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Hello friends,
If you visit China, you will surely come across bridges that are either hanging in the valleys, deep between endless mountains, or floating on top of rivers, or spanning over ponds or lakes, like rainbows beyond planes,, or hidden- crouching dragons across buildings. They are not only a means of transportation, but also masterpieces of the perfect integration of architecture, art, science and beauty. Among them, there are millennium "long life" ones, the very long "slim girls", and also gigantic "heavy brothers." Every bridge represents a story, a history, a custom and a way of perpetuating culture.
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| the largest garden bridge: Summer Palace, 17 Arch Bridge |
The bridge connecting the east coast of Kunming Lake and Nanhu Island is made of marble stones. Its gently curved arch shape is constructed with balustrades, consisting of 124 columns and 544 vividly-carved stone lions. What makes the bridge so unique are 17 apertures under the bridge: the middle aperture is the tallest and biggest one, gradually narrowing to the sides. However, when counting from the east or the west ends towards the opposite end, the number of apertures visible is only 9. In ancient times the number 9 was considered a lucky Yang number.
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| the longest ancient bridge: Anping Bridge |
Anping Bridge, commonly known as "Wuli Bridge" (i.e., five miles bridge), is regarded as China’s or even the world's longest submersible bridge, lying in the junction boarder of Jinjiang and Nan’an cities in Fujian Province.
The bridge was originally built in the early Southern Song Dynasty (1138 AD), with a construction period of 13 years. At the time, the bridge was 2500 meters long, 5 meters wide, with 362 openings. Now by continuous maintenance and geographic changes in the environment, it is 2070 meters long, with 311 bridge openings. Because of its length, five pavilions were built on the bridge to allow people to rest while crossing. These pavilions are located where one can still find ancient writing boasting the bridge's size: "No bridge longer than this under the heaven."
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| the most beautiful bridge group: Golden Water Bridge |
The Golden Water Bridge is a large-scale bridge complex, consisting of seven single bridges. It is situated outside the Beijing Tiananmen over Jinshui River.. It was once the access route to the Forbidden City for emperors and ministers. The bridge was built in the Yongle Period of the Ming Dynasty (AD1417-1421), with an unmatched beauty in its elegant shape, achieved using carving expertise from around the country.
The Golden Water Bridge has kept its beauty and color during the last six centuries, due to the use of Han Marble. The middle five bridges interlink with the five openings of Tiananmen Gate. The one right in the middle, is engraved with a crouched dragon. This bridge was the emperors’ channel in and out of the palace, known as the Royal Road Bridge. The slightly smaller two on each side that are carved with lotus was for the ministers, named the Officer Bridge. Golden Water Bridge along with the beautiful Tiananmen Gate, Chinese Tables, and Stone Lions, has become the most representative symbol of the People's Republic of China.
Have a great week!
Xu Ying
The Chinese Voice Team
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| Little bear goes across the bridge |
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| (A cartoon video is also available here) |
Chinese
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Transliteration |
Translation |
有个小熊来过桥。
走不稳，站不牢，
走到桥上心乱跳。
头上乌鸦哇哇叫，
桥下流水哗哗笑。
“妈妈，妈妈你来呀，
快把小熊抱过桥!”
河里鲤鱼跳出水，
对着小熊大声叫：
“小熊，小熊不要怕，
眼睛向着前面瞧!”
一二三，
向前跑，
小熊过桥回头笑，
鲤鱼乐得尾巴摇。 |
yǒu ɡè xiǎo xiónɡ lái ɡuò qiáo。
zǒu bù wěn， zhàn bù láo，
zǒu dào qiáo shànɡ xīn luàn tiào。
tóu shànɡ wū yā wā wā jiào，
qiáo xià liú shuǐ huá huá xiào。
" mā mɑ， mā mɑ nǐ lái yɑ，
kuài bǎ xiǎo xiónɡ bào ɡuò qiáo!"
hé lǐ lǐ yú tiào chū shuǐ,
duì zhe xiǎo xiónɡ dà shēnɡ jiào：
" xiǎo xiónɡ， xiǎo xiónɡ bú yào pà，
yǎn jinɡ xiànɡ zhe qián miɑn qiáo!"
yī èr sān，
xiànɡ qián pǎo，
xiǎo xiónɡ ɡuò qiáo huí tóu xiào，
lǐ yú lè dé wěi bɑ yáo。 |
Little bear to cross the bridge.
Go unstable, stand shaky,
heart bouncing in the bridge.
Ravens mooed on the head,
brook laughed under the feet.
"Mama, Mama come to help,
get me hold me till the end!"
River carp out of water,
facing the cub cried out:
"Bear, Bear don’t be afraid,
Look straight ahead!"
123,
to run ahead.
Over the bridge bear laughed,
Carp’s tail wigwagged. |
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