Travel in Chinese Lesson 95 Elephant Trunk Hill 1

桂林(一)

当地人：黄经理、Michael，非常感谢你们能到桂林来参加这次会议，希望我们合作成功。

人豪：好，谢谢！

当地人：连续开了几天的会，把大家都累坏了。明天正好是周末，如果二位不着急回去的话，不如我们一起去看看桂林的山水，顺便也好好休息一下儿。

Michael：太好了，我早就听说“桂林山水甲天下”，可一直没有机会出去看看，唉，你们可不知道我心里有多着急啊。

人豪：好的，那我们明天见。

人豪：哈哈，那我们这次可非得陪你多去两个地方才行，把你这两天的损失补回来。

当地人：那好，我明天一早就来接你们。

当地人：Michael，Michael，原来你在这儿拍照呢，让我一通好找。

Michael：对不起，对不起，不过这里的风景实在是太美了，我觉得只要把相机举起来，随便一按，就是一张好照片。

当地人：哈哈，很多人到这儿来以后都会有这种感觉。

Michael：怪不得。哎，对了，黄经理呢？难道他也照照片去了吗？

当地人：没有，他在那边等咱们呢。那边的风景比这边还要好呢。

Michael：是吗？快点儿带我去吧。

人豪：Michael，到这儿来。我站在这儿，你来给我照张像。

Michael：好的。恩，让我看看啊。唉，黄经理，你背后的山看起来很有意思，好象是一头大象。

当地人：哈哈，这就是桂林著名的象鼻山，当然象一头大象啦。

人豪：那当然了。凡是到桂林的人，大多都会在这里照相。就像你们去纽约旅游一样，免不了要在自由女神像前照相。

Michael：哦，是吗？那我也要照一张。来，黄经理，给你相机。

人豪：哎，不对啊，刚才我还没照呢！
 

Translation:

Local: Mr Huang, Michael, thank you for attending the conference in Guilin. We hope our co-operation is a success!

Renhao: Thanks!

Local: Everyone must be exhausted after all these meetings over the past few days. Tomorrow is the weekend. If you’re not in a hurry to get back, why don’t we take a tour of Guilin’s sights, and get some relaxation.

Michael: That’s fantastic. I’ve heard that ‘Guilin scenery is the best in the world’, but I haven’t had a chance to check it out over the past few days. You have no idea how anxious I am..

Renhao: Haha, well we have to take you to a few more places to make up for the past two days.

Local: OK, I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.

Local: Michael, Michael, so here you are taking photos. I’ve been looking all over for you.

Michael: So sorry, but the scenery here is so beautiful. I feel all I have to do is point the camera; click and I get a great photo.

Local: Haha, many people feel that way when they come here.

Michael: No problem. Oh right, wher’s Mr. Huang？ Has he gone to take photos too？

Local: No, he’s waiting for us over there. The scenery over there is even better than here.

Michael: Is it？Well take me there.

Renhao: Michael, come over here. I’ll stand here. Can you take a photo for me please?

Michael: Sure. Hmm, let me see. Hey, Mr. Huang, the mountain behind you is very interesting. It looks like an elephant.

Local: Haha, this is the famous Elephant Trunk Mountain in Guilin. Of course it looks like an elephant.

Renhao: Most visitors to Guilin would have their photos taken here. A bit like when you visit New York and have photos taken in front of the Statue of Liberty.

Michael: Oh really？Then I want a photo here too. Mr. Huang, here’s the camera.

Renhao: Eh, hang on. I haven’t had my picture taken yet！
 

Bookmarks

1、非得 must, have to

（例）你今天非得去那儿吗？明天去也不晚呀。

Do you have to go there today? It's not too late to go tomorrow?

（例）你难得来一次,今天非得留下来吃饭不可。

It's very rare for you to come, you absolutely must stay and have a meal today.

Sign Posts

Guilin

As the saying goes, 桂林山水甲天下 "Guilin’s scenery bests all others in the world." Chinese frequently refer to it as the world's most beautiful scenery. To many foreigners, the scenery of Guilin typifies what we imagine China looks like. Traditional Chinese painting often features exotic and imaginary scenes of mountains and rivers. But as many visitors to China exclaim, the scenery at Guilin looks just like a traditional Chinese painting. Perhaps many of those painting scenes were not imaginary after all.

The city of Guilin is rather compact when compared with other leading cities in the country. However, situated within this area one can find green mountains, crystal clear waters, unique caves and beautiful stones. Major attractions include Elephant Trunk Hill 象鼻山 that we hear about in the dialogue and Reed Flute Cave 芦笛岩, with remarkable stalactites and stalagmines. Seven-Star Park 七星公园, which dates from the Sui Dynasty over 1000 years ago is said to be one of the nicest city parks in China. The seven stars refer to the seven peaks in the park which are said to resemble the layout of Ursa Major, the Big Dipper.

A boat trip down the peaceful Li River is the absolute high point of any visit to Guilin. Gorgeous Karst peaks bring an amazing new scene at each bend of the peaceful river. Water buffalo patrol the fields, peasants toil in the rice paddies, school kids and fisherman float by on bamboo rafts. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the Li River become one of China's top tourist destinations. Yangshuo, at the end of the boat journey is today a developed village that thrives mainly on tourism. A round trip from Guilin to Yangshuo is often accomplished by boat down the river and bus back to Guilin.

Substitution and Extension

1、难道......could it be?

（例）他怎么还没来，难道他把出发的时间忘了?

How come he's not been here yet? Could it be that he forgot the departure time?

2、免不了 can't avoid, can't help

（例）来北京旅游的人，免不了都会到天安门前照张相。

Tourists who come to Beijing can't help but take a photo in front of Tian An Men.