BBC纪录片
之前公众号介绍过每周一讲|当中国老师遇上英国学生，BBC 纪录片总会给人带来惊喜，最起码之于我而言。且不说其构图、配乐、解说，有时候给我的感觉老外比我们更了解中国。
论及“不该错过的BBC纪录片”，我在这里想提的第一个便是《美丽中国》：
2008年奥运前夕，我们国家邀请BBC拍了一部记录中国野生动物和风光的纪录片，叫《Wild China》，国内译名为《美丽中国》。该记录片是CCTV和BBC首次联合摄制的作品，历时近4年，摄制组踏过了26个省、直辖市和自治区，拍摄了50多个国家级的野生动植物和风景保护区，86种中国珍奇野生动植物，还有30多个民族的生活故事。一共六集，分别为《锦绣华南》、《云翔天边》、《神奇高原》、《风雪塞外》、《沃土中原》和《潮涌海岸》。
第一集：Heart of the Dragon
第二集：Shangri-La
《美丽中国》中，大约三分之一内容用于呈现中国多元的地域和民族文化，另外三分之二全部展现自然生态。其中不乏一些我们想传递交流但却不知如何用地道英语表达的部分，一早起来听着Norah Jones的歌，花些时间整理下字幕文稿，分享一部分内容如下：
城市篇
「 香格里拉
Shangri-la
」
Beneath billowing clouds, in China's far southwestern Yunnan province, lies a place of mystery(5) and legend(11). Of mighty(5) rivers and some of the oldest jungles(7) in the world. Here, hidden valleys nurture strange and colourful tribal cultures. Jungles are rarely found this far north of the tropics. Until little more than a century ago, this place was unknown(3) outside China. But then news reached the West of a mysterious(6), hidden world of the orient. Hidden among the mountains, a lost Shangri-la paradise(2).翻腾的云海之下，在中国西南遥远的云南省，有一个神秘而又充满传奇的地方。这儿有着世界上最久远的雨林以及奔腾的河流。藏匿于此的河谷养育了奇异而又独特的动物，同时也孕育了多彩的民族风情。雨林在远离热带的北部地区是罕见的。直到一个多世纪前，这里还是个未为人知的世外桃源。然而有关这个神奇隐秘的东方世界的传言却不胫而走，传至西方。隐匿在群山中，遗落人间的最后天堂――香格里拉。<出自《美丽中国》第2集>
「 北 京
Beijing
」
China's capital is a vast(18) metropolis home to 15 million people. This bustling modern(11) city seems an unlikely place for traditional(18) beliefs(14) and customs, but beneath the contemporary veneer, it's possible to see glimpses(3) of a far older China.中国的首都是一座巨大的城市，供养着1500万人口。这座熙熙攘攘的现代都市似乎与传统信仰和习俗无缘，在现代的浮华外表之下，依稀可以窥探到远古中国的身影。Every morning, people head to the parks around the Forbidden City to continue a custom which is centuries old. Many Chinese keep birds as companions, specifically a type of laughing thrush from southern China. But they know that cooped up indoors, birds may become depressed, so they try to brighten their day birds by meeting other birds. This surprising(17) scene(3) in the heart of modern Beijing is a clue(7) to China's oldest spiritual(7) ambition, the harmonious(6) coexistence of man and nature.每一个早晨，人们汇聚到紫禁城附近的公园里，延续一种保持了数个世纪的传统。许多中国人把鸟儿当作自己的伙伴，尤其喜欢一种来自中国南方的画眉鸟。养鸟的人知道把鸟关在笼子里，鸟儿也许会变得消沉。因此他们试图让鸟儿们也高兴起来，通过让鸟儿们聚会的这种方式。北京的中心上演了出人意料的一幕，从中可以发掘到远古中国心灵的渴望，那就是——人与自然的和谐共存。<出自《美丽中国》第5集>
「 上 海
Shanghai
」
As night falls, Shanghai reveals(6) its true colours. China's fastest-growing financial centre is in the midst of a massive(8) boom. With an estimated population(8) of more than 20 million, Shanghai is officially China's largest and certainly its most dazzling city. But there is an environmental(5) cost. Shanghai residents(3) now use two and a half times more power(9) per head than their rural(4) cousins. The city's seemingly insatiable energy demands currently require the output of 17 power stations.当夜晚来临时，上海就会揭示它的本色，这是中国最快增长的金融中心，是这个巨大繁荣的中心。其人口估计超过2千万，上海无疑是中国最大也是最耀眼的城市。但他的辉煌背后存在着环境代价，上海居民使用的电力是郊区居民的2.5倍。这个城市近乎贪得无厌的能源需求得需要17个电厂来提供满足。<出自《美丽中国》第6集>
「 香 港
HongKong
」
When a typhoon(4) strikes, one of the best places to be is Hong Kong harbour(5) with its sheltered(12) anchorage. A centre of international trade, the city is famous for its jumble of skyscrapers and its bustling commercial(4) centre.当台风袭来时，香港因其遮蔽的停泊所而成为最佳泊地之一。作为一个国际贸易中心，她以参差错落的摩天大楼和熙攘拥挤的商业中心闻名。<出自《美丽中国》第6集>
「 哈尔滨
Harbin
」
Each year the artists of Harbin get ready for a special(8) winter celebration(3). Giant(18) blocks of ice from nearby rivers undergo a magical(7) transformation. Tourists(10) flock(5) to Harbin from all over China to see the spectacular carvings and the ice city that has sprung up all around. It takes 10,000 people 18 days to construct this icy wonderland. It's impressive(3) enough by day, but the magic of this place only becomes apparent once the sun goes down. Northern China can be a harsh(8) place but also a place of great beauty(5). The Harbin Ice Festival shows how attitudes(6) have changed since the Great Wall was built. No longer are the extremes(7) of life beyond the Wall merely to be feared. Now it is possible to celebrate them, too.每年，哈尔滨的艺术家们都为了一场特殊的冬季盛会而做准备。从临近河道中取来的巨大冰块正被施予一场不可思议的改造。中国各地的旅客们齐聚哈尔滨，来观赏这些壮美的冰雕艺术品，一座冰雪之城拔地而起。10000名工匠辛苦劳作了整整18天，来建造这冰与雪的奇幻王国。她在白天已足令人眼前一亮，然而这座梦幻岛的神奇之处在日落时方为突显。中国北方虽然是粗犷严酷，但是这里也存在着惊人的美。哈尔滨冰雪节展现了长城建造后的人民生活态度的变化。北越长城的土地不再仅仅是令人胆寒的粗犷严苛，他的丰美壮丽也值得人们赞叹与折服。<出自《美丽中国》第4集>
习俗篇
这里输入标题
这里输入标题
「 泼 水 节
Water Splashing Festival
」
Dai people collect water for the most important festival of their year. The Dai call themselves the people of the water. Yunnan's river valleys(27) have been their home for over 2,000 years. By bringing the river water to the temple(10), they honour the two things holiest to them - Buddhism(4) and their home. The Dai give thanks for the rivers and fertile(7) lands which have nurtured(3) their culture. Though to some it might seem just an excuse for the biggest water fight of all time. Dai lives are changing as towns get bigger and modernize but the Water Splashing Festival is still celebrated by all.傣族人为他们一年中最重要的节日收集水，傣族人也称自己为水之民。云南的河谷地带，是他们的两千多年来繁衍生息的故里把河水带到寺庙，敬俸傣族人最神圣的两件事物——佛教和他们的家园。傣族人感恩养育了傣族文化的河流以及肥沃的土地，或许这看上去只是为了打上一场大水仗的借口。随着小镇的发展以及现代化，傣族人的生活正发生着改变。泼水节依旧是众所周知的著名的傣族节日。<出自《美丽中国》第2集>
「 爆 竹
Firecrackers
」
Meanwhile, drums, firecrackers and fireworks reflect(3) the ancient(34) belief that loud noises will frighten off dangerous(7) sea devils and bad fortune(4).同时，鼓声、爆竹反映了古人的信念，古人认为嘈杂巨响能驱赶海怪和坏运气。<出自《美丽中国》第6集>
动物篇
「 熊猫
Panda
」
Unlike the monkeys, this creature(46) has a very specific(3) diet(5)—bamboo. It's a wild Giant Panda. Secret and sensitive to noise, the giant panda is often gone before anyone going get close to it. The panda has long been known in China. It was mentioned in dictionaries more than 2000 years ago and the imperial garden is said to have housed one. In the dense(3) bamboo of the forest, one panda rarely sees another. Instead, they communicate by subtle scent signals. At 1.5m long and 135 kilos, the giant panda is a member of the bear family. But its bear-like digest system is built for eating meat, not this tough fibrous stuff.与猴子不同的是，这种生物有很独特的食性——竹子，这是野生大熊猫。由于对声音敏感，大熊猫经常离开以免有任何东西靠近它。中国人认识熊猫已经很久了，两千多年前的字典上边就提到过熊猫，据说御花园还曾经养过熊猫。在茂密的竹林里，熊猫很少见到同类。所以，它们通过特殊的气味联系。熊猫身长1.5米,体重135千克。熊猫属于熊科，但是那是这种分类方法是按照食肉方法分的,不是按吃韧性纤维分的。<出自《美丽中国》第5集>
「 鸳鸯
Mandarin ducks
」
In the parks of Beijing, mandarin ducks keep a close watch over their young. Believed by the Chinese to pair for life, they have been seen for centuries as a symbol(5) of love and fidelity. Images of these birds are believed to improve personal relationships(21). As a result, Beijing's mandarin ducks are highly protected.在北京的公园里，鸳鸯时刻关注着自己的孩子。中国人相信它们终生守候在一起，几百年以来他们都被看做爱与忠诚的象征。人们认为那些鸟儿的形象可以增进人际关系。因此，北京的鸳鸯得到了妥善的保护。<出自《美丽中国》第5集>
「 龙
Dragon
」
Unlike the destructive dragon of the west, the Chinese dragon was benevolent, provided it was treated(4) with respect(7). The ancient Chinese called themselves descendants of the dragon and knew they needed to live harmoniously in the dragon's realm. This respect for the dragon has relevance today.与西方暴虐的龙不同，中国的龙是仁慈行善的，受人尊敬。古代中国人称自己为龙的传人，并认识到他们需要和谐地生活在龙的国度中。这种对龙的尊敬影响至今。<出自《美丽中国》第5集>
「 鹤
Crane
」
For centuries, cranes have been revered in China as symbols of longevity. Their statues were placed next to the Emperor's throne. The cranes have cause to celebrate. This chick is a sign of hope in difficult times. Red-crowned cranes are one of the world's most endangered(7) species(20).数百年来，鹤被中国人视为长寿的象征而备受尊崇。它们的雕像被放在皇帝的宝座旁。鹤因此而受到赞扬。幼鹤在困难时刻就象征着希望。丹顶鹤是世界上最濒临灭绝边缘的物种之一。<出自《美丽中国》第6集>
「 长城
Great Wall
」
The Great Wall of China was built by the Han Chinese to keep out the nomadic (4)tribes(7) from the north and strange landscapes(36). The northern limits of ancient China were defined(5) by the Great Wall which meanders for nearly 5000km from east to west. The settled Han people of the Chinese heartland(9) were invaded many times by warlike tribes from the north. The Great Wall was built to protect(22 the Han Chinese from invasion.长城始建于中国汉代，为了抵御来自北方的游牧民族而建。长城是中国古代北部的边界，自东蜿蜒向西约5000公里。当时定居于中原地带的汉族人，常常被被来自于北方的游牧部落所侵略。长城的修建保护了汉族人免于遭受侵略。<出自《美丽中国》第4集>
先要解释一下文中加粗加红标注的英文单词，（）里面的数字代表的是在BBC美丽中国6集里面该词出现的次数，高频词部分我已经在之前的文章聊聊背英文单词的“捷径”（下）有介绍过。
为什么要做这一期？
之前补看林语堂先生《Moment In Peking》时，发现其实中国传统文化节日及习俗等相关的英文介绍（如下图），林语堂先生早在几十年前已经做了，且在西方有一定的传播。只怪我们读书少，还不习惯“拿来主义”，争取等假期找时间做一期。
除此之外，我还想推荐的是BBC拍摄的中国新年：全球最大庆典 Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth (2016)，BTW 两个老外主持非常幽默。
再有就是《中国故事》（The Story of China），一共三集。下面视频为《中国故事》第一集：
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