2018-08-25
【Aiden in English】
Well, it's the final day. I'm not particularly glad to go home, but YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram have a large hole that food can't fill. Additionally, I miss air conditioning and don't sweat all day. Philadelphia is a rather hot city temperature-wise, but the air feels crisp and refreshing, not a massive wet towel plastered to your skin. Speaking of which, a cool shower would feel great right now. So, I'm back in Beijing for a 25-hour layover, which gives Mom and me almost a day to run around and three meals to fill the last cravings. Unfortunately, the first one was filled on the plane, and the quality could only improve from there. The other two days previously spent in Beijing were accommodated by Air China, resulting in hotels an hour away from anything reasonably relevant. Tonight, we stayed at a friend's house, my mom's good friend, of course, and it was located right in the heart of several major attractions. A fifteen-minute walk one way lies the Qianmen (Front Gate), which we visited on our second day. Fifteen minutes later, the other results were in Tiananmen Square. Those fifteen minutes are without traffic and photos, so these walks generally double in length. Therefore, after thirty minutes of stuttering along, we passed through a security checkpoint and entered the most famous square in China, and perhaps even the entire world. The most annoying part of coming to China every few years is that sometimes, you forget places you've already been to. It's safe to say I've been to Tiananmen Square at least three times, but I can only slightly recall waiting in line on a heatwave week from three years ago. Hopefully, today would refresh some memories without spending three hours wandering the Forbidden City, which it did. Instead of heading through the front entrance, we took the back square, passing by the Monument to the People's Heroes from the Civil War and crossing the alabaster bridges. Now, the Forbidden City's walls are its main attraction, featured on many postcards since tourism became a thing. First of all, the Forbidden City is massive — no doubt about it. Even by international monarchy standards, the Chinese people have the skill to build enormous structures that are a staple in their resumes. Its walls are intimidating; its terrace is looming; its archways are a scene from a Disney movie. What might need some work on color schemes? Hazy sunlight brought out the dull red walls, yet contrasted with and emphasized the gold roofs and blue highlights, all of which were very bright and eye-catching colors. It also clearly pointed out the renovation scaffolding all over the Gate of Heavenly Peace, also known as Tiananmen, which apparently was in place for the upcoming National Day on October 1st. And that was it. The last major attraction this year. I believe China shouldn't be a tourist place, as it is somewhat of a second home. There is much more to see at home than in any other place in the world. However, I doubt I'll make this trip anytime soon, and you don't just fly around the globe on a year-to-year basis, unless you want to. The other 194 countries (I looked that up) all hold something to offer, something worth my time. However, China always has a piece of my heart, which is worth a return. 【红霞译】
对，今天是最后一天，我倒没归心似箭，但既看不了优兔，又无法快照聊天，还钻不进照片墙，吃得再好也不觉得香。此外，我想死空调了，有它哪至于整天汗如雨下，费城固然夏季很热，但空气干燥清爽，毋需用大块湿毛巾擦拭全身，说到这里，真想马上冲把凉水澡痛快一番。
返回北京后继续逗留25个小时，这样我和妈妈几乎可以再逍遥一整天，也好好生撺掇最后三顿美餐。遗憾的是，第一顿交代给了飞机，所以真正够味的只能算下面两顿。
刚回国头两天住的酒店均由国航安排，前不巴村后不着店，上哪儿都要耗上个把钟头。今晚我们索性到朋友家落脚，当然是妈妈的好朋友，恰巧位于几个主要景点之间，距离上次抵京第二天逛的前门只需步行十五分钟，同样时间朝另外方向便走到天安门广场，这十五分钟不包括等红绿灯及停下来照相，一般情况下都得打出双倍时间。因此，经过卅分钟走走停停，我们通过安检进入全中国乃至全世界最著名的广场。
每隔数年回国有时挺伤脑筋，你会忘记曾经来过的地方，可以肯定地说，我亲临天安门广场不下三次，但至今只隐约记得三年前热浪来袭那周我排着长队，希望这次能长点记性，大可不必像上次参观故宫再豁出仨小时。这回我们没从正门入场，而选择背面的人民英雄纪念碑并直穿金水桥，现在连故宫城墙也备受推崇，自从开展旅游业以来，它被翻印成不少明信片。
故宫场面壮观已是不争的事实，即使按照国际上君主制标准，中国人确有实力建造独一无二的雄伟建筑：它的城池，威风凛凛；它的城楼，气势轩宇；它的御道，成就了迪斯尼蒙太奇创造业绩。色调上需要搭配什么？朦胧的阳光照射到暗红色墙壁上，与金色琉璃瓦和湛蓝色天空形成了鲜明对照，绚烂夺目的古城景色令人痴迷陶醉。天安门前到处设立脚手架，显然是为即将到来的十·一国庆节做准备。 全部行程到此结束，这是今年最后一个重要景点。当然，到中国来不只是为了旅游，毕竟它是我第二个家乡，这里的一草一木都比地球其它任何地方耐看得多，但恐怕我要再过阵子才会故地重游，你哪能每年满世界飞来飞去……除非乐意，世上另有194个国家（我查过）值得花时间去经历，然而中国永远在我心中，单凭这一点我就会回来。
Today in History(历史上的今天):
2018: Beijing—Tong Ren Tang the Traditional Med, China(北京同仁堂) 2018: Beijing—Wangfujing the Prosperous St, China(北京王府井) 2014: GHCS Camp─Last Week(光华夏令营最后一周)
2012年蒙郡青少年野营日(2012 MontCo Youth Field Day)  Skating @ Xiannongtan Stadium
(先农坛体育场·溜冰 02-01-1986)  Arts Performance of the 70th Peking Union Medical College @ Peking Union Medical College
(北京协和医学院·70周年庆典文艺汇演 08-27-1987)  Commemorative Anniversary of the 30th Chinese Academy of Medical Science
(中国医学科学院30周年·吉他手 09-09-1987)  Chorus of the 30th Chinese Academy of Medical Science @ Materia Medica
(中国医学科学院30周年·小合唱 09-09-1987)  Youth Forum of Peking Union Medical College
(北京协和医学院·青年论坛 10-05-1987)  Meet in Beijing (相逢在北京 10-02-1999)
 Confucian Temple, the Largest Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall during the Ming & Qing Dynasties in Nanjing
(夫子庙·明清时期最大的江南贡院“科举考场” 10-05-1999)  Set off from Nanjing to Beijing (送行 08-25-2018)
 Natl Celebration @ Tiananmen Square
(天安门广场·国庆 10-04-1987)  Gate of Heavenly Peace or Tiananmen Gate, Formerly the Largest of the 4 Gates of the Imperial City Wall
(天安门·曾是皇城四座城门中最大的一座 10-02-1999)  Gate of Heavenly Peace, Symbol of Modern China
(天安门·现代中国的象征 08-25-2018) 
Ornamental Pillar w/ Carved Dragons & Mythical Beasts like the Hou on Top, Symbolizing Imperial Power & Reminding Rulers to Heed the People's Voice (华表·象征着皇权，提醒统治者倾听人民的声音，其上雕刻着诸如顶部犼的龙和神兽 08-25-1998)
 People's Great Hall, Symbol of the Nation
(人民大会堂·国家象征，礼仪与外交中心 02-22-2007)
 People's Great Hall, Ceremonial & Diplomatic Center
(人民大会堂·礼仪与外交中心 08-25-2018)  Monument to the People's Heroes & Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
(人民英雄纪念碑和毛泽东纪念堂 08-25-1998)  East Gate of the Forbidden City, the Primary Entrance for Officials
(故宫东华门·官员的主要入口 08-25-2018)  Meridian Gate & Turret, w/ Imposing 5-Tower Structure or "Five Phoenix Turrets", the Southern & Largest Gate of the Forbidden City
(故宫午门与角楼·雄伟的五塔结构“五凤凰塔”，故宫最南端、规模最大的城门 08-25-2018)  Gate of Divine Prowess, Northern Exit through Which Puyi, the Last Emperor, Left the Forbidden City in 1924
(神武门·紫禁城北出口，末代皇帝溥仪于 1924 年由此门离开紫禁城 08-25-2018)
 Southeast Corner Tower & Moat of Forbidden City
(故宫·故宫东南角楼及护城河 08-25-2018)  Jinshui or Tongzi River, the Historic Moat surrounding the Forbidden City
（金水/筒子河·紫禁城故宫的护城河 08-25-2018）  Working People's Culture Palace, the Former Imperial Ancestral Temple or Taimiao, a Sacred Shrine for Imperial Family Ancestors during the Ming & Qing Dynasties
(劳动人民文化宫·原为皇家祠堂太庙，明清时期皇室祖先的圣地 08-25-2018)  Zhongshan or Yat-sen Park, a Historic Imperial Garden, once the Ming/Qing Altar of Land and Grain w/ Altar of Land and Grain or Shejitan
(中山公园·历史悠久的皇家花园，拥有明清两代的粮坛——社吉坛 08-25-2018)  Hong Zhuangyuan or Great Champion, Offering Health-Promoting Porridges or Nutritious Congees, Snacks, & Private-Kitchen-Style Dishes
(宏状元·提供养生粥即滋补粥、小吃和私房菜 08-25-2018)
 Bianyifang @ Xianyukou Delicacy Street, Established in 1416 during the Ming Dynasty
(鲜鱼口便宜坊·成立于明朝1416年 08-18-2018)  Bianyifang @ Xianyukou Delicacy Street, Beijing's Oldest Peking Roast Duck Restaurant w/ Its Unique "Closed-Oven" Roasting Technique
(鲜鱼口便宜坊·北京最古老的烤鸭店，采用封闭式烤炉 08-25-2018) Crosslinks(相关博文):
China(出游中国) 9th Grade(高中一年级) |
