Huai’an in our very own Jiangsu has as its biggest claim to fame that it was the home of Zhou Enlai, China’s first and longest-serving Premier. Rightfully revered to this day, history buffs will therein revel in a grand memorial to the great man.
江苏淮安最出名的地方是它是中国第一位也是任期最长的总理周恩来的故乡。时至今日，历史爱好者仍会为这位伟人的宏伟纪念碑而陶醉。
This Trip, however, had another purpose altogether; to seek out the home of stray cats.
然而，这次旅行还有另一个目的： to seek out the home of stray cats.
Hence, the commandment came down to take to the waters of Lake Jin in southern Huai’an out of the White Horse Lake Ecology Tourism Area, just 2 hours drive from Nanjing Railway Station. For Lake Jin is home to Cat Island, and today the dwelling for scores of stray cats, lovingly cared for and given a chance at a real life.
于是，命令下达，从距南京火车站仅2小时车程的白马湖生态旅游区出发，前往淮安南部的金湖水域。因为金湖是猫岛的所在地，如今这里栖息着数十只流浪猫，受到精心照顾，并获得了真正生活的机会。
Our party felt a little Columbus like as the Island neared. For this was indeed a new world, one entirely inhabited by felines. Upon approach, and with our vessel’s motion creating a gentle breeze which took the edge off the first heat of summer, the curious sight of a giant, green cat presented itself.
当岛屿靠近时，我们的聚会感觉有点像哥伦布。因为这确实是一个新世界，一个完全由猫科动物居住的世界。 Upon approach, and with our vessel’s motion creating a gentle breeze which took the edge off the first heat of summer, the curious sight of a giant, green cat presented itself.
And as it would transpire, the edifice is home to some questionable odour and the Island’s gift shop. Pick up a cat-themed trinket for anywhere between ¥42 and ¥2,280 (the cheaper ones are less kitsch).
事实证明，这座建筑是一些可疑气味的所在地，也是岛上礼品店的所在地。以 42 日元到 2,280 日元之间的价格购买一款以猫为主题的小饰品（越便宜的就越不俗气）。
As to the beasts themselves, these are cats that have never had it so good. An entire 22,000-square-metre island to themselves, accompanied by endless pampering from the numerous staff on hand with little to do on this, a Tuesday morning, other than attend to the whims of national media.
至于野兽本身，这些猫科动物从来没有过得这么好过。周二早上，这座占地 22,000 平方米的小岛只剩下自己，无数工作人员无休无止地照顾着他们，除了关注国家媒体的突发奇想之外，他们几乎无事可做。
Cats are of course, lucky; a concept which The Nanjinger can corroborate. Coming across a field of clover, it took all of 3 seconds for this correspondent to find a four-leaf variety (his first ever, a million miles from Ireland). And the staff of Cat Island another 3 seconds to point out that five-leaf clovers are also to be chanced upon. For the superstitious, it alone is enough reason to visit.
猫当然是幸运的； 《南京人》可以证实这一概念。记者经过一片三叶草田，只用了 3 秒钟就找到了四叶草品种（这是他第一次发现，距离爱尔兰一百万英里）。猫岛的工作人员又用了 3 秒的时间指出，五叶草也是偶然发现的。对于迷信的人来说，仅此一项就足以成为参观的理由。
Fortune would next have us back on the water. An hour east, in the Lake Jin Water Forest Scenic Area to be exact, being punted around, after a ride on a genuine, narrow-gauge train, save for the faux smoke and it being electric.
命运接下来会让我们回到水面。向东一小时，准确的说是锦湖水林风景区，坐上真正的窄轨火车，除了假烟，还是电动的，就被平底船逛了一圈。
Among its many other attractions, the Kingdom of Treetop with therein a 250-metre long glass walkway. While some fearful of heights elected to remain Earthbound, the rest of our party ascended by lift the equivalent of eight storeys to have some still grasping the handrails just in case their transparent floor was to give way. Plenty of trees at least to break their fall.
在众多景点中，树顶王国 (Kingdom of Treetop) 拥有 250 米长的玻璃步道。虽然一些恐高症的人选择留在地面上，但我们一行人的其他人则乘坐相当于八层楼的电梯上升，有些人仍然抓住扶手，以防透明地板塌陷。大量的树木至少可以防止倒塌。
By way of celebration for the achievement, however, is the means of return to Earth; a slide, though thankfully one not glass bottomed.
然而，庆祝这一成就的方式是返回地球。一张幻灯片，不过幸好不是玻璃底的。
And for those happy to linger longer (a whole day could be spent in this beguilingly large Scenic Area), accommodation. Review site Dianping may not rate it so highly (if one puts stock in such things), but bring a stack of food and drink, and there’s no reason why the oxygen bar that Narada Aquatic Forest Hot Spring Resort Hotel represents could not be all the tonic needed. Mosquito protection essential.
对于那些愿意逗留更长时间的人（可以在这个大得令人着迷的风景区度过一整天），可以选择住宿。点评网站大众点评可能评价不高（如果存货的话），但带上一堆吃的喝的，君澜水森林温泉度假酒店代表的氧吧没理由不补。防蚊必备。
With our feet back on the ground and mindful of the vertigo sufferers who might prefer an hour in the other direction, we made our final stop Jiangba Town on the eastern shores of Hongze Lake.
我们的脚重新回到地面，考虑到眩晕患者可能更愿意在另一个方向上花一个小时，我们的最后一站是洪泽湖东岸的江坝镇。
Falling under the jurisdiction of both Huai’an and Suqian, Hongze Lake is two things; massive and magnificent. As the second-largest lake in Jiangsu and, by some counts, the fifth largest in all of China, Hongze Lake also forms an integral part of the Grand Canal.
洪泽湖同属淮安市和宿迁市管辖，是两件事；巨大而宏伟。洪泽湖是江苏第二大湖，也是中国第五大湖，也是大运河的组成部分。
But before we found such splendour, we first wandered the streets of Jiangba. While here and there is admittedly a construction site with an eye on catering to visitors which are already hoards during holiday periods, if there was one overriding impression as takeaway, it was that China is beginning to kick its 20 year-long habit of ripping up the old to replace with the new.
但在我们发现如此辉煌之前，我们首先在江坝的街道上闲逛。诚然，到处都有建筑工地着眼于迎合节日期间已经囤积的游客，但如果说有一个最重要的印象作为外卖，那就是中国开始戒掉长达20年的推陈出新的习惯。
In Jiangba, the old is being celebrated, for real, not just tarted up with gimmicky vintage. For while sitting with a cup of tea in a local dwelling spruced, not renovated, a surprise VIP visit from Premier Zhou himself walking in the door falls entirely within the realm of possibility.
在江坝，人们真正地庆祝古老，而不仅仅是用花哨的复古来装饰。因为，当我们坐在当地一栋经过修饰、未整修过的民居中喝茶时，周总理亲自进门的惊喜贵宾拜访完全是可能的。
