The Great Wall of ChinaThe Great Wall of China is called the "Ten thousand Ii Great Wall" in Chinese. In fact, it' s more than 6 000 kilometres long. It winds its way from west to east, across deserts, over mountains, through valleys till at last it reaches the sea. It is one of the wonders of the world.The Great Wall has a history of over twenty centuries. The first part of it was built during the Spring and Autumn Period. During the Warring States Period, more walls were put up to defend the borders of the different kingdoms. It was during the Qin Dynasty that the kingdom of Qin united the dif ferent parts into one empire. To keep the enemy out of his empire, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had all the walls joined up. Thus, the Great Wall came into being.The Great Wall is wide enough at the top for five horses or ten men to walk side by side. Along the wall are watchtowers, where soldiers used to keep watch. Fires were lit on the the towers as a warning when the enemy came.It was very difficult to build such a wall in the ancient days without any modern machines. All the work was done by hand. Thousands of men died and were buried under the wall they built. The Great Wall was made not only of stone and earth, but of the flesh and blood of millions of men.Today the Great Wall has become a place of interest not only to the Chinese but to people from all over the world. Many of them have come to know the famous Chinese saying: "He who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true man."[点评]长城是世界的奇迹,中国的骄傲,中国人对它了解甚多,但用英语将它描述出来恐非易事。此文描述较为详细,是非常好的背景资料。[参考译文]中国的长城中国的长城汉语中常叫作“万里长城”。实际上它长 6 ooo多公里。它从西到东,穿过沙漠,越过高山,跨过深谷,蜿蜒而行,最后直到海边。它是世界上的奇观之一。长城有两千多年的历史。最早是在春秋时期开始修筑的。战国时期,各诸候国为了保卫自己的边境,分别修筑了更多的城墙。在秦朝时,秦国把各诸侯国统一起来,成为一个帝国。为了御敌于国门之外,秦始皇令人把所有的城墙连接起来。这样,长城就形成了。长城上面很宽,足够五匹马或
人类历史的奇迹长城连续修筑时间之长,工程量之大,施工之艰巨,历史文化内涵之丰富,确是世界其他古代工程所难以相比。中国近代伟大的民主革命先驱孙中山评论长城时说:“中国最有名之工程者,万里长城也。……工程之大,古无其匹,为世界独一之奇观。”美国前总统尼 克松在参观丁长城后说:“只有一个伟大的民族,才能造得出这样一座伟大的长城”。所以说,长城作为人类历史的奇迹,列入《世界遗产名录》,当之无愧。 文化宝藏,历史丰碑万里长城从春秋战国开始,伴随着中国长达2000多年的封 建社会行进。众所周知,一部悠久的古代中国文明史,封建社会是最丰富最辉焊的篇章, 举凡封建社会重大的政治、经济、文化方面的历史事件,在长城身上都打下了烙印。金戈 铁马、逐鹿强场、改朝换代、民族争和等在长城身上都有所反映。长城作为一座历史的实 物丰碑,将水文在中华大地。 在万里长城身上所蕴藏的中华民族2000多年光辉灿烂的文化艺术的内涵十分丰 富,除了城墙、关城、镇城、烽火台等本身的建筑布局、造型、雕饰、绘画等建筑艺术之外, 还有诗词歌赋、民间文学、戏曲说唱等。古往今来不知有多少帝王将相、戍边士卒、骚人墨 客、诗词名家为长城留下了不朽的篇章。边塞诗词已成了古典文学中的重要流派。如李白 的“长风几万里,吹度玉门关”,王昌龄的“秦时明月汉时关,万里长征人未还”,王维的“劝 君更进一杯酒,西出阳关无故人”,岑参的“忽如一夜春风来,干树万树梨花开”等名句,千 载传诵不绝。孟姜女送寒衣的歌词至今还广泛传唱着。 爱国主义教育的场所、旅游观光的胜地 长城以它巍巍雄姿、坚强的体魄,象征着中 华民族坚强不屈的精神,克服困难的毅力。这种精神激励我们永远前进。旅游观光不仅是 游山玩水,而且还兼有强健身体、增加知识、联系友谊以及进行经贸等活动的综合功能。新中国成立之后,党和国家十分重视旅游事业的发展,特别是改革开放以来,发展旅游事 业更是作为政府重点工作之一,优美的自然风光,丰富的文物古迹和多民族丰富多采的 文化艺术,是有中国特色旅游的强大支柱。万里长城以其婉蜒曲折、奔腾起伏的身影点缀着中华大地的锦绣河山,使之更加雄奇壮丽。它既是具有丰富文化内涵的文化遗产,又是 独具特色的自然景观。在旅游开放中,万里长城具有独特的优势。今天国内外游人以“不 到长城非好汉”这一诗句来表达一定要亲自登上长城一览中华悠久文明、壮丽河山的心 情,是完全可以理解的。英国前首相希思在参观长城时说:“中国的过去与将来都同样具 有魅力。……抵达长城时,我觉得比以往从照片上、刺绣上和绘画上见到的长城,更为壮 观了”。这正表明了旅游者要亲自登上长城参观游览的心意。 古塞雄关存旧迹,九州形胜壮山河,巍巍万里长城将与神州大地长存,将与世界文明 永在。
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