泛读教程_第三册_Unit9_The_Unforgettable_Hong_Kong

The Unforgettable Hong Kong

The plane arcs softly into its final descent at Hong Kong International Airport. Below, Victoria Harbour, and the silent rhythms of countless ships. Beyond, sloping mountains fence in a breathtaking city view that seems to stretch forever. (飞机的柔和的弧线最终降落到了香港国际机场。下方是维多利亚港，无数的船只演奏着无声的旋律。远处，环绕着山体斜坡令人叹为观止的城市景色仿佛一直延伸到无际无边。)
This is no ordinary airport. This is no ordinary city.（这不是一个普通的机场。这是一座非凡的城市。）
An elderly man passes by wearing pyjamas, bearing a brightly feathered bird singing merrily in its cage.（一位穿着睡衣的老人经过，手上提着一个鸟笼，一只颜色鲜艳的鸟儿在里面欢快地歌唱。）
Professionals gather at a roadside kitchen for noodles, congee and shrimp. （上班族聚在路边的餐馆里吃面条，喝粥，吃小虾。）
Incense from a tiny Taoist temple drifts into the pounding beat of rock music pouring out of a discotheque.（一个小道观里飘出来的檀香混杂着从迪斯科厅里流出的摇滚乐有力的节奏，浑然一体。）
A ferry travels on the nearby water regularly, taking passengers to an isolated island 40 minutes away, where Buddhist temples and tiny fishing villages dot the landscape. （一只渡船时常穿梭在附近的水面上，把乘客们带到离此处40分钟里程的一个孤岛上，在那里，佛寺和小渔村点缀着迷人的风景。）
Hong Kong. Here, 161 km. south of the Tropic of Cancer, beats the pulse of Southeast Asia’s heart. Where East greets West, and past colours present. （香港，北回归线以南161千米，东南亚心脏的起搏器，这里东西交融，呈现着昔日的色彩。）
Where does one start? （从何开始呢？）
The streets are exciting with the sheer force of so many lives, and so many contrasts, moving in so many different directions.（街道上挤满了熙熙攘攘的人群，但他们又都形形色色，奔着不同的方向。）
Even transportation proves an experience. A double-decker tram provides a bird’s-eye view of neon signs twisted into huge Chinese characters, dwarfing the human parade below.（甚至是交通线也展示着一次经历。从双层的有轨电车上鸟瞰霓虹灯镶嵌成巨幅的中文，使下面的人群显得如此的渺小。）
Another tram, in operation since 1888, stumbles 396 m. straight up Victoria Peak. You see the city stretches out mute at your feet. The islands of the South China Sea are beyond, and further, the mountains of China.（另一辆有轨电车，从1888年就启动运行，慢行396米直达维多利亚顶峰。你可以看到这座城市悄无声息地在你脚下延展开来。南海上的岛屿隐约可见，更远处，可以看到中国的青山。）
The Star Ferry makes its way across the harbour, leaving not

hing but wonder in its wake. So much to see. So much to do.（星星渡船横过海港，留下的只有它醒来的奇迹。有如此多可以观看，如此多可以去做。）
A Buddhist temple stands proud in the middle of the city. Inside, all is dark and quiet. The glow of the joss sticks beckons from across the cavernous room, grains of dust whirling upward in the reflected light.（一座佛寺矗立在城市的中央。里面一片昏暗，而又静谧。线香的红光在宽敞的房子里吸引着无数的目光，缭绕的烟雾在灯光的照射下缓缓上升。）
Within Walled Villages, hidden societies observe an age-old lifestyle. Steps away from the roar of the Hong Kong metropolis, they remain centuries removed.（被围墙环绕的村庄，一个隐蔽隔绝的小社会，见证着古老的生活方式。远离香港大都市的喧嚣，好似遗留在几百年前。）
Further back in time, Sung Dynasty Village recreates the Chinese era from A.D. 960 to 1279. Beautifully constructed shops and houses, intricate costumes, typical wares and skilled craftsmen bring a past to life.（让时间回流，宋朝古村落再现了公元960到1279年的中国风貌。修缮细致精美的商店和房屋，精致的服饰，典型的用具及技术娴熟的工匠把我们带回到过去的生活。）
The beaches of Repulse Bay, Stanley and Shek O, where sun worshippers and water sports reign. The Botanical Gardens, with exotic plants and animals. Golf, tennis, dancing, shopping or a harbour cruise.（浅水湾的海滩,Stanley 和Shek O ,那是一个热爱阳光和水上运动者的天堂。植物园里充满异国情趣的动植物。还有高尔夫，网球，舞会，购物或者是港湾巡弋。）
This is Hong Kong. And its only the beginning.（这就是香港。但这还只是开始。）

Heart and Soul of a People（一个民族的心脏和灵魂）
Hong Kong may have been established in 1841 by British traders, but its roots extend far deeper.（香港可能由英国商人于1841年设立，但其根源远远更深。）
Small farming and fishing communities were scattered throughout the territory in the third century B.C.（小型农业和渔业社区在公元前三世纪被分散在整个地区。）
Today, this heritage remains strong, in a land of extraordinary customs and fascinating beliefs.（如今，在有着独特风俗和迷人信仰的土地上，这个遗产仍然强劲。）
Of an Eastern culture thriving amid one of the world’s most contemporary cities.（带着东方文化，跻身于世界上最为繁荣的当代城市。）
Behind you, between briefcases and three-piece suits, an old man with his caged bird makes his way to morning tea.（在你身后，公文包和西装之间，一个老人带着他的笼中鸟，走在去喝早茶的路上。）
Symbolism exerts a powerful influence. Stone lions are everywhere, protecting banks and businesses from misfortune. Goldfish keep away evil inf

luences.（象征主义发挥着强大的影响力。石狮随处可见，保护银行和和企业免遭不幸。金鱼使邪恶的影响远离。）
The graceful movements of Tai Chi colour the early morning street. This graceful martial art, practised by young and old, lends a surreal touch to the normal hustle and bustle.（太极拳的优美动作为清晨的街头增添色彩。这年轻人和老年人练习的优美的武术，带来了一个对忙乱平凡的喧嚣的超现实的感触。）
Festivals and celebrations dominate the calendar.（节日和庆典主宰日历。）
The Dragon Boat Festival, with paddlers competing in the territory’s harbours; the Festival of Hungry Ghosts, when local people set out trays of food for the spirits believed to be temporarily released from hell; Chinese New Year, celebrating the coming of the new Lunar Year, a time to visit family.（端午节，桨手在港口相互竞争;饿鬼节时，当地人摆出用盘子盛的食物给他们认为暂时地从狱盘释放的魂灵；中国新年，庆祝即将到来的农历新年，是看望家人的时候。）
The beautiful lantern-lit mid Autumn Moon Festival; the Bun Festival on Cheung Chau Island; and the Ching Ming Festival, a time to visit the graves of dearly departed.（燃着灯笼的美丽的中秋节；还有长洲岛太平清醮节；以及清明节，为故去的亲友扫墓。）
One day it’s the Queen’s Birthday, another is the Birthday of Tin Hau, goddess of fishermen.（有一天是女王的生日，另一个是渔民的女神，天后的生日。）
A respect for tradition, a firm faith in all things spiritual, mystical and familial. These are the keys to the mysterious Chinese soul beating at the heart of Hong Kong; to a culture that never ceases to fascinate.（一个对传统的尊重，一种对一切精神的、神秘的和家族事物的坚定信念。这些都是神秘的中国灵魂在香港的心中跳动的关键;在一个从未停止着迷的文化。）

Earthly Treasures（人间宝藏）
“If you can’t find it in Hong Kong, it doesn’t exist.”（“如果什么东西是你在香港找不到的，那么它就不存在。”）
The truth of this saying becomes abundantly clear.（这一说法的事实变得昭然若揭。）
The variety of goods, both Western and Oriental, is astounding.（包括西方和东方的各种货物，令人惊叹。）
Duty-free prices only add to the temptation.（免税价格更增加了诱惑。）
Turn left, and a sophisticated department store attracts you with designer labels from around the world.（左转，一个成熟的百货公司以世界各地的设计师的品牌吸引你前往。）
Turn right, and a street market herbalist offers dried root, snakes and tea.（右转，是一个提供干燥根，蛇和茶的街道草药市场。）
Jade, porcelain, pearl and gold weigh down store shelves.（玉器，瓷器，珍珠和黄金使商店的货架不堪重负。）

Antiques, both Oriental and Occidental, are pre-international market and pre-international priced.（东方和西方的古董，是前国际市场，前国际价格。）
Everywhere — watches. Strikingly attractive designs, every maker under the sun. And stereos in every size, colour, shape and sound.（手表，无处不在。在太阳下，其设计尤其引人注目。还有所有不同大小，颜色，形状和声音的立体声。）
Local tailors appraise your form as you pass. Their craft is flawless, their prices ? peerless.（当你经过的时候，当地裁缝会评价你的着装。他们的手艺是完美的，它们的价格无与伦比。）
Beyond the tailors wait ready-to-wear clothes from the world’s famous designers.（除了裁缝，是现成的来自世界著名设计师的衣服。）
Whatever you’re looking to buy, Hong Kong is looking to sell.（无论你想买什么，香港都有售。）

The Endless Night（无尽的夜）
The sun sets. Neon light blinds the night.（夕阳西下。霓虹照亮了夜幕。）
Time stops, and you're about to experience the magic of a city that works as hard at pleasure as it does at business.（时间都停止了，你即将感受这座享乐如同它的商业那样繁华的都市的独特魔力。）
The evening begins with a pre-dinner cocktail high up in a hotel overlooking the harbour. You gaze out the window, wondering where in all this wonderful glitter you'd like to go first.（在酒店里俯瞰整个港湾，高举餐前鸡尾酒，夜晚随之而来临。你凝视窗外，想从这些斑斓的光亮中找出你一见钟情的地方。）
Perhaps a dinner on a sampan, or a Chinese theatre-restaurant.（也许晚餐就在舢板上或者是中国式剧院餐馆进行。）
Afterwards, Chinese opera can envelop you in the magnificence of another world, another time. The discos and nightclubs are set to toast the rising sun.（然后，中国戏剧可以把你再次带入另一个神奇的世界。迪斯科和夜总会一直到拥抱旭日初升的第二天。）
At the two racetracks, advanced computers monitor the action on the track and in the stands.（两个赛马场里面，先进的电脑监控着跑道和看台上发生的一切。）
Hopeful bets are placed, tense decisions made and Hong Kong’s most passionate spectator activity is underway.（充满希望的赌注已经下定，紧张的决定已经做出，香港最富有激情看点的活动准备就绪。）
Movie houses show American, European and, of course, Cantonese films.（电影院放映着来自美国，欧洲的影片，当然，还有粤语电影。）
There are plays, recitals, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and arts festivals. （这里有戏剧，音乐演奏会，香港交响乐团，还有艺术节。）
Simply go for a midnight, moonlight stroll. Take in the colorful street life that never stops.（在有月光照耀的半夜，仅仅是出去漫步一下，就可感受到五彩

缤纷而又从不休憩的城市生活。）
Or ride a romantic ferry and let the world carry on without you.（或者是乘上浪漫的渡船，让世界不因为你而停止运转。）
There is endless magic in the Hong Kong night.（这就是香港的无尽魔力。）

A Taste of the Extraordinary（一种非凡的品味）
Like a child in a candy shop, the food lover in Hong Kong has little chance of knowing where to begin. You consider Cantonese, but remember that great little Chiu Chau place you passed in the afternoon.（就像一个孩子在糖果店，在香港，食物热爱者很难知道从哪里开始品尝。你知道粤菜，但要记住你下午经过的潮州。）
You’ve heard Shanghainese is a taste all its own, but maybe a fine Szechuan is in order.（你听说过上海菜口味独特，但也许四川菜也是如此。）
Then, there are the Vietnamese, Korean, French, Indian, Indonesian, Italian and other foods too many to mention.（然后，还有越南，韩国，法国，印度，印度尼西亚，意大利和其他菜式，无法枚举。）
The dilemma. The delightful, mouthwatering dilemma.（这是困境，令人愉快的，令人垂涎的困境。）
There are about 6,000 restaurants in Hong Kong — one for every craving.（香港大约有6000个餐厅-满足每一个渴望。）
You won’t make it to every one, but you’ll have an unforgettable time trying.（你不会尝遍所有，但每一次尝试都很难忘。）
Dish after dish comes steaming to your table; snake, beggar’s chicken, eel cooked in wine, Peking duck, Mongolian hot pot, shark’s fin soup.（菜不断的被端上桌；蛇肉，叫花鸡，酒醉鳗鱼，北京烤鸭，蒙古火锅，鱼翅汤。）
Or “Dim Sum” — Cantonese for “to touch the heart” — lunchtime tradition dating back to the tenth century.（或是“点心” -粤语中的意思是“摸心” -午餐的传统可以追溯到十世纪。）
Huge floating restaurants in Aberdeen, tiny dinner sampans floating in Causeway Bay, or dai pai dong open-air street stalls.（在香港仔的巨大水上食肆，在铜锣湾小船上的浮动晚餐，或是街头的露天大排档。）
For gourmets and for those with a no less enthusiastic passion for food in all its glory, dreams do come true. In Hong Kong.（美食家和那些对食物有极大激情的人都会在香港梦想成真。）