With 2022 incoming, so too comes some good news that six top tourist attractions in Jiangsu Province shall open their gates for free. Spread across the Province, our own Nanjing gets one; famous for its dragon boat racing and with quite a history to tell.
2022年即将到来，江苏省六大旅游景区将免费开放的好消息也随之而来。遍布全省，我们南京也有一个；以赛龙舟而闻名，有着悠久的历史。
They’re calling it a “pilot”. In China, that generally means “permanent”. Where one meets the other is moot. But anyway, offering free admission at six top Jiangsu tourist attractions makes sense, given that authorities would rather we don’t leave the province.
他们称之为“飞行员”。在中国，这通常意味着“永久”。一个人在哪里遇见另一个人是没有意义的。但无论如何，考虑到当局希望我们不要离开该省，在江苏六个顶级旅游景点提供免费入场是有道理的。
So it’s a kind of a consolation prize. But not one to be sniffed at. For many of the attractions are rated 4A by the China National Tourist Attractions Quality Evaluation Committee. That’s just one A short of top marks, and there are not so many of those. Indeed, Nanjing has only two; Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum and Confucius Temple.
所以这是一种安慰奖。但不是一个值得嗤之以鼻的人。多个景点被中国国家旅游景区质量评价委员会评为4A级。距离最高分仅差一个 A，而且这样的分数并不多。事实上，南京只有两个；中山陵和孔庙。
Back to the new freebies. Firstly, as The Paper reported yesterday, 21 December, Suzhou gets two scenic spots which will waive entry fees as the new year dawns. An 800-year-old square tower is the star attraction in Fang Tower Park (常熟方塔园) in Changshu City of Suzhou. Built during the Southern Song Dynasty, the tower is complimented by an impressive bonsai collection. The park received 4A tourist attraction status in 2007.
回到新的免费赠品。首先，据澎湃新闻昨天12月21日报道，新年伊始，苏州有两个景区免收门票。一座拥有800年历史的方塔是苏州常熟市常熟方塔园的明星景点。该塔建于南宋时期，拥有令人印象深刻的盆景收藏。该公园于2007年获得4A级旅游景区资格。
Also in Changshu is the Zeng Garden (常熟曾园), dating from the late Qing Dynasty. The Garden is well known for the Yushan and Xinfeng Pavilions, the reflections of which can be seen from every single part of the Garden.
常熟还有一座始建于清末的常熟曾园。花园以玉山阁和新丰阁而闻名，花园的每个角落都可以看到它们的倒影。
Next up, the Rugao Water Painting Garden (南通如皋水绘园), another 4A tourist attraction in Nantong City. The Garden dates back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, making it over 400 years old. At over a quarter of a million square metres in area, it’s a unique representative of garden architecture in China’s Jiangnan region.
接下来是南通市又一4A级旅游景区南通如皋水绘园。该园始建于明末清初，距今已有400多年的历史。面积逾百万平方米，是中国江南地区园林建筑的独特代表。
Up north in Xuzhou is the Horse Stage (徐州戏马台), built for Xiang Yu, known as “Overlord of Western Chu”, so that he may enjoy performances by horses. Xiang was the Hegemon-King of Western Chu during the Chu–Han Contention period, between 206 and 202 B.C.E.
徐州北部有徐州戏马台，是为“西楚霸王”项羽修建的，供他观赏马戏。项是楚汉争霸时期（公元前206年至202年）西楚霸主。
Then over in Taizhou, we can soon enjoy free entry to the Qiao Garden (泰州乔园). A private garden built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and later owned by the local salt commissioner, the Qiao Garden is regarded as the oldest classical garden in Jiangsu north of the Yangtze. Former Chinese President, Hu Jintao, played here as a young boy.
然后到了泰州，我们很快就可以免费进入泰州乔园了。乔园建于明万历年间，后归当地盐政司所有，被认为是江苏江北最古老的古典园林。中国前国家主席胡锦涛小时候曾在这里玩耍。
And finally, our very own Nanjing. Mochou Lake (莫愁湖) offers a soothing-lake view and classical Chinese pavilions. But it is also where romantic legends join forces in this watery complex. The park and lake were named after a legendary female figure; Mochou (meaning “do not worry”), while there exists differing stories behind the myth. In one, the Liang Dynasty widow is said to have committed suicide in this lake to resist an undesirable marriage offer. In another, she turned herself into the lake in order to flow to the Yangtze and ultimately join her husband fighting a war in distant parts. A two-metre tall white marble statue was erected in the park to commemorate this steadfast lady. Mochou Lake got its rating as a 4A tourist attraction in December, 2019.
最后，我们自己的南京。莫愁湖拥有舒缓的湖景和中国古典的亭阁。但这里也是浪漫传说在这个水生建筑群中汇聚的地方。公园和湖泊以一位传奇女性人物的名字命名。莫愁（意为“不要担心”），虽然神话背后存在着不同的故事。其中，据说梁朝遗孀为了抵制不受欢迎的求婚而在这个湖中自杀。另一张照片中，她投身湖中，目的是为了流入长江，最终与丈夫一起在遥远的地方打仗。公园内竖立了一尊两米高的汉白玉雕像，纪念这位坚强的女士。 2019年12月，莫愁湖被评为4A级旅游景区。
So if you’re looking for something to do during the last few days of the school holidays, head off to enjoy Nanjing’s beautiful Mochou Lake for free. But with 1 thru 3 January also a local holiday, just know that you will not be alone…
因此，如果您在学校假期的最后几天想找点事做，那就免费去南京美丽的莫愁湖吧。但 1 月 1 日至 3 日也是当地假期，请知道您不会孤单……
