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 recall waiting in line on a sweltering day 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. 【紅霞譯】
對，今天是最後一天，我倒沒歸心似箭，但既看不成影視“優管”，又沒法快閃“閱後即焚”，還翻不了社媒“照片牆”，吃得再好也不覺得香。此外，我想死空調了，有它哪至於整天汗如雨下，費城“兄弟之愛”固然夏季很熱，但空氣乾燥清爽，毋需用大塊濕毛巾擦拭全身，說到這裡真想馬上沖把涼水澡痛快一番。
返回北京後繼續逗留25個小時，這樣我和媽媽幾乎可以再逍遙一整天，也能好生攛掇最後三頓美餐。遺憾的是，第一頓交代給了飛機，所以真正夠味的只能算下面兩頓。
剛回國頭兩天住的酒店均由國航安排，前不巴村後不着店，上哪兒都要耗上個把鐘頭。今晚我們索性到朋友家落腳，當然是媽媽的好朋友，恰巧位於幾個主要景點之間，距離上次抵京第二天逛的前門只需步行15分鐘，同樣時間朝另外方向便走到天安門廣場，這15分鐘不包括等紅綠燈及停下來照相，一般情況下都得打出雙倍時間。因此，經過30分鐘走走停停，我們通過安檢進入全中國乃至全世界最著名的廣場。
每隔數年回國有時挺傷腦筋，你會忘記曾經來過的地方，可以肯定地說，我親臨天安門廣場不下三次，但至今只隱約記得三年前熱浪來襲那周我排着長隊，希望這次能長點記性，大可不必像上次參觀故宮再豁出仨小時。這回我們沒從正門入場，而選擇背面的人民英雄紀念碑並直穿金水橋，現在連故宮城牆也備受推崇，自從開展旅遊業以來，它被翻印成不少明信片。
故宮場面壯觀已是不爭的事實，即使按照國際上君主制標準，中國人確有實力建造獨一無二的雄偉建築：它的城池，威風凜凜；它的城樓，氣勢軒宇；它的御道，成就了迪斯尼蒙太奇創造業績。色調上需要搭配什麼？朦朧的陽光照射到暗紅色牆壁上，與金色琉璃瓦和湛藍色天空形成了鮮明對照，絢爛奪目的古城景色令人痴迷陶醉。天安門前到處設立腳手架，顯然是為即將到來的十·一國慶節做準備。 全部行程到此結束，這是今年最後一個重要景點。當然，到中國來不只是為了旅遊，畢竟它是我第二個家鄉，這裡的一草一木都比地球其它任何地方耐看得多，但恐怕我要再過陣子才會故地重遊，你哪能每年滿世界飛來飛去……除非樂意，世上另有194個國家（我查過）值得花時間去經歷，然而中國永遠在我心中，單憑這一點我就會回來。
Today in History(歷史上的今天):
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(光華夏令營最後一周)
2012年蒙郡青少年野營日(2012 MontCo Youth Field Day)  Skating @ Xiannongtan Stadium
(先農壇體育場·溜冰 02-01-1986)  Arts Performance of the 70th Peking Union Medical College @ Peking Union Medical College
(北京協和醫學院·70周年慶典文藝匯演 08-27-1987)  Commemorative Anniversary of the 30th Chinese Academy of Medical Science
(中國醫學科學院30周年·吉他手 09-09-1987)  Chorus of the 30th Chinese Academy of Medical Science @ Materia Medica
(中國醫學科學院30周年·小合唱 09-09-1987)  Youth Forum of Peking Union Medical College
(北京協和醫學院·青年論壇 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
(夫子廟·明清時期最大的江南貢院“科舉考場” 10-05-1999)  Set off from Nanjing to Beijing (送行 08-25-2018)
 Natl Celebration @ Tiananmen Square
(天安門廣場·國慶 10-04-1987)  Gate of Heavenly Peace or Tiananmen Gate, Formerly the Largest of the 4 Gates of the Imperial City Wall
(天安門·曾是皇城四座城門中最大的一座 10-02-1999)  Tian-An-Men Square, the Largest of Its Kind
(天安門廣場·世上最大的廣場 02-22-2007)  Gate of Heavenly Peace, Symbol of Modern China
(天安門·現代中國的象徵 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 (華表·象徵着皇權，提醒統治者傾聽人民的聲音，其上雕刻着諸如頂部犼的龍和神獸 08-25-1998)
 People's Great Hall, Symbol of the Nation
(人民大會堂·國家象徵，禮儀與外交中心 02-22-2007)
 People's Great Hall, Ceremonial & Diplomatic Center
(人民大會堂·禮儀與外交中心 08-25-2018)  Monument to the People's Heroes & Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
(人民英雄紀念碑和毛澤東紀念堂 08-25-1998)
 East Prosperity Gate, a Crucial Administrative Point within the Imperial City
(東華門·皇城內重要的行政中心 02-11-2008)  East Prosperity Gate of the Forbidden City, the Primary Entrance for Officials
(故宮東華門·官員的主要入口 08-25-2018)  Meridian Gate & Turret, w/ Imposing 5-Tower Structure or "Five Phoenix Turrets", the Southern & Largest Gate of the Forbidden City
(故宮午門與角樓·雄偉的五塔結構“五鳳凰塔”，故宮最南端、規模最大的城門 02-11-2008)  Meridian Gate, Featuring Vermilion Pillars, Elaborate Brackets, & Sweeping Eaves
(故宮午門·擁有朱紅色的柱子、精美的斗拱和寬闊的屋檐 08-25-2018)  Gate of Divine Prowess, Northern Exit through Which Puyi, the Last Emperor, Left the Forbidden City in 1924
(神武門·紫禁城北出口，末代皇帝溥儀於 1924 年由此門離開紫禁城 08-25-2018)
 Southeast Corner Tower & Moat of Forbidden City
(故宮·故宮東南角樓及護城河 08-25-2018)  Jinshui or Tongzi River, the Historic Moat surrounding the Forbidden City
（金水/筒子河·紫禁城故宮的護城河 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
(勞動人民文化宮·原為皇家祠堂太廟，明清時期皇室祖先的聖地 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
(中山公園·歷史悠久的皇家花園，擁有明清兩代的糧壇——社吉壇 08-25-2018)  Hong Zhuangyuan or Great Champion, Offering Health-Promoting Porridges or Nutritious Congees, Snacks, & Private-Kitchen-Style Dishes
(宏狀元·提供養生粥即滋補粥、小吃和私房菜 08-25-2018)
 Bianyifang @ Xianyukou Delicacy Street, Established in 1416 during the Ming Dynasty
(鮮魚口便宜坊·成立於明朝1416年 08-18-2018)  Bianyifang @ Xianyukou Delicacy Street, Beijing's Oldest Peking Roast Duck Restaurant w/ Its Unique "Closed-Oven" Roasting Technique
(鮮魚口便宜坊·北京最古老的烤鴨店，採用封閉式烤爐 08-25-2018) Crosslinks(相關博文):
China(出遊中國) 9th Grade(高中一年級) |
