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The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River

↶ Advanced reading practice

The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River

长江Cháng Jiāng三峡Sān xiá位于wèi yú长江Cháng Jiāng上游shàng yóu,从cóng重庆Chóng qìng奉节Fèng jié的de白帝城Bái dì chéng开始kāi shǐ,到dào湖北Hú běi宜昌Yí chāng的de南津关Nán jīn guān结束jié shù,全quán长cháng约yuē193公里gōng lǐ。

三峡Sān xiá由yóu瞿塘峡Qú táng Xiá、巫峡Wū Xiá、西陵峡Xī líng Xiá三sān段duàn峡谷xiá gǔ组成zǔ chéng,是shì中国Zhōng guó很hěn有名yǒu míng的de自然zì rán景观jǐng guān,被bèi称chēng为wéi"山shān水shuǐ画廊huà láng"。

三sān座zuò峡谷xiá gǔ,三sān种zhǒng特点tè diǎn瞿塘峡Qú táng Xiá是shì三峡Sān xiá中zhōng最zuì短duǎn但dàn最zuì有yǒu气势qì shì的de一yī段duàn,只有zhǐ yǒu8公里gōng lǐ左右zuǒ yòu。

两liǎng岸àn的de山shān又yòu高gāo又yòu直zhí,江面jiāng miàn突然tū rán变biàn窄zhǎi,看kàn起来qǐ lái很hěn有yǒu力量lì liàng。

大家dà jiā熟悉shú xi的de人民币rén mín bì十shí元yuán纸币zhǐ bì背后bèi hòu的de图案tú àn就是jiù shì这儿zhè r。

巫峡Wū Xiá以yǐ风景fēng jǐng秀丽xiù lì出名chū míng,全quán长cháng约yuē42公里gōng lǐ。

这里zhè lǐ经常jīng cháng有yǒu云雾yún wù,山峰shān fēng高gāo低dī起伏qǐ fú,最zuì有名yǒu míng的de是shì神女峰Shén nǚ Fēng。

传说chuán shuō古代gǔ dài有yǒu位wèi仙女xiān nǚ叫jiào瑶姬Yáo jī,她tā曾céng帮助bāng zhù大禹Dà Yǔ治zhì水shuǐ,为wèi船工chuán gōng指引zhǐ yǐn方向fāng xiàng,人们rén men为了wèi le纪念jì niàn她tā,就jiù把bǎ这zhè座zuò美丽měi lì的de山峰shān fēng叫jiào做zuò"神女峰Shén nǚ Fēng"。

西陵峡Xī líng Xiá是shì三峡Sān xiá中zhōng最zuì长cháng的de一yī段duàn,过去guò qù以yǐ水流shuǐ liú急jí、石头shí tou多duō出名chū míng。

现在xiàn zài因为yīn wèi建jiàn了le三峡Sān xiá大坝dà bà,水流shuǐ liú变得biàn de平缓píng huǎn很多hěn duō,但dàn峡谷xiá gǔ的de风景fēng jǐng依然yī rán很hěn美měi。

历史lì shǐ与yǔ文化wén huà的de长廊cháng láng三峡Sān xiá不仅bù jǐn有yǒu美丽měi lì的de自然zì rán风光fēng guāng,还hái有yǒu很多hěn duō历史lì shǐ文化wén huà。

白帝城Bái dì chéng是shì三峡Sān xiá的de起点qǐ diǎn,三国Sān guó时期shí qī刘备Liú Bèi曾céng在zài这里zhè lǐ把bǎ儿子ér zi和hé国家guó jiā都dōu托付tuō fù给gěi诸葛亮Zhū gě Liàng。

诗人shī rén李白Lǐ Bái也yě在zài这里zhè lǐ写xiě过guo很hěn有名yǒu míng的de诗句shī jù:朝辞白帝彩云间zhāo cí bái dì cǎi yún jiān。

峡谷xiá gǔ两liǎng岸àn的de崖壁yá bì上shàng,有yǒu各个gè gè时期shí qī留下liú xia的de石刻shí kè。

这些zhè xiē古老gǔ lǎo的de文字wén zì记录jì lù了le历史lì shǐ的de变化biàn huà,也yě留下liú xia了le很多hěn duō动人dòng rén的de故事gù shi。

比如bǐ rú在zài大宁河Dà níng hé两liǎng岸àn的de悬崖xuán yá上shàng,还hái可以kě yǐ看到kàn dào古代gǔ dài人rén放fàng在zài高gāo处chù的de棺材guān cai,人们rén men把bǎ它tā叫jiào做zuò悬棺xuán guān。

现代xiàn dài工程gōng chéng1992年nián,中国Zhōng guó决定jué dìng在zài宜昌Yí chāng修建xiū jiàn三峡Sān xiá大坝dà bà。

这zhè是shì目前mù qián世界shì jiè上shàng最zuì大dà的de水利shuǐ lì工程gōng chéng,可以kě yǐ防fáng洪hóng、发电fā diàn,也yě可以kě yǐ让ràng船chuán走zǒu得de更好gèng hǎo。

大坝dà bà建成jiàn chéng后hòu,原来yuán lái水shuǐ很hěn急jí的de地方dì fang变成biàn chéng了le平静píng jìng的de水面shuǐ miàn,船chuán走zǒu起来qǐ lái更gèng安全ān quán了le。

现在xiàn zài游览yóu lǎn三峡Sān xiá的de方式fāng shì更多gèng duō了le。

游客yóu kè可以kě yǐ坐zuò船chuán,白天bái tiān看kàn两liǎng岸àn的de风景fēng jǐng,晚上wǎn shang在zài船chuán上shàng参加cān jiā各种gè zhǒng活动huó dòng。

船chuán经过jīng guò葛洲坝Gé zhōu bà的de时候shí hou,还hái能néng亲眼qīn yǎn看到kàn dào"水shuǐ涨zhǎng船chuán高gāo"的de过程guò chéng。

旅行lǚ xíng建议jiàn yì去qù三峡Sān xiá玩wán最好zuì hǎo的de时间shí jiān是shì秋天qiū tiān,也yě就是jiù shì十月Shí yuè到dào十一月Shí yī yuè。

这zhè时候shí hou天气tiān qì很hěn好hǎo,两liǎng岸àn山shān上shàng的de叶子yè zi也yě红hóng了le,风景fēng jǐng很hěn美měi。

可以kě yǐ选择xuǎn zé从cóng重庆Chóng qìng往wǎng下游xià yóu走zǒu,到dào宜昌Yí chāng下xià船chuán,大约dà yuē需要xū yào四sì天tiān三sān晚wǎn;

也yě可以kě yǐ从cóng宜昌Yí chāng往wǎng上游shàng yóu走zǒu,到dào重庆Chóng qìng下xià船chuán,大约dà yuē需要xū yào五wǔ天tiān四sì晚wǎn。

不管bù guǎn选xuǎn哪个nǎ ge方向fāng xiàng,看kàn到dào的de美měi景jǐng都dōu是shì一样yī yàng的de。

一路yī lù上shàng除了chú le三sān个gè峡谷xiá gǔ,还hái可以kě yǐ去qù看kàn白帝城Bái dì chéng、丰都Fēng dū鬼城guǐ chéng、石宝寨Shí bǎo zhài、三峡Sān xiá人家rén jiā等děng景点jǐng diǎn。

当地dāng dì的de好吃hǎo chī的de也yě很多hěn duō,比如bǐ rú炕土豆kàng tǔ dòu、烤鱼kǎo yú、腊猪蹄là zhū tí等děng。

三峡Sān xiá是shì一yī幅fú画huà,也yě是shì一yī本běn书shū,吸引xī yǐn著zhe很多hěn duō人rén来lái这里zhè lǐ感受gǎn shòu它的tā de魅力mèi lì。

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Vocabulary 265 words

ChinesePinyinEnglish
长江 Cháng JiāngYangtze River, or Chang Jiang
三峡 Sān xiáThree Gorges on the Chang Jiang or Yangtze, namely: Qutang Gorge 瞿塘峽|瞿塘峡[Qu2 tang2 Xia2], Wuxia Gorge 巫峽|巫峡[Wu1 Xia2] and Xiling Gorge 西陵峽|西陵峡[Xi1 ling2 Xia2]
位于 wèi yúto be located at / to be situated at / to lie
上游 shàng yóuupper reaches (of a river) / upstream
从 cóngfrom; through; via / (bound form) retainer; attendant / (bound form) assistant; auxiliary; subordinate / (bound form) related by common paternal grandfather or earlier ancestor
重庆 Chóng qìngChongqing municipality (short name 渝[Yu2])
奉节 Fèng jiéFengjie / place name in Chongqing
的 depossessive particle (of; 's) / modifying particle (used after an attribute to modify a noun or to form a nominal expression)
白帝城 Bái dì chéngBaidi town in Chongqing 重慶|重庆, north of the Changjiang, an important tourist attraction
开始 kāi shǐto begin / to start
到 dàoto reach; to arrive / to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) / (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point)
湖北 Hú běiHubei, a province in central China.
宜昌 Yí chāngYichang / city in Hubei
南津关 Nán jīn guānNanjinguan / place name near the Three Gorges
结束 jié shùto finish / to end / to conclude / to close
全 quánall / whole / entire / every / complete
长 cháng(bound form) length
约 yuēapproximately
公里 gōng lǐkilometer
由 yóufrom / because of; due to / by; via; through / (before a noun and a verb) it is for ... to ...
瞿塘峡 Qú táng XiáQutang Gorge, 8 km long gorge on the Changjiang or Yangtze in Chongqing 重慶|重庆[Chong2 qing4], the upper of the Three Gorges 三峽|三峡[San1 Xia2]
巫峡 Wū XiáWuxia Gorge on the Changjiang or Yangtze, the middle of the Three Gorges 三峽|三峡[San1 Xia2]
西陵峡 Xī líng XiáXiling Gorge on the Changjiang or Yangtze, the lower of the Three Gorges 三峽|三峡[San1 Xia2]
三 sānthree / 3
段 duànparagraph / section / segment / stage (of a process)
峡谷 xiá gǔcanyon / gill / ravine
组成 zǔ chéngto form / to make up / to constitute
是 shìto be (followed by substantives only)
中国 Zhōng guóChina
很 hěnvery; quite
有名 yǒu míngfamous / well-known
自然 zì ránnatural
景观 jǐng guānlandscape
被 bèiused to indicate passive voice (placed before the doer of the action like "by" in English passive-voice sentences, or, if the doer is not mentioned, before the verb) / (sarcastic or jocular) used to indicate that the following word should be regarded as being in air quotes
称 chēngto name
为 wéito take sth as / to act as / to serve as / to behave as / to become / to be / to do
山 shānmountain; hill / (coll.) small bundle of straw for silkworms to spin cocoons on
水 shuǐwater / (after a name) ... River / (bound form) additional cost; extra income
画廊 huà lángart gallery / decorated corridor
座 zuòclassifier for large immovable objects
种 zhǒngclassifier for types, kinds, sorts
特点 tè diǎncharacteristic (feature) / trait / feature
中 zhōngwithin; among; in
最 zuì(before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est
短 duǎnshort / brief
但 dànbut; yet; however; still
有 yǒuto have; there is
气势 qì shìimposing manner / loftiness / grandeur
一 yīone / single / a (article)
只有 zhǐ yǒuonly have ...; there is only ...
左右 zuǒ yòuapproximately
两 liǎngtwo / both / some / a few
岸 ànbank; shore; beach; coast
又 yòuboth... and...
高 gāohigh / tall / above average / loud
直 zhístraight / fair and reasonable / frank / straightforward / vertical / vertical downward stroke in Chinese characters
江面 jiāng miànthe surface of the river
突然 tū ránsudden; abrupt; unexpected
变 biànto change / to become different / to transform / to vary
窄 zhǎinarrow / narrow-minded / badly off
看 kànto see; to look at / to read / to watch / to visit; to call on / to consider; to regard as / to look after / to treat (a patient or illness) / to depend on / to feel (that) / (after a verb) to give it a try / to watch out for
起来 qǐ láiindicating the beginning and continuation of an action or a state / indicating an upward movement / indicating completion / expressing preliminary judgment
力量 lì liàngpower; force; strength
大家 dà jiāeveryone
熟悉 shú xito be familiar with; to know well
人民币 rén mín bìRenminbi, the official currency of the PRC (RMB or CNY)
十 shíten / 10
元 yuáncurrency unit (esp. Chinese yuan) / era (of a reign) / (geology) eon
纸币 zhǐ bìbank notes / paper currency
背后 bèi hòubehind / at the back / in the rear / behind sb's back
图案 tú àndesign; pattern
就是 jiù shìexactly; precisely / only; simply; just / even; even if
这儿 zhè rhere
以 yǐby means of / according to / in order to / because of / at
风景 fēng jǐngscenery; landscape
秀丽 xiù lìpretty; beautiful
出名 chū míngwell-known for sth
这里 zhè lǐhere
经常 jīng chángfrequently; constantly; regularly; often
云雾 yún wùclouds and mist
山峰 shān fēng(mountain) peak
低 dīlow
起伏 qǐ fúto move up and down / to undulate
神女峰 Shén nǚ Fēngname of a peak by the Three Gorges 長江三峽|长江三峡[Chang2 Jiang1 San1 xia2]
传说 chuán shuōto repeat from mouth to mouth; they say that...
古代 gǔ dàiancient times
位 wèiclassifier for people (honorific)
仙女 xiān nǚfairy
叫 jiàoto be called
瑶姬 Yáo jīYao Ji / mythological female figure
她 tāshe
曾 céngonce / already / ever (in the past) / former / previously / (past tense marker used before verb or clause)
帮助 bāng zhùto help; to assist
大禹 Dà YǔYu the Great (c. 21st century BC) mythical leader who tamed the floods
治 zhìto rule / to govern / to manage / to control / to harness (a river) / to treat (a disease) / to wipe out (a pest) / to punish / to research
船工 chuán gōngboatman / boat builder
指引 zhǐ yǐnto guide / to show / to point (the way)
方向 fāng xiàngdirection; orientation
人们 rén menpeople
为了 wèi lefor; for the purpose of; in order to
纪念 jì niànto commemorate; to honor the memory of
就 jiùin that case; then
把 bǎ(used to put the object before the verb: 把[ba3] + {noun} + {verb})
这 zhèthis; these
美丽 měi lìbeautiful
做 zuò(of a thing) to serve as; to be used for
过去 guò qù(in the) past; former; previous
水流 shuǐ liúriver / stream
急 jíurgent / pressing / rapid / hurried / worried
石头 shí toustone
多 duōmany; much; more; a lot of
现在 xiàn zàinow; at present; currently
因为 yīn wèibecause; owing to; on account of
建 jiànto establish / to found / to set up / to build / to construct
了 le(completed action marker) / (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now)
大坝 dà bàdam
变得 biàn deto become
平缓 píng huǎnlevel; almost flat; not strongly sloping / (fig.) moderate; mild-mannered; gentle
很多 hěn duōmany; a lot of
依然 yī ránstill; as before
美 měibeautiful / very satisfactory; good
历史 lì shǐhistory
与 yǔ(formal) and; together with (linking parallel nouns, verbs, or phrases)
文化 wén huàculture / civilization
长廊 cháng lángpromenade / long hallway
不仅 bù jǐnnot just; not limited to / (as a correlative conjunction) not only (..., but also ...)
风光 fēng guāngscene / view / sight / landscape
还 háiin addition, also, else, even
起点 qǐ diǎnstarting point
三国 Sān guóThree Kingdoms period (220–280) in Chinese history
时期 shí qīperiod / phase
刘备 Liú BèiLiu Bei (161-223), warlord at the end of the Han dynasty and founder of the Han kingdom of Shu 蜀漢|蜀汉 (c. 200-263), later the Shu Han dynasty
在 zài(of sb or sth) to be (located) at
儿子 ér zison
和 héand; together with
国家 guó jiācountry; nation; state
都 dōuall; both; entirely
托付 tuō fùto entrust
给 gěito / for / for the benefit of / to do sth (for sb)
诸葛亮 Zhū gě LiàngZhuge Liang (181–234), military leader and prime minister of Shu Han 蜀漢|蜀汉[Shu3 Han4] during the Three Kingdoms period / the main hero of the fictional Romance of Three Kingdoms 三國演義|三国演义[San1 guo2 Yan3 yi4], where he is portrayed as a sage and military genius / (fig.) a mastermind
诗人 shī rénbard / poet
李白 Lǐ BáiLi Bai (701-762), famous Tang Dynasty poet
也 yěalso; too; as well; (not ...) either
写 xiěto write
过 guo(experienced action marker)
诗句 shī jùverse
朝辞白帝彩云间 zhāo cí bái dì cǎi yún jiānLeaving Baidi in the morning among rosy clouds / line from a Tang poem
崖壁 yá bìescarpment / precipice / cliff
上 shàng(noun suffix) on; above
各个 gè gèevery / various
留下 liú xiato leave behind / to stay behind / to remain / to keep / not to let (sb) go
石刻 shí kèstone inscription / carved stone
这些 zhè xiēthese
古老 gǔ lǎoancient / old / age-old
文字 wén zìcharacter / script / writing / written language / writing style / phraseology
记录 jì lùto record
变化 biàn huàchange; variation
动人 dòng réntouching / moving
故事 gù shinarrative; story; tale
比如 bǐ rúfor example; for instance; such as
大宁河 Dà níng héDaning River / river name
悬崖 xuán yáprecipice / overhanging cliff
可以 kě yǐcan / may / possible / able to
看到 kàn dàoto see
人 rénperson; people
放 fàngto put / to place
处 chù(bound form) place; locality / (bound form) part; aspect / (bound form) office; department; bureau
棺材 guān caicoffin
它 tāit
悬棺 xuán guānhanging coffin
现代 xiàn dàimodern times / modern age / modern era
工程 gōng chéngengineering / an engineering project / project / undertaking
年 niányear
决定 jué dìngto decide; to determine; to make up one's mind
修建 xiū jiànto build / to construct
目前 mù qiánat the present time / currently
世界 shì jièworld
大 dàbig; large; great / older (than another person) / eldest
水利 shuǐ lìwater conservancy / irrigation works
防 fángto protect / to defend / to guard against / to prevent
洪 hóngflood
发电 fā diànto generate electricity / to send a telegram
让 ràngto permit / to let sb do sth / to have sb do sth / to make sb (feel sad etc)
船 chuánboat / vessel / ship
走 zǒuto walk / to go / to run / to move (of vehicle) / to visit / to leave / to go away / to die (euph.) / to change (shape, form, meaning)
得 destructural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc
更好 gèng hǎobetter; more good; to a greater extent good
建成 jiàn chéngto establish / to build
后 hòuafterwards / after
原来 yuán láioriginally; formerly; at first
地方 dì fangplace; location; area; space; territory / aspect; part
变成 biàn chéngto change into / to turn into / to become
平静 píng jìngtranquil / undisturbed / serene
水面 shuǐ miànwater surface
更 gèngmore / even more / further / still / still more
安全 ān quánsafe; secure
游览 yóu lǎnto go sightseeing / to tour / to visit
方式 fāng shìway; method; manner; mode; pattern (of behavior etc)
更多 gèng duōmore; greater in amount, degree, or number
游客 yóu kètraveler; tourist
坐 zuòto sit / to take a seat / to take (a bus, airplane etc) / to bear fruit
白天 bái tiānduring the day
晚上 wǎn shangin the evening
参加 cān jiāto participate / to take part / to join
各种 gè zhǒngevery kind of; all kinds of; various
活动 huó dòng(volcanic, seismic, economic etc) activity / (outdoor etc) activity; event; (political) campaign; (military) maneuver
经过 jīng guòto pass / to go through
葛洲坝 Gé zhōu bàname of a place, Gezhouba Dam on the Changjiang River, in Sichuan
时候 shí houtime / length of time / moment / period
能 néngcan / to be able to / might possibly
亲眼 qīn yǎnwith one's own eyes / personally
涨 zhǎngto rise (of prices, rivers)
过程 guò chéngcourse of events; process
旅行 lǚ xíngjourney; trip
建议 jiàn yìproposal; suggestion; recommendation
去 qùto go, to go to
玩 wánto play / to have fun / to trifle with / to keep sth for entertainment
最好 zuì hǎobest
时间 shí jiāntime
秋天 qiū tiānautumn
十月 Shí yuèOctober / tenth month (of the lunar year)
十一月 Shí yī yuèNovember / eleventh month (of the lunar year)
天气 tiān qìweather
好 hǎogood / appropriate; proper
叶子 yè zileaf (CL:片[pian4])
红 hóngred / popular / revolutionary
选择 xuǎn zéto select; to pick
往 wǎngto / towards / (of a train) bound for
下游 xià yóulower reaches (of a river) / downstream
下 xiàto decline / to go down
大约 dà yuēapproximately
需要 xū yàoto need; to want; to demand; to require
四 sìfour / 4
天 tiānday
晚 wǎnevening / night
五 wǔfive / 5
不管 bù guǎnregardless of / no matter
选 xuǎnto choose / to pick / to select / to elect
哪个 nǎ gewhich / who
景 jǐng(bound form) scenery / circumstance / situation / scene (of a play) / (literary) sunlight
一样 yī yàngsame / like / equal to / the same as
一路 yī lùthe whole journey
除了 chú leapart from; besides; in addition to
个 gèclassifier for people or objects in general
丰都 Fēng dūFengdu / place name in Chongqing
鬼城 guǐ chéngghost town
石宝寨 Shí bǎo zhàiShibaozhai / Shibao Stockade
人家 rén jiāhousehold / dwelling / family / sb else's house / household business / house of woman's husband-to-be
等 děngand so on; etc.; et al. / (used to end an enumeration)
景点 jǐng diǎntourist attraction; scenic spot
当地 dāng dìlocal
好吃 hǎo chītasty; delicious
炕土豆 kàng tǔ dòupan-fried potatoes / griddled potatoes
烤鱼 kǎo yúgrilled fish / roast fish
腊猪蹄 là zhū tícured pig trotter / preserved pig's trotter
幅 fúclassifier for textiles or pictures
画 huàpicture; painting
本 běnclassifier for books, periodicals, files etc
书 shūbook
吸引 xī yǐnto attract; to appeal to; to fascinate
著 zheaspect particle indicating action in progress or ongoing state
来 láito come
感受 gǎn shòuto sense / to feel (through the senses) / to experience
它的 tā deits; belonging to it
魅力 mèi lìcharm / fascination / glamor / charisma