北京导游词英语版

北京导游词英语版

北京英文导游词示范

　　Tian‘anmen(theGateofHeavenlyPeace),islocatedinthecenterofBeijing.Itwasfirstbuiltin1417andnamedChengtianmen(theGateofHeavenlySuccession).AttheendoftheMingDynasty,itwasseriouslydamagedbywar.WhenitwasrebuiltundertheQingin1651,itwasrenamedTian‘anmen,andservedasthemainentrancetotheImperialCity,theadministrativeandresidentialquartersforcourtofficialsandretainers.ThesouthernsectionsoftheImperialCitywallstillstandonbothsidesoftheGate.Thetoweratthetopofthegateisnine-roomwideandfive–roomdeep.AccordingtotheBookofChanges,thetwonumbersnineandfive,whencombined,symbolizethesupremestatusofasovereign.DuringtheMingandQingdynasties,Tian‘anmenwastheplacewherestateceremoniestookplace.Themostimportantoneofthemwastheissuingofimperialedicts,whichfollowedthesesteps:

　　1)TheMinisterofRiteswouldreceivetheedictinTaihedian(HallofSupremeHarmony),wheretheEmperorwasholdinghiscourt.Theministerwouldthencarrythedecreeonayunpan(trayofcloud),andwithdrawfromthehallviaTaihemen(GateofsupremeHarmony)

　　2)TheMinisterwouldputthetrayinaminiaturelongting(dragonpavilion).BeneathayellowumbrellaandcarryitviaWumen(MeridianGate),toTian‘anmenGatetower.3)Acourtierwouldbeinvestedtoproclaimtheedict.Thecivilandmilitaryofficialsliningbothsidesofthegatewaybeneaththetowerwouldprostratethemselvesinthedirectionoftheemperorinwaitingforthedecreetotheproclaimed.

　　4)Thecourtierwouldthenputtheedictinaphoenix-shapedwoodenboxandloweritfromthetowerbymeansofasilkcord.ThedocumentwouldfinallybecarriedinasimilartrayofcloudunderayellowumbrellatotheMinistryofRites.

　　5)Theedict,copiedonyellowpaper,wouldbemadeknowntothewholecountry.Suchaprocesswashistoricallyrecordedas"ImperialEdictIssuedbyGoldenPhoenix".DuringtheMingandQingdynastiesTian‘anmenwasthemostimportantpassage.ItwasthisgatethattheEmperorandhisretinuewouldgothroughontheirwaytothealtarsforritualandreligiousactivities.

　　OntheWestsideofTian‘anmenstandsZhongshanPark(Dr.SunYat-sen‘sPark),andontheeastside,theWorkingPeople‘sCulturalPalace.TheParkwasformerlycalledShejitan(AltarofLandandGrain),builtin1420forofferingsacrificialitemstotheGodofLand.Itwasopenedtothepublicasaparkin1914anditsnamewaschangedin1928tothepresentoneinmemoryofthegreatpioneeroftheChineseDemocraticRevolution.TheWorkingPeople‘sCulturalPalaceusedtobeTaimiao(theSupremeAncestralTemple),wheretabletsofthedeceaseddynasticrulerswerekept.

　　ThestreaminfrontofTian‘anmeniscalledWaijinshuihe(OuterGoldenRiver),withsevenmarblebridgesspanningoverit.Ofthesesevenbridges,historicalrecordssaythemiddleonewasfortheexclusiveuseoftheemperorandwasaccordinglycalledYuluqiao(ImperialBridge).ThebridgesflankingitoneithersideweremeantforthemembersoftheroyalfamilyandwerethereforecalledWanggongqiao(Royal‘sBridges).FartherawayoneachsideofthetwowerebridgesforofficialsrankingabovethethirdorderandwerenamedPinjiqiao(ministerialBridges).TheremainingtwobridgeswerefortheusebytheretinuebelowthethirdorderandwerecalledGongshengqiao(commonBridges).TheyaretheoneinfrontoftheSupremeAncestralTempletotheeastandtheoneinfrontoftheAltaroflandandGraintothewest.