Travel in Chinese Lesson 65 Xi'an

同事女：雪梅啊，这次到西安来出差，真是人生地不熟的，你说咱们先去哪儿逛好呢？

雪梅：我也没什么好主意，我也是第一次来西安。

同事男：你们一定渴了吧，过来喝点水吧。你们看什么呢？别看了，都交给我好了。西安嘛，我熟得很。

同事女：是吗？我看你多半是在吹牛。

同事男：你看你，不相信是不是。这西安啊，好玩儿的地方多了，象什么古城墙啊、大雁塔、小雁塔、华清池、兵马俑、碑林，数都数不过来。

雪梅：看不出来，你还真是个行家。

同事男：那是，我就是个西安通。

（到城墙）

同事男：咱们先到这里看看吧。

雪梅：这是什么地方？

同事男：这是著名的西安古城墙。

雪梅：古城墙，那不就是一堵墙吗？

同事男：走吧，去了你就知道了。

雪梅：这么宽，这哪儿是墙啊，就是一条马路。

同事女：我估计这并排开两辆汽车都够了。

同事男：而且，这墙修得也够结实，几百年了，你们看，还好好的，一点儿事儿都没有。

雪梅：几百年，有那么久吗？

同事男：那当然啦。这里啊，唐朝的时候就有城墙，而现在的这个城墙呢，就是明朝的时候在唐朝城墙的基础上修的。

同事女：这样算下来的话，起码得有六百多年的历史了吧。

同事男：可不是吗。

雪梅：你说为什么要修那么宽的城墙呢？

同事男：西安以前是西部的一个很重要的城市，修这么宽的城墙，我想更多的时候是出于安全的考虑。

雪梅：安全的考虑？

同事男：是啊，你想，这要是打起仗来，多占便宜啊。

同事女：恩，说得有道理。
 

College1: Xuemei，we're in Xi'an on business but we don't know the place or anybody here. wher do you think we should go first?

Xuemei: I have no idea. It's my first time in Xi'an too.

College2: You must be thirsty. Come and have some drink. What are you looking up? No need. Don't worry. Just let me take care of everything.

College1: Is that right? I think you're just bragging.

College2:Well you're doubting me.

Xuemei: Then in your opinion what are some of the fun places in Xi'an?

College2: Xi'an is full of fun places, like the Terra cotta Warriors, Huaqing Pool, the Wild Goose Towers, the Ancient Wall, and countless others.

Xuemei: I wouldn't have taken you for such an expert on the subject.

College2: I suggest we go up there first.

Xuemei: What's up there?

College2: That's the famous Ancient City Wall.

Xuemei: Ancient city wall，isn't that just a wall?

College2:Let's go，you'll see when you get there.

Xuemei: It's so wide. It's not a wall but a road.

College1: That's right. This is wide enough for two cars. This wall was built to last. And you know, it's been centuries.

Xuemei: Centuries? Has it really been around for that long?

College2: Of course. Well back in the Tang dynasty this place had walls. The walls here now were built in the Ming dynasty on the foundation of the Tang dynasty walls.

College1: By that calculation, it has at least six centuries of history.

College2: That's right.

Xuemei: Hey why would they want to build such thick walls?

College2: Xi'an used to be a very important city in the western region. I think that building these thick walls was mainly out of security concerns.

Xuemei: Security concerns?

College2: That's right. Think about it, it's a great advantage if there's a war.

College2: Hmm，that makes sense.
 

Bookmarks

1）多半 most, probably

例）这么晚了，商场多半关门了。

It's so late. Most stores will be closed.

例）他多半不会来了，我们别等了。

He's probably not coming. Let's not wait anymore.

2）起码 at least

例）我明天去上海出差，起码要两个月才能回来。

Tomorrow I'm going to Shanghai on business. It'll be at least two months before I'm able to return.

例）这部电影我起码看过五遍。

I've seen this movie at least five times.

Sign Posts

Xi'an

Previously known as Chang'an or “eternal piece”, Xian served as the capital city for 13 dynasties such as Zhou1, Qin2, Han4 and Tang2 over its history of more than 3000 years. So, Xian can be considered along with Athens, Cairo, and Rome as a capital city to one of the world’s major ancient civilizations.

The entire city is like a huge and living history museum. The city wall is the largest and most intact in China. The current wall dates from the Ming Dynasty and can be considered one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. It is 12 meters (or 40 feet) tall, approximately the same width at the top and runs almost 14 kilometers (or 8 1/2 miles) in length with a deep moat surrounding it. Every 120 meters, there is a rampart which extends out from the main wall. The reason for this spacing is that 120 meters was approximately the range of a bow and arrow, so that anyone attacking the wall could be shot at from two sides as well as from above.

There are 4 sets of complicated gate structures built within the wall. Each gate has three towers: The furthest outside was used to raise and lower a suspension bridge over the moat. A second gate with small windows in the front and sides was used to defend the bridge. Appropriately enough, these towers are called 箭楼 arrow towers. only by passing through here could you get to正楼, the main entrance to the city. Throughout the approach into the city you are wide open to attack from all sides above.

Since 1983 the Shaanxi Provincial Government has worked hard to restore the city wall again and create a park area all along the wall. Nowadays, a great way to tour the wall is by renting a bike and riding all the way along the top.

Substitution and Extension

1）th 得很very

例）这里热闹得很，到处都是人。

It's really lively here. There're people everywher.

例）北京烤鸭好吃得很，不信你尝尝。

Peking Duck is really good to eat. If you don't believe me, try it.

2）出于……的考虑 in consideration of

例）出于时间的考虑，我们提前出发了。

In the interest of time, we left early.

例）出于安全的考虑，他们决定坐火车而不是坐飞机去。

In the interest of safety, they decided to go by train and not go by plane.