Beijing Attractions-In English

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps many of us haven't been able to go out and travel for a long time. Just when we finally have some time off, we can only stay at home. Does it feel like we're suffocating? However, for our own safety and the safety of others, we must respond to the country's call to reduce circulation and gatherings to effectively control the epidemic and return to normal life as soon as possible. Even though we may not be able to travel to other cities conveniently, the convenience of the internet allows us to see many beautiful sights without leaving our homes. Today, let's start our virtual tour from Beijing and learn about the translated names of these attractions!

First, let's take a look at the most famous attraction in Beijing, the Palace Museum or the Forbidden City. The Palace Museum in Beijing was the royal palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was originally called the Purple Forbidden City, hence the two translation methods. Construction of the Palace Museum began in the fourth year of the Yongle reign (1406) of the Ming Dynasty, modeled after the Nanjing Palace, and was completed in the 18th year of Yongle (1420), serving as the imperial palace for twenty-four emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. On the National Day of the Republic of China in the 14th year (October 10, 1925), the Palace Museum officially opened as a museum, and it is one of the largest and best-preserved wooden structure ancient buildings in the world, designated as a national 5A-level tourist attraction.

The Palace Museum consists of the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The Outer Court mainly includes the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. The center of the Inner Court is the Hall of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union and Peace, and the Hall of Earthly Tranquility, followed by the Imperial Garden.

As a royal palace of two dynasties, the Palace Museum holds significant historical importance, and each palace within it carries profound meanings. Therefore, when translating their names, we usually opt for meaning-based translation instead of simple transliteration to convey the original intentions behind the naming.

Aside from the Palace Museum, the most renowned attraction in Beijing is the Great Wall. It is said that one is not a hero until they reach the Great Wall. The Great Wall embodies the wisdom of the laboring people who built it over more than two thousand years. It symbolizes the hardworking, wise, resilient, united, and indomitable spirit and will of the Chinese nation and represents the splendid Chinese culture. From the translation of the Great Wall, we can also sense its profound significance.

Beijing is also home to many other famous attractions such as the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, Beihai Park, Tiananmen Square, and so on. These sites not only boast charming landscapes but also rich historical and cultural heritage, representing the unique urban history and style of Beijing, attracting visitors from all around the world.

In translating these famous attractions, sometimes we need to translate based on their meanings, while other times a simple transliteration suffices. This choice depends on the cultural significance embedded within each attraction. Therefore, translation is not just a task requiring language knowledge and skills but also necessitates a necessary understanding of the culture to accurately and appropriately convey the essence.

That concludes our virtual tour of Beijing today. Looking forward to seeing you all next time!

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