↑ 致力于汉语言和汉语文化的推广
↑ Focus on the promotion of Chinese language and Chinese culture
Ⅲ
人文的北京
Humanistic Beijing
3000年历史的北京城，沉淀了太多的文化符号
Beijing, with a history of 3000 years, has accumulated too many cultural symbols
如果要挑出一件来代表人文的北京——谁是最合适的那个
If you want to pick a representative of the humanistic Beijing - who is the most appropriate one
故宫、颐和园都太富贵；长城背景又过于宏大
The Forbidden City, the Summer Palace are too rich;The Great Wall is too spectacular
思来想去，只有四合院最合适
Only the Courtyard Houseis the most suitable
——它是组成北京的最小单元，也是北京最烟火的生活记录
It is the smallest unit of Beijing and the most specific living record of Beijing
有一个段子，说英媒来拍摄北京四合院，却声称是中国贫民窟
There is a joke that the British media came to photograph a courtyard house in Beijing, but claimed it was a Chinese slum
网友回复“别小看这个院子，把它卖了买下唐宁街10号还有找”
Netizen reply,"Don‘t look down upon this yard. Selling it you can buy No.10 Downing Street."
关于四合院的那些烟火与魔幻，落寞与骄傲可见一斑
From this story we can see both the frustrated and proud of this complex city
北京四合院 (The Courtyard House in Beijing)
对于合院式建筑，最早在西周时期就已有出现（陕西凤雏村）
Courtyard buildings appeared as early as in the Western Zhou Dynasty (Fengchu Village, Shaanxi)
它强调围合的私密性、内里开敞的活动空间以及室内的采光
It emphasizes the privacy ,the activity space and the lighting inside
这种实用性极强的建筑形式伴随汉族文化的传播一同，风靡全国
With the spread of Han culture, this highly practical architectural form became popular all over the country
北至东三省东北大院，南至云南“一颗印”，都是它的延伸和发展
It extends and develops to the "northeast courtyard" of the three northeastern provinces in the north and the "One Stamp" of Yunnan in the south
而北京四合院，也是其中一个发展分支
And the Courtyard House in Beijing is also one of the development branches
大户人家的宅子，独院独户，习惯上称作“大宅门”
For the rich family, they own the entire courtyard, traditionally called "The Big House"
这种宅子一般的纵向上能达到三、四进（深），但富贵人家还嫌不够大
This kind of house can reach three or four compartments in the longitudinal direction, but even not enough for the rich people
于是继续进行纵向（进数）扩充，横向（跨数）扩充
So it continues to expand vertically (forward) and horizontally (cross)
最极致的当属恭王府，横三跨纵十三进（约为故宫面积1/11）
The most extreme example is Gong Wang Fu, horizontal three compartments,vertical thirteen compartments(about 1/11 of the Forbidden City area)
院中设园，极尽奢华
With a garden in the courtyard, this house is extremely luxurious
恭王府平面图 (Plan of Gong Wang Fu)
而普通百姓，一个单跨单进的小院里往往要挤上五六户人家
For ordinary people,a small courtyard often crowded five or six families
尤其在建国之后，北京被设为新中国首都，其人口也开始爆炸式增长
Especially after the founding of the People‘s Republic of China, Beijing was set as the capital of new China, and its population began to explode
原本并不宽裕的小院中出现大量的附建、增建房屋
The small courtyard that is not bounteous originally appears a large number of annexe building
四合院被改建成了大杂院，脏乱无序，成为城市形象的污点
The Courtyard House were converted into the messy courtyards, dirty and disorderly, and became a blot on the city‘s image
居住其间的老一代北京人对于大杂院的感情，那真是又爱又恨
The old generation of Beijingers who live there have a love-hate relationship with the courtyards
爱的是街坊间的情谊和热闹，恨的是生活上的不便和拥挤
Love is about the friendship and lively neighborhood, hate is about the inconvenience and crowded life
如今，大杂院里脏乱差的现象已经伴随着城建改造被大幅改善
Nowadays, the phenomenon of dirty and messy has been greatly improved along with urban reconstruction
连同老北京的烟火味道，也一并消散在历史中
As the life of old Beijing, both dissipated in the history
大杂院 (The messy courtyards)
自元大都时期开始，北京城的建筑布局就已基本定型
Since the beginning of the Dadu period, the architectural layout of Beijing has been basically finalized
800年前的院落和街道沿袭至今
The courtyards and streets of 800 years ago remain to this day
造就了今天这样略显狭窄拥挤的胡同街景
Created today‘s narrow and crowded Hutongstreet scene
遗憾的是，在建国之后大量的拆迁和改造
Unfortunately, after the founding of our country, Beijing has had a large number of demolition and reconstruction
成片成片地毁去了太多的老街老巷
Too many old streets and alleys have been destroyed piece by piece
如今全北京现存的街巷胡同只剩下原先的1/8，共412条
Today, only one eighth of the founding-time Hutongs remain, with a total of 412
密集的集中在二环之内，故宫周围
Concentrated in the second ring road, around the Forbidden City
北京胡同 (Beijing Hutong)
皇城根脚下，一切事物都爱讲究个尊卑次序
At the foot of the imperial palace, everything pays attention to the order of superiority and inferiority
连胡同取名都不例外
Even the name of the Hutong is no exception
居住平民的胡同取名鸡爪胡同、母猪胡同、张秃子胡同……
The Hutongs of civilian residents are named chicken claw Hutong, sow Hutong, baldhead Zhang Hutong...
富户人家的胡同取名松鹤胡同、永昌胡同、寿逾百胡同……
The hutongs of rich families are named pine and crane Hutong, always prosperous Hutong, long life Hutong...
官家大户的胡同取名参政胡同、济州卫胡同、石大人胡同……
The hutongs of the major government families were named high-ranking official Hutong, high-ranking official Hutong, and official Shi Hutong
南锣鼓巷也是一条平民胡同，传说是因其地势像一驼背人，故名罗锅巷
South Luogu Alleyis also a civilian Hutong. Legend has it that it is named Luo Guo Lane because its terrain looks like a hunchback man
它是现在唯一还保存着元代胡同院落结构的地方
It is the only place that still preserves the Yuan Dynasty Hutong courtyard layout
也是规模最大、品级最高、资源最丰富的棋盘式传统民居区
It is also the largest, highest grade and richest resource checkerboard traditional residential area
在其东西两侧还各分布有8条胡同，坐落着许多名人故居，及僧王府旧址
There are also 8 Hutongs on each side of it’s east and west, where many celebrities‘ former residences and the palace of Lord Seng are located
若是初到北京游览胡同，不妨从此处着手
If you are new to Beijing to visit hutong, you can start from here
南锣鼓巷胡同 (South Luogu Alley Hutong)
作为中国的首都，北京在某些方面自然是有些优待的
As the capital of China, Beijing is naturally privileged in some ways
比如坐落于天安门广场东面的国家博物馆
For example, the National Museumwhich located to the east of Tiananmen Square
不夸张地说，这就是中国最强博物馆（建筑除外），没有之一
This is literally the strongest museum in China (architecture excepted)
这里的文物之精、涵盖之广，故宫馆藏都无法与之相比（建筑除外）
Its collection of cultural relics is unrivaled even count the Forbidden City in(architecture excepted)
因为全国的顶级文物有相当部分都被进贡到了这里
Because many of the country‘s top cultural relics were all sent here
能放在这里展出的，都是优中选优，万里挑一
The cultural relics which displayed here, are the best of the best
国家博物馆 (National Museum)
国家博物馆是中华文化的祠堂和祖庙，是国家最高历史文化艺术殿堂
The National Museum is the ancestral temple of Chinese culture,is the highest historical, cultural and art palace in the country
这里藏品数量多达120余万件，其中近6000件为国家一级文物
There are more than 1.2 million pieces of collection here, nearly 6,000 of which are national first-class cultural relics
时间跨度从新石器时代，到封建社会，再到现代社会
Time span from the Neolithic age, to the feudal society, and then to the modern society
其视角囊括了整个中华文明5000年来的传承和发展进程
Its perspective covers the inheritance and development of the entire Chinese civilization over the past 5,000 years
作为全世界唯一没有中断过传承的四大古文明之一，国博是最生动的实物证明
As the only one of the four ancient civilizations in the world without interruption, the National Museum is the most vivid physical proof
在这里，见证着中华文明一路走来的灿烂和辉煌
This place witness the brilliant of Chinese civilization along all the way
国宝后母戊鼎 (National treasure of Houmu Wu Tripod in National Museum)
作为国务院批复的国家文化中心，北京的文化产业是非常发达的
As a national cultural center approved by The State Council, Beijing‘s cultural industry is very developed
798艺术区就是其中一个代表
798 Art Zoneis one of the example
作为北京市文化创意基地，曾被评为全球22个城市艺术中心之一
As the cultural and creative base of Beijing, it has been rated as one of the 22 urban art centers in the world
这里汇集了绘画、动漫、艺术设计、影视传媒、出版等各类文化机构400余家
There are more than 400 cultural institutions here such as painting, animation, art design, film and television media and publishing
包括著名的尤伦斯当代艺术中心、亚洲艺术中心和火车头广场
Including the famous Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, the Asian Art Center and Locomotive Plaza
798艺术区 (798 Art Zone)
这里最早本为东德设计建造的一个工业厂区
It was originally designed and built as an industrial complex by East Germany
后来伴随工厂衰落而荒废，许多艺术工作者开始聚集于此并着手改造
Later, as the factory declined and fell into disuse, many artists began to gather here and renovated the buildings
逐渐就形成了一个艺术群落
Gradually an art community was formed
整个艺术区以“包豪斯”风格的工业厂房为底色
The whole art zone is based on Bauhaus style industrial plants
装饰以大量明艳的后现代风格艺术作品
Decorated with a large number of bright post-modern style art works
工业建筑的厚重与现代艺术美学激烈碰撞，营造出一种精致的颓废感
The massiness feeling of industrial architecture collides with modern art aesthetics, creating a delicate sense of decadence
使得整个场区本身也成为了一件艺术作品
Makes the whole zone becomes a work of art
如今年轻人对这里趋之若鹜，号称北京拍照圣地
Now young people flock to this place, calls it the photo mecca of Beijing
798艺术区内景 (Interior view of 798 Art Zone)
虽然北京的酒吧众多，但称得上文艺的，只有后海酒吧的歌声
Although there are many bars in Beijing, but only the singing of Houhai Barcan be called delicate and artistic
不同于三里屯的躁动，这里的酒吧让人感觉清净
Unlike the hustle and bustle of Sanlitun, the bars here makes you feel quiet
点一杯酒水，面对后海的湖面，听唱歌的人娓娓道来
Order a cup of wine, facing the lake of Houhai, listen to the singing say
那歌声里既有他的故事，也有你的
There‘s always a story in the song, both for the singer and listener
许多歌手成名前都曾在这里驻唱，日复一日的坚持，为了渺茫的成名机会
Many singers used to sing here before they became famous, day after day, for the tiny chance of becoming a singing star
如同每一个在北京坚持默默奋斗的你我
Just like every struggling and diligent young man here in Beijing
后海酒吧 (Houhai bar)
北海的湖面水光潋滟，两岸垂柳依依、灯火点点
The lake of the North Sea billows with weeping willows and lights on both sides
远处宫墙尖塔倒映水中，画舫扁舟轻轻划过
Far palace spire reflected in the water, boat gently across the water
酒还未喝就已被景色所醉
The scenery makes we drunk before the wine
沿湖的店面星罗棋布，灯旗招展
Storefronts along the lake are dotted with lights and flags
俨然一副现代版的“千里莺啼绿映红，水村山郭酒旗风”之景象
Like a modern version of the "thousands of miles of birds singing, green and red plant reflected in the water,,the flag of a wine store fly in the wind, a village with mountain and water nearby" scene
后海酒吧街 (Houhai Bar Street)
中国人热爱美食
Chinese love delicious food
几千年的农耕文明
Thousands of years of farming civilization
赋予了我们丰富的美食来源，练就了我们高超的烹饪技巧
Give us a rich source of food, practice our superb cooking skills
同时也形成了博大精深的饮食文化
At the same time, a extensive and profound food culture has been formed
有一个广为流传的笑话
There is a popular joke
说一个老外立志要一年吃遍中国，结果四年过去了，还没走出四川
Say that a foreigner is determined to eat all over China in one year, but,four years later, he is still not out of Sichuan
为了解决吃货们的这种不便，美食街应运而生
In order to solve this inconvenience, the food street was created
天南海北的美食被集中到一起，为吃货们提供便利条件
The delicacies of all the different place are gathered together to provide convenience for foodies
在北京，这条街叫簋街
In Beijing, this street is called GUI Jie
簋街 (GUI jie street)
在这条一公里多的街道上共开有150多家店铺，其中90%是餐厅
There are more than 150 shops in this one-kilometer-long street, 90 percent of which are restaurants
当夜幕降临，全城的吃货密集地往这里集中，热闹得像是一场盛事
When night falls, the foodies of the whole city gather here, like a lively event
这里的饭店大多是通宵营业，夜色中的璀璨灯火似乎更能刺激人们的食欲
Most of the restaurants here are opening all night, it seems that the bright lights in the night can stimulate people‘s appetite
在推杯换盏、人来人往中，不知不觉就到了天亮
In the toasting and cheers, people come and go, unconsciously arrived at dawn
在许多激动人心的日子里，人们都会默契地集合在这里庆祝
On many exciting days, people congregate here to celebrate
北京奥运开幕、中国男篮挺进八强、70周年国庆……
At the Beijing Olympic Games opening, China men‘s basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals, the 70th anniversary of the National Day......
人们在这里通宵宣泄，大家一起唱歌、喝酒、叫喊、拥抱
People come here to all-night catharsis, singing, drinking, shouting and hugging
点亮整个北京的热情
Arouse the enthusiasm of the whole Beijing
簋街 (GUI jie street)
Ⅳ
北京美食
Beijing cuisine
北京烤鸭是享誉世界的一道著名传统美食
Beijing Roast Duckis one of the most famous traditional cuisines in the world
关于其起源一直有所争议，有说法是起源于南京，也有说法是起源于北京
Its origin has been disputed, some say it originated in Nanjing, others say it originated in Beijing
不管如何，这种制鸭方法其实早在南北朝《食珍录》就有记载，即—炙鸭
In any case, this kind of duck making method is actually recorded as early as in the Northern and Southern Dynasties "Food Records", which is, roast duck
如今北京烤鸭分两大流派——挂炉烤鸭和焖炉烤鸭
Nowadays there are two main styles of Beijing roast duck -- hanging roast duck and braised roast duck
挂炉烤鸭以“全聚德”为代表，焖炉烤鸭以“便宜坊”为代表
Hung roast duck is represented by Quanjude restaurant, while braised roast duck is represented by Cheap restaurant
虽然全聚德烤鸭盛名在外，但老北京人好像更偏爱便宜坊
Although Quanjude is more famous , but the old Beijingers seem to prefer the Cheap restaurant
做法虽有差异，但追求的口感都是肉质细嫩、香味醇厚、肥而不腻
These two kinds of roast duck pursuit the same ideal taste,which is tender of meat, mellow fragrance, fat but not greasy
初到北京的食客不可不尝
Diners who are new to Beijing must try it
另外，北京烤鸭并不便宜，千万别被便宜坊的名字误导了
Besides, the Beijing Roast Duck is not cheap, so don‘t be misled by the name of Cheap restaurant
北京烤鸭 (Beijing Roast Duck)
老北京人爱吃爆肚，有句为证——“要吃秋，有爆肚”
Old Beijingers love to eat Boiled Tripe, as evidenced by the saying, "To eat autumn, it must be Boiled Tripe."
爆肚原料主要是用牛肚和羊肚，取其爽脆的口感
The Boiled Tripe is mainly made of beef tripe and lamb tripe, for its crisp taste
不需繁复的工艺，取新鲜肚材切成条状，用沸水爆熟就算完成
Don’t need the complicated technology, cut the fresh belly material into strips, boiled it with boiling water,that is all it needs
其中对水温和烹煮时间的控制是保证口感的关键
The control of water temperature and cooking time is the key to ensure the good taste
北方习俗爱吃蘸料，芝麻酱当然必不可少
In northern China, people love dipping sauce, and sesame paste is indispensable
再拌入香油（辣椒油）、腐乳、香菜、葱花
Stir in sesame oil (chili oil), fermented bean curd, coriander and scallion
口味香脆、质地鲜嫩，实为下酒佳肴
The taste is both crisp and tender,which is really good food with wine
爆肚 (Boiled Tripe)
在中国，要想把一碗简单的面食做出名堂，难度无疑是极大的
In China, it is undoubtedly extremely difficult to make a simple bowl of noodles to be famous
因为中国人既爱吃面，又会做面
Because Chinese people are passionate for noodles and really good at it
全国各地美食名面种类繁多，遍地开花
Nearly every place has it’s own famous noodles, with all different kind
而作为中国名面系列中的北方面食
As the outstanding representative of the northern famous noodles
北京炸酱面当属其中的优秀代表
Beijing Pasted Noodlesshould be one of the best
其口味以酱香为主、略带回甜
Its taste is sauce-fragrant, with slightly sweet
以猪肉制作的酱料，口味独具一格
In particular，the pork sauce has a unique flavor
现在有流行加入豆瓣的做法，个人感觉实属神来之笔
There is creative method now which puts Douban into the pork sauce, and that is really a brilliant way
至于拌料的选用，各家做法不尽相同
As for the selection of dipping sauce, different practices are not the same
但炸酱的制作水平基本就决定了这碗面的好吃程度
But the level of the sauce basically determines the level of the noodles
北京炸酱面 (Beijing Pasted Noodles)
北方人冬天爱吃羊肉，烤、焖、炖、炒……吃法五花八门
People in the north love to eat mutton in winter, roast, braise, stew, stir-fry...There are many different ways to eat it
北京人则偏爱涮着吃，而且必须用铜锅
Beijingers prefer the instant-boiled way, and must with a copper pot
至于为何是铜锅，有说法是因为传热快，有说法是因为耐用
As for why must be the copper pot, some say it is because the heat could transfer fast, some say it is because the copper pot is durable
其实都经不起推敲
Both can’t stand up to scrutiny
大部分原因，可能还是北京人喜欢老物件的那种“范”，穷讲究
Most of the reason may be that Beijing people like the feeling of old things,just stubborn
北京涮羊肉用的是清汤锅底，“清水一盏，葱姜二三”
Beijing mutton hotpotuse clear soup, "water with some scallions and ginger"
好吃的关键全在于羊肉的好坏
The taste is all about the quality of the mutton
当然配上美味的蘸酱也必不可少
And of course with a delicious dipping sauce
作为北方人饮食的执念，但凡能配蘸料的一般都必须安排上
As the obsession of northern people, anything could match up with the dipping sauce,it must be arranged
就像四川人对油锅的喜爱，简直不可理喻
Just like the Sichuan people‘s love of oil pot, it is just impenetrable
芝麻酱是肯定得有的，其他如腐乳、辣椒油、葱花、香菜就看个人口味了
Sesame paste is a must. Others, such as fermented bean curd, chili oil, scallions and coriander, are up to your taste
主要是取其浓稠香味，来配合羊肉的鲜嫩口感
Mainly take its thick fragrance, to match the fresh and tender taste of mutton
北京刷羊肉 (Beijing mutton hotpot)
北京有一样名小吃，关于其由来的传说充满了传奇的色彩
There is a famous snack in Beijing,the story of its origin is full of legends
有传说是因慈禧的小太监打翻了糯米团，误将其裹上了黄豆面形成的
Legend has it that it was formed when Cixi‘s eunuch overturned glutinous rice and mistakenly wrapped it in soybean flour
也有传说是乾隆香妃的原配新疆丈夫，为进宫探望妻子而特意制作的
There is also a legend that Qianlong concubine‘s original husband made it,he disguised as a cook to visit his wife
真实的情况无法考究，品尝点心之余倒是多了几味戏谑谈资
The real situation certainly can not be known,but the interesting story seems add to the fun when people tasting this dessert
顾名思义——驴打滚，就是因表面粘满豆面粉而得名
As the name implies - Donkey Roll, it describe the surface which stick with bean flour
其外表色泽金黄靓丽，口感绵软，豆香馅甜
Its appearance is beautiful golden color, its taste is soft and sweet with fragrance from the bean
在清朝前，这本是深受满族人喜爱的一道民族特色美食
Before the Qing Dynasty, it was a national characteristic food loved by the Manchu people
后随着满清入关，逐渐成为风靡大江南北的宫廷特色糕点
Later, with the establishment of the Qing Dynasty by the Manchu people, it gradually became a popular palace pastry
驴打滚 (Donkey Roll)
北京是一座厚重的城市
Beijing is a city full of cultural heritage
无论是在遥远的过去，还是当下
Both in the distant past and in the present
其人文底蕴之深厚，是其他任何城市都不可比拟的
Its profound cultural heritage cannot be matched by any other city
作为六朝古都，政治舞台上最靓的那个仔
As the ancient capital of six dynasties,Beijing is the brightest kid on the political stage
北京汇聚了整个中国的灵气
Beijing is the soul of the whole China
它各个方面都如此出彩，以至于难以找到一个准确的形象来定义它的气质
It is so brilliant in all the aspects that it is difficult to find a precise image to define its temperament
但可以肯定的是，北京的辉煌还会继续延续下去
But with a certain, however,is that Beijing‘s glory days will continue
乘着国运的加持
Riding on the good fortune of the nation
大鹏一日同风起，扶摇直上九万里
Dapeng fly with the wind, soaring up to the ninety thousand high
北京的未来更值得期待
The future of Beijing is even more exciting
... The End ...
P.S.参考资料
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