Archive for December, 2009

Beijing Olympic – South African sprinters gear up for Beijing Olympics

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

The African 200m champion, Isabel le Roux, who will represent South Africa at the Olympic Games in Beijing in August, recorded her fastest time since arriving in Europe four weeks ago.

She clocked 23.03 seconds to win the 200 meters at the 13th Annual Athletics Festival in Velenje, Slovenia on Thursday night.

In her previous two 200m races she recorded times of 23.05 and 23.31 sec, according to a report by the South African Press Association on Friday.

Roux edged Natalia Pygyda of Ukraine in an exciting battle to the finish. Pygyda finished second in 23.10 sec with Sabina Veit of Slovenia third in 23.40 sec.

Hannes Dreyer, South Africa’s leading sprinter of the year, had to settle for third in the 100 meters in a time of 10.41 sec with Corne du Plessis fifth in 10.72 sec. Aziz Zakari of Ghana was the winner in 10.31 sec.

(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)

China Travel – Slender West Lake(2)

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

The Xiaojin Hill (Little Golden Hill), an islet in the lake, was built in the middle period  (1644-1742) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). During the Qing Dynasty, in order to open a water channel connecting the Slender West Lake and the Daming Monastery, a canal was excavated in the northwest side of the lake. The mud excavated from the river course was piled up to form a small hill that we can still see today, namely the Xiaojin Hill. A pavilion named Wind Pavilion, located at the top of the hill, is the highest spot in this scenic area.

The Five-Pavilion Bridge rests on the lake, just like a belt. It gained its name from the five pavilions built on it. Elaborate in its structure and magnificent in its decorations, this bridge has become a mark along the tour route of Yangzhou City. Built in the Qing Dynasty, it was specially designed for Emperor Qianlong’s inspection tour. The Five-Pavilion Bridge has an elegant appearance and possesses the characters of architecture in both northern China and southern China. Its yellow tiles and red columns supported by white balusters have the architectural feature in southern China while its thick piers have the architectural feature in northern China. Besides, it is also a harmonious combination of the garden architecture and bridge architecture.

Another island lying in the lake is Fuzhuang (Mallard Village), a construction built on the waterside and looking like a mallard swimming in the lake from the distant. The White Pagoda, which is an imitation of the Beihai White Pagoda in Beijing, lies south of the Five-Pavilion Bridge.

(Source: chinaculture.org)

Chinese Pinyin – chi (褫)

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

褫    [chǐ]

国标码:F1DD 部首:衤 笔画:15 笔顺:452343321531535
strip
undress
deprive of
to discharge
dismiss
(Source: dict.cn)