故宫博物院英文导游介绍

故宫博物院.The.Palace.MuseumWhatstrikesonefirstinabird's-eyeviewofBeijingproperisavasttractofgoldenroofsflashingbrilliantlyinthesunwithpurplewallsoccasionallyemergingamidthemandastretchofluxurianttreeleavesflankingoneachside.ThatistheformerImperialPalace,popularlyknownastheForbiddenCity,fromwhichtwenty-fouremperorsoftheMingandQingDynastiesruledChinaforsome500years--from1420to1911.TheMingEmperorYongLe,whousurpedthethronefromhisnephewandmadeBeijingthecapital,ordereditsconstruction,onwhichapproximately10,000artistsandamillionworkmentoiledfor14yearsfrom1406to1420.Atpresent,thePalaceisanelaboratemuseumthatpresentsthelargestandmostcompleteensembleoftraditionalarchitecturecomplexandmorethan900,000piecesofcourttreasuresinalldynastiesinChina.LocatedinthecenterofBeijing,theentirepalacearea,rectangularinshapeand72hectaresinsize,issurroundedbywallstenmetershighandamoat52meterswide.Ateachcornerofthewallstandsawatchtowerwithadouble-eaveroofcoveredwithyellowglazedtiles.Themainbuildings,thesixgreathalls,onefollowingtheother,aresetfacingsouthalongthecentralnorth-southaxisfromtheMeridianGate,thesouthentrance,toShenwumen,thegreatgatepiercinginthenorthwall.Oneithersideofthepalacearemanycomparativelysmallbuildings.SymmetricallyinthenortheasternsectionliethesixEasternPalacesandinthenorthwesternsectionthesixWesternPalaces.ThePalaceareaisdividedintotwoparts:theOuterCourtandtheInnerPalace.Theformerconsistsofthefirstthreemainhalls,wheretheemperorreceivedhiscourtiersandconductedgrandceremonies,whilethelatterwasthelivingquartersfortheimperialresidence.AttherearoftheInnerPalaceistheImperialGardenwheretheemperorandhisfamilysoughtrecreation.ThemainentrancetothePalaceistheMeridianGate(1),whichwassonamedbecausetheemperorconsideredhimselfthe"SonoftheHeaven"andthePalacethecenteroftheuniverse,hencethenorth-southaxisastheMeridianlinegoingrightthroughthePalace.Thegateiscrownedwithfivetowers,commonlyknownastheFive-PhoenixTowers(2),whichwereinstalledwithdrumsandbells.WhentheemperorwenttotheTempleofHeaven,bellswerestrucktomarkthisimportantoccasion.WhenhewenttotheAncestralTemple,itwasthedrumsthatwerebeatentopublicizetheevent.BeyondtheMeridianGateunfoldsavastcourtyardacrosswhichtheInnerGoldenWaterRiverrunsfromeasttowest.Theriverisspannedbyfivebridges,whichweresupposedtobesymbolsofthefivevirtuespreachedbyConfucius--benevolence,righteousness,rites,intelligence,andfidelity(3).Atthenorthendofthecourtyardisathree-tieredwhitemarbleterrace,sevenmetersabovetheground,onwhich,oneafteranother,standthreemajestichalls;theHallofSupremeHarmony(4),theHallofCompleteHarmony(5),andtheHallofPreservingHarmony(6).TheHallofSupremeHarmony,rectangularinshape,27metersinheight,2,300squaremetersinarea,isthegrandestandmostimportanthallinthePalacecomplex.ItisalsoChina'slargestexistingpalaceofwoodstructureandanoutstandingexampleofbrilliantcolorcombinations.Thishallusedtobethethronehallforceremonieswhichmarkedgreatoccasions:theWinterSolstice,theSpringFestival,theemperor'sbirthdayandenthronement,andthedispatchofgeneralstobattles,etc.OnsuchoccasionstherewouldbeanimperialguardofhonorstandinginfrontoftheHallthatextendedallthewaytotheMeridiangate.Onthenorthfaceofthehallinthecenteroffourcoiled-goldendragoncolumnsisthe"GoldenThrone",whichwascarvedoutofsandalwood.Thethronerestsonatwo-meter-highplatformwithascreenbehindit.Infrontofit,totheleftandright,standornamentalcranes,incenseburnersandotherornaments.Thedragoncolumnsentwinedwithgoldendragonsmeasureonemeterindiameter.Thethroneitself,theplatformandthescreenareallcarvedwithdragondesigns.Highabovethethroneisacolor-paintedcofferedceilingwhichchangesinshapefromsquaretooctagonaltocircularasitascendslayeruponlayer.Theutmostcentralvaultiscarvedwiththegildeddesignofadragontoyingwithpearls.whentheEmperormountedthethrone,goldbellsandjadechimessoundedfromthegallery,andcloudsofincenserosefromthebronzecranesandtortoisesandtripodsoutsidethehallontheterrace.Theaura ofmajestycreatedbytheimposingarchitectureandsolemnritualweredesignedtokeepthesubjectsofthe"SonoftheHeaven"inaweandreverence.TheHallofCompleteHarmonyissmallerandsquarewithwindowsonallsides.Heretheemperorrehearsedforceremonies.ItisfollowedbytheHallofPreservingHarmonyinwhichbanquetsandimperialexaminationswereheld.BehindtheHallofPreservingHarmonyliesahugemarblerampwithintertwiningcloudsanddragonscarvedinrelief.Theslab,about6.5meterslong,3meterswideand250tonsinweight,isplacedbetweentwoflightsofmarblestepsalongwhichtheemperor'ssedanwascarriedupordowntheterrace.ItisthelargestpieceofstonecarvingintheImperialPalace.QuarriedinthemountainsscoresofkilometerssouthwestofBeijing,thisgiganticstonewasmovedtothecitybyslidingitoveraspeciallypavediceroadinwinter.Toprovideenoughwatertobuildtheiceroad,wellsweresunkatvery500metersalongtheway.ThethreehallsoftheInnerPalacearereplicasofthethreehallsinthefront,butsmallerinsize.TheyarethePalaceofHeavenlyPurity(7),theHallofUnion(8),andthePalaceofEarthlyTranquility(9).ThePalaceofHeavenlyPuritywasoncetheresidenceoftheMingemperorsandthefirsttwooftheQingemperors.ThentheQingEmperorYongZhengmovedhisresidencetothePalaceofMentalCultivationandturneditintoanaudiencehalltoreceiveforeignenvoysandhandledthestateaffairs.Thepromotionanddemotionofofficialswerealsodecidedinthishall.Aftertheemperor'sdeathhiscoffinwasplacedherefora49-dayperiodofmourning.ThePalaceofUnionwastheempress'sthroneroomandtheHallofEarthlyTranquility,onceaprivatelivingroomfortheempress,waspartitioned.Thewestchamberservedreligiouspurposesandtheeastonewasthebridalchamberwherethenewlymarriedemperorandempressspenttheirfirsttwonightsaftertheirwedding.TheImperialGardenwaslaidoutduringtheearlyMingdynasty.Hundredsofpinesandcypressesoffershadewhilevariousflowersgivecolorstothegardenallyearroundandfilltheairwiththeirfragrance.InhecenterofthegardenistheHallofImperialPeace,aDaoisttemple,withaflatroofslightlyslopingdowntothefoureaves.ThistypeofroofwasrareinancientChinesearchitecture.Inhenortheasterncornerofthegardenisarockhill,knownastheHillofthePiled-upWonders,whichistoppedwithapavilion.Atthefootofthehillaretwofountainswhichjettwocolumnsofwaterhighintotheair.Itissaidthatontheninthnightoftheninthmonthofthelunarcalendar,theempresswouldmoundthehilltoenjoytheautumnscene.Itisalsobelievedthatclimbingtoahighplaceonthatdaywouldkeeppeoplesafefromcontagiousdiseases.ThesixWesternPalaceswereresidencesforempressesandconcubines.Theyarekeptintheiroriginalwayforshow.ThesixEasternPalacesweretheresidencesforthemtoo.Butnowtheyserveasspecialmuseums:theMuseumofBronze,theMuseumofPorcelainandtheMuseumofArtsandCraftsoftheMingandQingdynasties.Inthenortheastern-mostsectionoftheInnerPalacearetheMuseumofTraditionalChinesePaintingsandtheMuseumofJewelryandTreasureswhererarepiecesofimperialcollectionsareondisplay.NowtheForbiddenCityisnolongerforbidding,butinviting.AvisittothePalaceMuseumwillenrichthevisitors'knowledgeofhistory,economy,politics,artsaswellasarchitectureinancientChina.Notes:1.theMeridianGate午门2.theFive-PhoenixTowers五凤楼3.benevolence,righteousness,rites,intelligence,andfidelity仁、义、礼、智、信4.theHallofSupremeHarmony太和殿5.theHallofCompleteHarmony中和殿6.theHallofPreservingHarmony保和殿7.thePalaceofHeavenlyPurity乾清宫8.theHallofUnion交泰殿9.thePalaceofEarthlyTranquility坤宁宫 前门QianmenislocatedintheaxeswireofBeijingandbeingthenearestparttotheForbiddenCity,QianmenStreetoccupiesspecialpositionofBeijingandtheheartofBeijingpeople.QianmenisnotasimplenameofadistrictbutasymbolofBeijing.ItisregardedthatonlyenteringtotheQianmenstreetcanberecognizedthatyoureallycometoBeijing.Inotherwords,yourBeijingtripwillbespoiledwithoutcomingtoQianmenStreet,fromwhichyoucantellhowimportanttheQianmenStreetinpeople’sheart.QianmenStreetstartsfromtheMoonBayinnorthandstretchestoZhushikouinSouth,withatotallengthof840meters.Accordingtohistoricalmaterials,sincetheMingDynasty,itisaroadleading24emperorstoprayintheTempleofHeaven,thereforeitisalsoknownas”HeavenStreet”.Initsalmost600yearshistory,theQianmenStreethasdestroyedandrestoredforseveraltimes,butitsprosperouscommercialstreetpositionhasneverchanged.QianmenStreethasconcentratedtheculture,styleandfeaturesofBeijing,atthesametimealsowitnessedtheprofoundchangesofBeijingindifferentperiods.So,QianmenStreetattractsnumerousoftouristseveryyearandplaysanimportantroleininternationalcommunication.QianmenStreetiswellpreservedofhistoricalsites,culturalrelicsandstyleandfeaturesofBeijing.ExpertsbelieveditistheculturalcentreofBeijingarchitecture,business,folk-customandopera.Itisavividfolkcustommuseumofancientandtoday’sBeijing.ThereconstructionofQianmenbeganinMay2007andcompletedinAugust2008.Itisreportedthatthereconstructionschemewasdiscussedandamendedby16experts32timesinfouryears.ItissaidthattheoriginalschemeplanedtorestorethestreettobetheancientstyleofMingandQingDynasty.However,thestreethasbeendestroyedbytheeight-poweralliedforcesasearlyas1900,Actually,QianmenStreetformedinlateQingDynastyandtheearlyyearsoftheRepublicofChinawasmorefamiliartoBeijingmen,anditreacheditsheydayduringinthe1920sand1930s.Therefore,finallydecidedtorestoreQinamenStreetisinaccordancewitholdphotosofQianmenofthattime.ThenewQianmenStreethasbeenthesecondlargestpedestrianAvenueinBeijingonlyfollowingtheprosperousWangfujingStreet.Beijingfamoustime-honoredbrands,suchasQuanjude,Ruifuxiang,YueshengzhaiandGuangheGrandtheaterect.Inaddition,manyworld-famousbrandsareappearedthere,suchas,starbuck,Apple,Nike,ect大剧院BEIJING’SnewfuturisticNationalCenterforthePerformingArts,formerlyknownastheNationalGrandTheater,willbegintheformalperformanceseasonDec.22.AmonginternationalperformerswhowillbeappearingwillbeconductorsValeryGergievandSeijiOzawa,andsopranosKathleenBattleandKiriTeKanawa.ApartfromtheMariinskyTheaterofRussia,otherfamousforeignorchestras,suchastheNewYorkPhilharmonic,willalsogiveperformances.Theseshowswereexpectedtoattractaudiencestotaling300,000andmorethan20,000ticketshadalreadybeensoldfortheopeningseason.Despitethehugedevelopmentcostsandhighprofile,theNationalCenterforthePerformingArtswasnotjustforthewealthy,hesaid.Thecenterwillsellticketsforaslittleas30yuan(US$4)andtheaverageticketpricewillbelowerthanthatforaregularshowinBeijing.However,thecostofticketsfortheinauguralshowisfarhigher,rangingfrom180yuanto1,080yuan.Thebuildinghasbeencontroversial,withsomedescribingtheartscomplexdesignedbyFrencharchitectPaulAndreuasoutofkeepingwithitsnearneighbor,theForbiddenCity.Othershailitasafuturistic,signaturebuilding.Thecerter,whichistothewestofTian’anmenSquare,boaststhreelargehalls—a2,416-seatoperahouse,a2,017-seatconcerthallanda1,040-seattheater.ConstructionoftheNationalGrandTheaterbeganinDecember2001andwascompletedinlateSeptemberthisyear.Totalinvestmentwas2.69billionyuan. 天安门Tian’anmen(theGateofHeavenlyPeace),islocatedinthecenterofBeijing.Itwasfirstbuiltin1417andnamedChengtianmen(theGateofHeavenlySuccession).AttheendoftheMingDynasty,itwasseriouslydamagedbywar.WhenitwasrebuiltundertheQingin1651,itwasrenamedTian’anmen,andservedasthemainentrancetotheImperialCity,theadministrativeandresidentialquartersforcourtofficialsandretainers.ThesouthernsectionsoftheImperialCitywallstillstandonbothsidesoftheGate.Thetoweratthetopofthegateisnine-roomwideandfive–roomdeep.AccordingtotheBookofChanges,thetwonumbersnineandfive,whencombined,symbolizethesupremestatusofasovereign.DuringtheMingandQingdynasties,Tian’anmenwastheplacewherestateceremoniestookplace.OnOctober1,1949,chairmanMaoZedongproclaimedonTian’anmenRostrumthefoundingofthePeople’sRepublicofChina.SincethenTian’anmenhasbeenthesymbolofNewChine\a.ChairmanMao’sportraitishungabovethecentralentrance,flankedbytwoslogans:”LongLivetheGreatUnityofthePeoplesoftheWorld”.Today,thesplendourofTian’anmenattractsmillionofvisitorsfromallovertheworld.TheRostrumonitstopwasopenedin1988tothepublicforthefirsttimeinitshistory.ItoffersapanoramicviewoftheSquareandthecityproper.Tian’anmenSquarehasanareaof44hectares(109acres)thatcanaccommodateasmanyasonemillionpeopleforpublicgatherings.IthaswitnessedmayhistoricaleventsinChina’smodernhistoryandisaplaceforcelebrationsonsuchfestivedaysasinternationalLabourDayonMay1standnationalDayonOctober1st.AroundtheSquareareseveralfamousbuildings:1.TheGreatHallofthePeople2.TheMuseumofChineseHistoryandtheMuseumoftheChineseRevolution3.TheMonumenttothePeople’sHeroes4.ChairmanMao’sMausoleumTian'anmenSquarehasnowcompleteditsrenovationaftereightmonths’hardworktowelcomethe50thanniversaryofthePeople’sRepublicin1999.王府井Wangfujingcommercialstreetofourpositioninginitsinternationalfirst-classcommercialstreet.Theworld'sleadingcommercialstreetshavecommoncharacteristics,oneofthefeaturesisthatithasalonghistory,thehistoryofWangfujingStreetcanbetracedbacktothe13thcentury,theearlyYuanDynastyin1267,onthestreetshasbecomesofarHavebeen700years.Inthis700-plusyears,Wangfujinggreatchangeshavetakenplace.Fromitsname,isthebeginningThree-wayStreet,latercalled10PalaceStreet,PalaceStreet,to1905,asWangfujingStreethasasweetdigwells,socalledfromthe1905startofWangfujingStreet.Wangfujinggenuinecommercialactivitiesfromthebeginningofthe15thcentury,trulyarelativelyprosperousbusinessStreetis1903.InanabandonedtrainingcampoftheQingDynastyGodbuiltthefamousmarketintheEastafterthemarketfromtheearly20thcentury,formingafamouscommercialstreet,formedarelativelybusycommercialstreetandhas100yearsofhistory.InBeijing,suchalargescale,solonghistory,suchahighvisibility,Wangfujingshouldbesaidtobeunique.It'salonghistoryandrelativelyhighpopularity,anditsrelativelylargesize.AfterthefoundingofthePRC,quicklyformedthecity'soneofseveralmajorcommercialarea,whereclaimsaresettledinNewChina'sfirstdepartmentstoreinBeijingWangfujingDepartmentStore,andthensomewell-knownoldandfamousandwell-knownenterprises,commercialenterprisesmigrationTotheWangfujingStreet.Sofar,theWangfujingareahas16well-knownoldandfamous,therearesomeservicesliketheDepartmentofArts,LeeShengsportinggoodsstoreforthefranchisebusiness,afranchiseofcommercialenterprises.To1993beforelarge-scaletransformation,Wangfujingathomeandabroadhasbeenaveryfamous.Wangfujingopenedanewpageshouldbefrom1993onwards,themunicipalgovernmentdecidedtosetupthedevelopmentofWangfujingStreetofficebuilding,andthenonWangfujingStreetinthetransformationofalarge-scaleplanningandmanagement.From1993westartedtore-dotheWangfujingareaplanning,planningconstructionprojectsinatotalof51,sofarwehavebuilta17,17,atotalconstructionareaofover1.5millionsquaremeters.Therefore,from1993,theWangfujingStreetafteralarge-scaletransformationofitshardwarefacilitiesareclosetoworld-classlevel.