenic

  section of the Fuchun River.

  杨帆飞舟让人体验到别样的快感

  Saling a boat here is an exciting experience.

  大牛:啊,这里的青山是多么多么的青!

  Oh, the mountains here are so blue!

  这里的绿水是多么多么的绿!

  And the rivers here so green!

  大家都等着听我的作品哪。

  Our audience is waiting to hear my poem.

  韩佳:听什么你的作品?

  What poem?

  大家都等着你出题呢。

  They are all waiting for your question.

  大牛:今天的问题是这样的。

  Today’s question is as follows.

  (问题部分略)

  知道答案的朋友们,

  If you know the answer,

  可以通过屏幕上的方式

  you may use the method given onscreen

  参与我们的答题活动。

  to participate in this interactive activity.

  韩佳:精美礼品等您拿。

  A beautiful gift is awaiting you.

  大牛:最后别忘了我们的口号:

  Before we go, we’d like to remind you

  not to forget our motto-

  合: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下。

  Learn Chinese and have friends everywhere.

(Source: cctv.com)

China Travel – Bell Tower of Kaiyuan Temple

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

The Bell Tower of Kaiyuan Temple is situated in Zhengding County of Hebei Province.

 

The tower is an early construction in northern China that holds an important position in Chinese architectural history. Built in 540 in the East Wei Dynasty (534-550), the tower was renovated in 898 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The temple has long been destroyed and abandoned with only the bell tower and a brick pagoda remaining. The square-shaped bell tower has a width and a depth of three rooms. The two-storied tower has a gable and hip roof covered in black tiles. The tower is 14 meters high and covers an area of 135 square meters. Its huge, powerfully carved brackets reflect the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty. An old bell, said to be a Tang cultural relic, hangs inside the tower. The mighty bell, which is 2.9 meters tall and 15 centimeters thick, with a diameter of 1.5 meters, produces a thunderous sound. The bell tower of the Kaiyuan Temple has been listed as one of the national key protected sites and is open to the public.

(Source: chinaculture.org)