英文导游辞

East Lake The East Lake is located in the eastern suburb of Wuhan. It was announced one of China’s key scenic spots and historical sites by the State Council in November of 1982. It's total area is 87 square kilometers, of which about 33 square kilometers are water surface. It’s the biggest city lake of China which is six times as large as the west lake in Hangzhou. The East Lake consists of a lot of small lakes such as Shuiguo Lake, Tuanwo Lake and Yanwo Lake. With a vast expanse of water, the East Lake is fringed by a zigzagging shore, so people regard it to have 99 bends and turns. The west, east and south banks of the East Lake are surrounded by over 30 undulating hills such as the Moshan Hill, the Luojia Hill and the Hongshan Hill, while the north bank is smooth terrain. According to geologists and archaeologists, a long time ago, the Yangtze River overflew it’s banks for many times, the mud and sand brought by floods silted unevenly on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, as time went on, the lower part formed today’s East Lake. Now, we can see, the northern end of East lake connects with the Yangtze River through Qingshan Harbour. Originally it’s water level was regulated by the Yangtze River, but now a lock has been built. Although the water level rises in summer and falls in winter, the difference is not big. In flood season, the average depth is 2.46 meters, in dry season, the average depth is 2.11 meters. Generally speaking, the East lake is deeper among Wuhan’s lakes. The deepest place reaches as much as six meters. So it is an ideal place for water sports such as swimming and boats race. Like other scenic spots, the East Lake has gone through the gradual changes. In 1930, Zhou cangbai a national capitalist, set up the Haihuang Agricultural Nursery here covering an area of 400-mu and built roads and some pavillions on the north–west shore of the lake. In 1935, Xia douyin in charge of Hubei built a three stories pavillion on a small island on the west shore of the lake. He named it Zhongzheng Pavillion in order to curry favor with Jianjieshi who was also known as Jiangzhongzheng. Now we call this pavillion the Huguangge Pavillion. In 1949, Zhoucangbai donated his Haiguang Agriculture Nursery to the state without compensation. In 1950, the central government made a plan to develop East Lake and set up the management office of the East Lake under the jurisdiction of Wuhan Municipal Government. The East Lake is composed of six tourist districts－Listening to the Waves, Moshan Hill, Luojia. Falling Wild Goose, White Horse and Flute Playing Districts. The Listening to the Waves District is located on west shore of the East Lake. The vast shore is planted with pine trees, metasequoia trees and bamboos. When the wind comes, the sounds of pine trees and waves echo each other over a distance, so the district got it’s name. The district consists of a lot scenic spots and devices. They are Listening to the Waves Chamber, Moon Enjoyment Pavillion, Various Scenery Platform, Water Cloud Pavillion, Poem-chanting Pavillion, Quyuan Museum, Lakeside Painting House and Lake-Reflection Pavilion as well as the Nine-Girl Mound, Luxun’s Square. A skating rink, a swimming pool, an open-air theater, restaurants, teahouses, snack counters and a photo studio, etc.. The Listening to the Wave Chamber is surrounded by green bamboos and pine trees. It’s a good place for you to enjoy the sounds of pine trees and waves echoing each other. The Moon enjoyment Pavillion is an ideal place for you to enjoy the moon. It got it’s name from the Chinese poem: “The nearer a pavillion lies to water, the earlier someone standing on the pavillion can enjoy the moon.” When you stand on the Various Scenery Platform, from south you can see the Luojia Hill; From north you can see the Huguangge Pavillion; From east you can see the six peaks of Moshan Hill. When you look down on the East Lake, you can see a lot of criss-crossing boats. Water Cloud Pavilion is situated on the plain shore of East Lake, when you climb up to the second floor, you will find that the flowing cloud in the sky connects with the water of the East Lake. In addition, behind the pavillion is also water. So this kind of scenery will make you imagine that you seem in the hometown of water and cloud. In front of the Poem-chanting Pavilion is the statue of Quyuan who was the great patriotic poet of ancient China. There is a short about the pavillion. Originally, Quyuan was born in Zigui County of Hubei Province during the Warring States Period of China. Because of his talent, he was offered a high rank by the King of the Chu State. He worked loyally for the Chu State and always concerned about common people’s life. Because of his effort, the Chu State became more and more strong. Unfortunately, later the King of Chu State was deceived by traitor and sent him into exile. When he heard the news that the Chu State was defeated by the Qing State later, he felt very sad and drowned himself in the Miluo River of Hunan Province in order to call on Chu people’s patriotism. After Quyuan was exiled, he ever passed Wuhan and wrote and recited some poems on the shore of East Lake. In order to commemorate Quyuan, Wuhan people built this pavillion. Ququan made a great contribution to the culture of China even the world. In September of 1953, the world peace council held a meeting to commemorate the most famous four culture persons, among them one was Quyuan. On the Luxun’s Square stands the statue of Luxun. Luxun was the forerunner of China’s new culture revolution as well as the great writer, thinker and revolutionist. He was born in 1881 and died in 1936. The Nine-Girl Mound is actually the tomb of nine girls. In late Qing Dynasty, Wuchang was ever the revolutionary base of the Taiping Heavenly Troops, in order to defend Wuhan, nine girls fought with the troops of Qing Dynasty and finally sacrificed their lives here. Local people respected them and buried them in the same tomb. In order to avoid the depression of Qing Dynasty, local people called the tomb the Nine-Girl Mound. Moshan District is situated on the southern shore of the lake. It links with the Listening to the Waves District and Luohong District by embankments. The six peaks of Moshan Hill are linked up by the 5.4 kilometers winding mountainous highway. Moshan District mainly consists of the Chu City, the Natural Swimming Pool, the Zhude’s Poem Tablet Pavilion, Cherry Blossom Pavillion and Wuhan’s Botanical Garden. In the Zhude’s Poem Tablet Pavilion there is a tablet on which a poem was written by Zhude. Zhude was ever the chief-commander of china’s PLA Army. The poem has encouraged Wuhan people to develop East Lake. When you climb up to the pavilion, you will have a bird’s eye view of the Wuhan Iron and Steel Complex and the sceneries of the triple-city Wuhan. Around Cherry Blossom Pavilion by the lake side are growing 78 Japanese cherry trees . In 1979, Denyingchao, the wife of China’s famous former premier Zhouenlai paid a visit to Japan. In order to express his miss to Zhouenlai, the premier Tianzhongjiaoyong of Japan presented the 78 cherry trees to Denyingchao. Denyingchao asked to plant these trees in a place where Premier Zhou ever worked and lived. East Lake was just the place. The figure 78 stands for two meanings. Firstly it symbols the age of Premier Zhou. Secondly it symbols the time when china and Japan signed the Peace and FriendShip Treaty in 1978. Luohong District is located on Luojia and Hongshan Hills. The district mainly consists of the institutions of higher learning and research units such as Wuhan University, Hubei Aquatic Biological Research Institute and Wuhan Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Hubei people government is also located in the district. So it is the center of culture and politics of Wuhan, even of Hubei Province. Now the other three districts-Falling Wild Goose, White Horse and Flute Playing District are under construction. The most famous plants in East Lake are plum blossom, lotus flower and metasequoia. Plum blossom and metasequoia have been respectively named the “city flower” and “city tree” of Wuhan City. Metasequoia is reguarded as the “living fossil”, it is a kind of precious tree in the Quaternary Glacier Period and it has a history of 130 years. In 1941, our country’s botanists discovered metasequoia firstly in the west Hubei and this discovery caused a sensation throughout the world. At that time the young trees of metasequoia were sold by weight, its value can compare with gold. In order to commemorate this great discovery in Hubei, in addition, metasequoia has the characteristics of cold resistance, being tall and straight and strong adaptability and it can just symbolize the spirit of Wuhan people’s honesty, frankness and firmness, therefore it was designated as the city tree of Wuhan in 1983. Plum is one of the three plant friends who thrive in cold weather－the pine, the bamboo and the plum. The plum garden in the East Lake of Wuhan is one of the four biggest plum gardens, it has a variety of over 300. The plum research center is set up in this garden. The plum buds in the ice and blooms in the snow, and it sends the flavour of spring and brings hope and happiness to us. Because it is not afraid of ice and snow and blooms in the cold weather and express the dear unyielding spirit, this just can represent the fine character of the brave and diligent Wuhan people, so plum was chosen as the city flower of Wuhan. The lotus flowers total 170 kinds and its variety ranks the first in China and also takes the lead all over the world. The hills, waters and trees of East Lake have attracted a lot of birds. The birds total over 30 kinds. They wildgeese, ducks, chickens, egrets, woodpeckers, magpies and the like. East Lake’s fresh water fish is also very abundant, totaling about 50 kinds. They are Wuchang Fish, common carps, cruician carps, black carps, etc., among these, the Wuchang Fish is the most famous and precious one. The steamed Wuchang Fish is the most famous local dish of Wuhan. Gueiyuan Temple －The Buddhism Center of Central China Gueiyuan Temple is a Buddhist temple of centrl China, located at the west end of Cuiwei Street of Hanyang Town of Wuhan. It was a famous relic of Wuhan. Gueiyuan Temple was built between late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, until now it is over 300 years old. According to legend, during late Ming dynasty there were two brothers in Zhachuan County of Zhejing Province, one was called Baiguang and his Buddhism name was Deming, the other called Zhufeng and his Buddhism name was Dekun, they become monks in the same time. As children, they believed in Buddhism very much, so they often went to other places to broadcast Buddhism. One day, they came to Hanyang town of Wuhan and heard that the area of the present Gueiyuan Temple was a great battle field between Ming troops and Qing troops during the late Ming Dynasty, they were very sad, so they collected the corpses and bones of dead solders and buried them with the help of local people. Then they built a thatched house and recited Buddhism scriptures for dead soldiers in order to send the souls of the dead soldiers into heaven. They were very pious and diligent. In the meantime they came to Xingguo Temple at the foot of Turtle Hill and spent three years to have made the entire worn-out Buddism scriptures well here. Two rich merchants Sunyaoxian and Daitiancheng were moved by their good deeds and donated voluntarily a lot of money to build a temple for them in order to praise their behaviours and broadcast Buddism widely, so Zhufeng and Baiguan named it Gueiyuan Temple, the main meaning of the name is “If you practice Buddhism and do a lot of good deeds, you will become a Buddha and get into heaven after you die.” Gueiyuan Temple together with Baotong Temple, Lianxi Temple and Zhengjue Temple are regarded as the four big temples of Wuhan. During the time between late Ming dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, Buddhism is very popular in China, Gueiyuan Temple’s incense was very prosperous and it became the Buddhism center of Hubei, Henan and Anhui provinces. Contrasting with other temples, Gueiyuan Temple has it’s own three features quite different from other temples. The first feature is the color, Gueiyuan Temple’s color is yellow, you see, in China’s feudal dynasties, “yellow” was the symbol of noble and authority, it was royal family’s special color, only emperor and his family could use this kind of color on their clothes, buildings, etc.. The second feature is the title. The title of Guiyuan Temple is straight, not across. The third feature is the gate shape, the gate of Gue yuan Temple shaped like Chinese character “eight”. Why do Guei yuan Temple has it’s own special three features? According to legend, in Qing dynasty, the emperor Daoguang believed in Buddhism very much and he was moved by Zhufeng and Baiguang’s good deeds, so he bestowed a jade carving stamp on Geiyuan Temple and gave a lot of special rights to Gueiyuan temple. Therefore Gueiyuan Tempe had the style of royal architecture quite different from other temples. Gueiyuan Temple mainly consists of four building groups. They are individually in four courtyards. They are the front courtyard, the east courtyard, the middle courtyard and the west courtyard. The front courtyard was built in recent years, consisting of two buildings, one was called Yunjizhai and the other called Shantayuan. The other courtyards were built originally, just some buildings were renovated. The east courtyard consists of Cuiwei Pavilion, the Hall of Buddhism Recitation, Freeing Captive Animals Pool, Sutra Collection Pavilion and the Bronze Statue of Guanying. Under the Cuiwei Pavilion is and old well, the well has the same age of the temple. As legend goes, the well was quite different from other wells. Its water came from the East China Sea. If you put your ears near it, you could hear the waves sound of the East China Sea. The water of the well could supply about five hundred monks’ daily life. The tea made of this kind of water could help visitors digest and treat stomach trouble, enteritis and skin illness. The wine made of this kind of water were very appeal to you. The Freeing Captive Animals Pool has no artificial fountain, but its water always remain clear at the same level all the year round. You see, Wuhan is very hot in summer and other pools’ water easily become dry, so people think that’s incredible, some people owe this to the good deeds of Zhufeng and Baiguang, the ancestors of Gueiyuan Temple. In the Hall of Buddhism Recitation are the three saints of the western sky. The left one with a clear water bottle in her hands is the Bodhisatava Guanying, always helping people in needs, the right one with two servants beside him is Amitabha Buddha, domaining the western sky’s happiness. The right one with lotus flower in his hands is the Bodhisatava Dashizhi. Under their seats are a few groups of wood carvings, exhibiting the legends and stories of Buddhism. Besides the altar are the other two devoted BodhisatavasWenshu and Puxian. There is an incense table in front of the altar, on the table there are four pictures, visitors are difficult to imagine their meanings. Now please look at these from right to left. The first picture tells us the following: when the great monk Xuanzhang of Tang Dynasty fetched the Buddhism scriptures from the west and returned to country with his three disciples (Monkey Sun, Monk Sha and Pig Bajie), the second emperor Lishiming of Tang Dynasty went out of his palace to meet them; The second picture tells us the following: in the western sky, Sakamuni and his disciples were praying for gods; The third one tells us the following: Sakamuni was sitting on the lotus platform with the Bodhisatava Weituo and Qielan standing beside him. Weituo and Qielan were in charge of the western.sky’s law and Eighteen Arhats, Sakamuni was offering posts to Xuanzhang and his three disciples; The fourth one tells us the following: the monks were worshipping Sakamuni and other ten Buddhas. In fact , the four pictures are not the history records, just the exhibitions of some stories extracted form Chinese classical novel “Pilgrims to the west”. In the Hall of Sutra Collection Pavilion, there are three treasures. The first one is a piece of calligraphy, on a piece of paper which is no more than twenty centimeters wide and long, a famous calligrapher wrote two articles of Buddhism scriptures “Jingganing Sutra” and “Xinjing Sutra” totaling 5424 Chinese characters with writing brush, and all these characters formed a great Chinese character “Buddhism”. The second one is the original texts of Buddhism scriptures “Huayanjing Sutra” and “Fahuajing Sutra” written with some volunteer’s blood. The third one is the jade statue of Sakamuni carved with a great block pure white jade weighing 3 tons, it was presented to Wuhan by a high-level monk of Burma in1935. It is preserved well till now. This is the bronze statue of Guanying weighing 250 kilograms. It was presentd to Gueiyuan Temple by Monk Mingguang, the Buddhist abbot of a temple of Taiwan. In order to improved the relationship between Taiwan and Inland, Monk Changming, the abbot of Gueiyuan Temple invited Monk Mingguang to pay a visit to Gueiyuan Temple, to meet Monk Changming’s invitation, Monk Mingguang took the bronze statue of Guanying as a present and paid a visit to Gueiyuan Temple in 1990. The middle courtyard consists of two buildings: the front building and the back building , the front building is called the Hall of Bodhisatava Weituo. In the hall there are three Bodhisatavas: the middle one is Weituo who is in charge of the law of the western sky, the left one is the Charity Buddha Mile, always smiling to people and making them happy. The right one is the Qielan, actually being the incarnation of the great just and brave general Guanyu of the Su Kingdom during the Three Kingdom’s Period of China. The back building is called the Grand Hall in which the statue of Sakamuni is standing. According to legend, originally Sakamuni was the prince of a state of ancient India, he was born in 565BC and died in 486BC. So he had lived for 80 years, he lived in the same time of Confucius who was the founder of Yu family and regarded as the saint of China. Confucius was younger only two years than Sakamuni. It’s Sakamuni who created Buddhism. Beside Sakamuni are his two disciples. The left one was called Ananda who was the youngest one of the most famous ten disciples of Sakamuni’s, the right one was called Mahakashyapa who was the eldest one of the most famous ten disciples of Sakamuni’s. At first, Mahakashyapa was a disciple of Brahmanism another religion of ancient India. With the spreading of Buddhism, he thought Buddhism was more reasonable than Brahmanism, so he transferred to believe in Buddhism and become one disciple of Sakamuni’s. It is said, when Sakamuni was alive, there was not copyright record of Buddhism scriptures, people spreaded Buddhism only depending on recitation. After Sakamuni died, in order to spread Buddhism more widely, Mahakashyapa and Ananda held a meeting of Buddhism scripture recitation, among all the disciples of Sakamuni, Ananda was the cleverest, he had a very good memory, he almost recited all the Buddhism scriptures that Sakamuni ever spreaded, so Mahakashyapa asked somebody to make a good record and made these into some books of Buddhism scriptures. This is why we can read Buddhism books today. In front of the statue of Sakamuni, there is an incense table 3.6 meters long and 0.8 meters wide, the table is a very precious wood-carving of GueiYuan Temple. It was carved by craftsmen according to the famous Chinese classical novel “Pilgrimages to West” written by Wuchenen of Ming Dynasty. One picture shows us that five dragons are playing one precious pearl. The other shows us the f