肇庆七星岩中英文

Qi Xing Yan Scenic Spot in Zhaoqing

[Introduction]-[Age-old Poem Corridor]-[Palace Shuiyue Palace]-[Yuping Rock and Langfeng Rock]-[Apo Rock]-[Wetland Park]

[Introduction]

Good morning, distinguished guests. We are going to see lakes and mainly rocks today. Allow me to give you a general introduction first.

Seven-star Rocks scenic spot enjoys a sightseeing history of more than 1000 years. It lies to the north of Zhaoqing city about three kilometers away. In 1982, Seven-star Rocks together with Dinghu Mountain were put under the same name of “Xinghu”Scenic Area. This scenic area enjoys many well recognized titles in the travel industry. Say, it was listed among the first designated State-level Key Tourist Attractions. In the years of 1999 and 2000, Xinghu Scenic Area was ranked as “State-level Key Tourist Attraction”, “Top Ten State Demonstration Site of Civilization” and “State-level 4A Resort” respectively.

The lake in front of us is composed of five lakes, hence the origin of its name, a star-shaped lake. Xinghu (let me put it into Chinese) occupies an area of 64.9 thousand square meters. This lake has a history of over 350 years. It was first documented in Ming Dynasty.

Seven-star Rocks are made up of seven rocks. It covers an area of 8.227 square kilometers.

These seven rocks line into two belts. The belt in the south includes five rocks. These five are named after their shapes. If you look from west to east, you will see Shizhangyan (Palm Rock), Chanchuyan (Toad Rock), Tianzhuyan (Sky-pointing Rock), Shishiyan (Stone Chamber Rock) and Yuping Langfengyan (Jade Screen Langfeng Rock). The belt in the north includes other two rocks. They are named as He Qiang and Apo. I will tell you the stories about their origin later.

Now we are standing in front of Sky-pointing Rock. It rises up to 114 meters. Do

you see a pavilion at its peak? It is the highest construction in Seven-star Rocks. Shall we call it Star-reaching Pavilion (Zhaixingting)? Yes, great. Now will you look at Tianzhuge, a building half way down the mountain? It is a place which serves meals and provides beds.

After giving you an overall introduction, I will lead you to see the details.

[Age-old Poem Corridor]

This Age-old Poem Corridor is known for Moya Stone Inscription (Ma Ya Shi Ke). As you can see, carved and chiseled on the smooth surface of the natural rocks are the drawings and writings, recording important events or achievements in history. These inscriptions are usually completed by the joined efforts of stonemasons and calligraphers. A Chinese late Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marshal Chen Yi visited here in February, 1962. He commented, “The lines inscribed on the rocks here have made this place famous after a thousand years”.

The stone inscriptions in Seven-star Rocks Scenic Spot are mainly situated in the Longyan Cave and the Lotus Cave of Stone Chamber Rock. After Tang and Song Dynasties, a flow of poets and calligraphers left their writings on the rocks. Currently, there are more than 410 pieces of stone inscriptions. They are rendering you a unique tour in the museum of calligraphy.

The one before us has the highest artistic value. It is called A Record of Stone Chamber in Duanzhou. It is the earliest in existence here with a history of over 1200 years, inscribed in Kaiyuan Period of Tang Dynasty (727 AD). This inscription is the masterpiece of Li Yi, who enjoys a good reputation in China as a calligrapher. Li Bai and Du Fu, the two renowned poets in Tang Dynasty, admired his talent. As is known, Li Yi’s fine style in calligraphy is marked as a transition from sureness of touch and clearness in earlier periods to richness and strength featuring as the glorious Tang Dynasty.

Apart from Li Yi, other celebrities inscribed their works here. To name a few, Li Shen, a famous poet in Middle Tang Dynasty; Bao Zhen, an important official of Song Dynasty; Zhou Dunyi, a writer and philosopher; Yu Dayou, an eminent general