二、泰宁世界地质公园
各位来宾:大家好!今天我们将到泰宁世界地质公园参观游览，车程大约30分钟，在游览之前，我先向大家介绍一下泰宁世界地质公园的基本概况。
泰宁地质公园以发育典型的丹霞地貌为主体。大家知道什么是丹霞地貌吗?为什么丹霞地貌在地质学研究中具有重要意义?
丹霞是红色沉积岩在上升作用力等内营力及风化剥离和侵蚀等外力共同作用下形成的特殊地貌，主要表现为壮观的丹崖赤壁以及各种的侵蚀地貌，包括天然石柱、石塔、沟壑、峡谷和瀑布。这样崎岖的地貌有助于保护亚热带常绿阔叶林，以及许多稀有甚至濒危的植物群和动物群。在丹霞景观中，红色砾岩和砂岩所形成的山峰、石柱、悬崖和雄伟的峡谷无不散发着独特的自然美，融汇于碧湖、翠林、深邃幽静的峡谷曲流、瀑布之中，这就是中国丹霞。
泰宁地质公园位于中国福建省西北部的泰宁县境内，地处武夷山脉中段，是红色陆相碎屑沉积岩，形成于约6000万年前的白垩纪晚期。目前中国已发现的650多处丹霞地貌中，泰宁世界地质公园是大型世界地质公园，以发育典型、类型齐全的青年期丹霞地貌为主体，兼有花岗岩、火山岩构造地貌和多姿多彩的人文景观为辅助。公园由石网、大金湖、八仙崖、金绕山四个园区及泰宁古城游览区组成，是一处具有良好的自然生态环境，集地学科研，观光游览，休闲度假于一体的优质地质公园。
公园总面积492.5平方公里，其中丹霞地貌面积接近一半，大约250平方公里，是中国东南沿海诸省中丹霞地貌面积最大的地质公园。这里的丹霞地貌山形浑圆如倒扣金钟，山峰之间形成狭窄的深切峡谷。有些断层与节理下切作用迅速，岩壁几乎没有受到横向侵蚀，形成深长狭窄的岩缝，有的甚至不及一人宽。泰宁盆地记录了白垩纪以来华南板块东部大陆边缘活动带的演化历史;丹霞地貌区保存了清晰的古剥夷面，被密集的网状峡谷和巷谷分割形成的破碎的山原面;独特的崖壁洞穴群、密集的深切峡谷曲流和原始的沟谷生态构成了独特的“泰宁”丹霞地貌。同中国其他的丹霞地貌相比，泰宁丹霞属于发育典型的青年期丹霞地貌，而老年期丹霞地貌的特点是山谷变宽，形成孤峰窄脊。
泰宁地质公园保持了生态环境的原生性，生物和生态多样性。公园百分之九十的地区都处于原生状态。同时，公园内虽然有不少裸露的岩石，森林覆盖率仍然很高，生物资源丰富，有很多不同属的珍稀植物和30多种国家级保护植物。随着地质公园内居民的迁出，一些被开垦为农田的地区也将回到其原生状态。
1.寨下大峡谷
今天我们将要去的寨下大峡谷距泰宁县城16公里，车程大约30分钟。
我们前面提到，泰宁的丹霞地貌山形浑圆如倒扣金钟，山峰之间形成狭窄的深切峡谷。今天我们将要游览的寨下大峡谷就是这深切峡谷曲流中的一个。这里有深邃幽静的峡谷曲流，千姿百态的峰林峰柱，以及独特的崖壁洞穴群。千百年来，大自然的鬼斧神工在泰宁地质公园形成了遗世独立、蔚为壮观的“丹霞洞穴博物馆”。这些洞穴，形态各异，深浅不一，大小不等，有的状如蜂窝，有的庞大到可以容纳一座寺庙，让人啧啧称奇。俗话说，一方水土养一方人，正是这奇特的丹霞景观，蕴育了泰宁特有的洞穴群居，派生出了隐逸求学、岩寺修行、悬棺崖葬等特有的岩穴文化。丹霞岩穴中走出了许多文人墨客，南宋宰相李纲，明朝天启年间兵部尚书李春烨等，就是其中杰出的代表。正是这些岩穴为他们提供了极好的隐逸求学之处，让他们潜心修学，最终出人头地。
大家请看，左边的这条公路可以通往明朝天启年间兵部尚书李春烨少年时的读书处——李家岩，从这里距李家岩仅1.5公里，而距李纲读书处——络珠岩中的丹霞岩大约3公里。自古以来，泰宁人民就与这些奇特的丹霞岩穴结下了不解之缘。他们在静谧的洞穴中潜心修学，期望有那么一天，能金榜题名，走仕途之路。许多靠近丹霞岩穴的村落成为名师授课的书馆经院，泰宁学子中出了不少举人、进士，进而走上仕途。现在我将向大家介绍一下曾在附近隐居苦读的南宋抗金宰相李纲以及明朝天启年间兵部尚书李春烨。
李纲，福建邵武人，南宋抗金宰相。南宋时期，因不堪金国在其北方边境的不断袭扰，朝内对外政策分成了主降与主战两派，双方各持其见，最终主降派占据上风，李纲也因此于1128年受投降派排挤，被贬为团练副使，后安置在海南。虽然政治生涯受挫，李纲并未灰心丧气，而是潜心研究哲理。他于1130年到泰宁，并留居寺内，写成《易经内外篇》以及《瑞光丹霞禅院记》一文，现碑刻尚存，已被列为“县级文物保护单位”。
李春烨，泰宁人，于明朝万历四十四年，即1616年中进士。据说他少年时曾在李家岩上刻苦攻读，以后学问渐长，最终步入仕途，官至柱国少保兼太子太师协理京营戌政兵部尚书。现在泰宁古城保留下来的一幢占地面积5600平方米的明代民居建筑群——全国重点文物保护单位——尚书第就是他的府邸。李家岩有一独特的丹霞景观:一个长约360余米，平均深约3米，上下间距约1.5米的“丹霞大岩槽”。
各位，我们现在已经来到寨下大峡谷景区，距离泰宁县城约15公里，2004年方被外人发现。由三条峡谷首尾相连而成，呈三角状盘旋在青山翠谷中，故称寨下大峡谷。三条满目苍翠的峡谷，分别是以流水侵蚀、重力崩塌、构造运动为主的三种地质作用形成。联合国教科文组织专家实地考评时说:“无论从地质景观还是生态环境，这里都是世界级的。”请这边走，小心石阶。
寨下大峡谷景区内有发育典型的赤壁、洞穴、峡谷、堰塞湖等丹霞地貌景观，是绝佳的丹霞地貌观光游览胜地。景区内峡谷林立，或宽如街巷，或弯曲蜿蜒，或窄如细缝，堪称“丹霞峡谷大观园”。有人甚至称其为中国峡谷之最。
这错综迷离的峡谷群、雄伟壮观的丹崖赤壁、各具特色的深切曲流，和独特美妙的丹霞洞穴群随机组合，共同组成了“泰宁式”地貌。泰宁丹霞洞穴发育典型，大型单体洞穴60多处，壁龛状洞穴群100多处，无数千姿百态的大小洞穴构成了独具特色的丹霞微地貌景观，堪称“丹霞洞穴博物馆”。泰宁丹霞地貌与中国传统的儒、释、道、民居、丧葬等水乳交融，是人与自然和谐共处的典型范例。
悬天峡、通天峡、倚天峡三条峡谷首尾相连，犹如一条金色的长龙呈三角状盘旋在青山翠谷中。
大家请看，展现在我们面前的这座古老的小村庄叫寨下村。古时由于兵荒马乱，土匪横行，当地村民便在对面驼象岩的山顶上建起了古兵寨，又称大石寨，兵乱过后，山民们便纷纷下山建起村寨，故名寨下村。
寨下村是一个家族式的村落，全村现有150人，全部姓杨，据说还是宋朝忠烈英勇的抗金英雄杨家将中杨七郎的后裔。南宋时杨姓家族南迁入闽，后几经辗转，来到寨下村定居了下来。
大家请看，展现在我们面前的这块巨大的岩石像什么?对了，像只驮着东西的大象，我们称之为“驮象岩”。它似乎在欢迎大家的到来。
大家请看，寨下村地形整体呈葫芦状，口小腹大，背靠南面巨大的驮象岩，依石塘溪而居，充分体现了客家人的生活习性。此情此景，不仅让人想起东晋时期的陶渊明:“结庐在人境，而无车马喧。问君何能尔，心远地自偏。采菊东篱下，悠然见南山”的诗句来。
古人非常讲究风水。大家请看，石塘溪上建有三座古桥。寨下村流传有这么一种说法:“一寺，二寨，三石桥，寨下生活真逍遥。”这三座石拱桥已有几百年的历史了，当年寨下大峡谷以西一带的村庄到泰宁县都要从这里经过。这石桥、小溪、小村展现了一幅平和的田园生活画面，正所谓:枯藤老树昏鸦，小桥流水人家。那枯木旁所建的小庙，供奉的是“枯木神”，这是客家人特有的一种祭祀。枯木神是一种信奉植物崇拜的原始信仰。据说万物皆有灵性，枯死的树木同样也有灵魂。对枯木神的信仰崇拜，体现了客家人朴素的环保意识以及信奉万物有灵的民间文化现象。
眼前的这座亭庙叫杨公殿，供奉的是当地的土地神杨公和杨母。中国古代以农业立国，人们对土地心怀敬畏，土地是衣食之源。逢年过节，当地村民都要用猪头、馒头等供品祭祀杨公、杨母，祈祷来年风调雨顺，五谷丰登。
我前面说过，当地人很相信风水。这片古木参天的树林就是护佑寨下村的风水林。大家看这两棵雄伟的大树，巧妙地构成一座天然的“树门”，把守在寨下大峡谷谷口，我们称之为“金锁关”。
我们走在竹林深处的这条小道上。大家请抬头看正前方，有一裂隙中夹有一串串大小不同的洞穴，你知道它是怎么形成的吗?那是漫长的流水侵蚀之功。这里的软质岩层和硬质岩层交替排列，软质岩层遭受较为严重的侵蚀，从而形成我们今天所看到的这种串珠状洞穴。
我们现在进入的是这条南北走向的峡谷叫“悬天崖”，全长约1公里，宽约2－30米，崖壁高约70－150米。大家请抬头仰望，这块突兀的赤壁与苍天连在一起，犹如苍天悬挂在天际，故名悬天崖。
大家请抬头仰望，那崖壁上突起的风化石像什么?是的，它的造型极像生活在一亿五千万年前侏罗纪时期的剑龙。看!那脊背上的骨板栩栩如生!事实上，丹霞地貌就是在侏罗纪之后的晚白垩纪时期形成的，距今大约6500万年。
我们右侧的这条狭窄的岩隙在地质学上称为“线谷”。线谷的形成是由于有些地质断层与节理下切作用迅速，岩壁几乎没有受到横向侵蚀，从而形成深长狭窄的岩隙，有些地方一人侧身都不能通过。这一路上类似这样的流水冲刷下的线谷共有五条。
我们的正前方有三块突兀的岩石，犹如弥勒佛的大肚皮。我们称之为“石伯公”。相传石伯公是泰宁山区一位非常有趣的山神，喜欢作弄人，但并无恶意。进山砍柴、打猎、采蘑菇的迷路人有时会被石伯公藏起来几天，被人找到时往往满嘴松子或蚯蚓，醒来却说，只记得石伯公煮粉干和鸡蛋给他吃。
石伯公是泰宁客家人由石头崇拜的原始信仰中衍生出来的一种独特的神灵，在独特的丹霞地貌区，当地人对大自然的神秘并不恐惧，更多的带有戏谑调侃的成分。
大家请猜猜看，展现在我们眼前的这座木制机械是做什么用的?对了!是榨笋用的。泰宁地区有丰富的竹子资源，竹制产品众多。
大家请抬头仰望，这里有一巨大岩穴，上面布满千疮百孔，大大小小的洞穴，宛如天上的星星，故名“天穹岩”，蔚为壮观。事实上，天穹岩是寨下大峡谷景区内最为壮观的景观。它直径约20米，高约50米。据专家考证，这是风化与水流侵蚀的作用下形成的。由于砂砾岩表面的孔隙的吸附作用，水流侵蚀不均匀，崖壁逐渐被侵蚀内凹而形成。
我们现在来到三角地带，这里是悬天峡尾部与通天峡的交接处，往左侧可通往金湖的甘露寺。
这是寨下大峡谷的第二条峡谷叫“通天峡”。峡谷内有一地质奇观——通天碑，通天峡也由此而得名。看!前方高大的巨石赤壁看起来是否像是一巨大的石碑，那就是地质奇观——通天碑。事实上，这是大自然鬼斧神工的杰作，是崖壁受垂直重力崩塌风化的影响所形成的奇观!“通天”一词意思为“通达上天”，仿佛巴比伦文明传说中的巴别塔一样。
这些大小不一的碎石就是通天碑崩塌风化下来的碎石，在地质学上叫“倒石堆”。最近的一次崩塌发生在1993年，据当地村民讲，那是在冬天的一个晚上，突然一声巨响，村民们非常纳闷，冬天怎么会打雷呢?当然，当大家弄清真相时，不由得惊叹大自然的伟力的同时，更加注意预防地质灾害。
我们现在来到通天碑侧面的崖壁下，抬头仰望，这崖壁“色若渥丹，灿如明霞”，犹如彩霞映在石壁上。这座崖壁垂直高度约100米，长约500多米，是形成堰塞湖的主要天然屏障。
雁栖湖犹如一位风姿绰约的多情女子，静静相倚于丹霞崖壁。看到此景，不禁使人想起王勃的“落霞与孤鹜齐飞，秋水共长天一色”的名句来。雁栖湖是一座堰塞湖，由山体崩塌形成的碎石阻挡水流形成。
我们已经到了寨下大峡谷的第三条峡谷——倚天峡，全长约1公里，宽约5－20米不等。这条断层峡谷正是两个遥远的地质年代的风水岭，您的左手边是形成于距今4亿年前的变质岩，您的右手边却是距今大约8000万年前形成的丹霞地貌地层，二者相距3亿年，真令人难以置信。我们不妨称之为“时空隧道”。
下面我们将要看到的是寨下大峡谷最让人费解的“摩崖天书”景观。摩崖石刻多为名人所留，或为美观，或为纪念。相较于书籍，岩石上所刻内容更不容易被损毁，使后人有机会拜读前人手迹。但是大家现在看到的，并非人为刻画到崖面上的，而是崖壁龟裂，犹如中国汉字的笔画，又如同各种图案造型，让人赞叹大自然鬼斧神工之妙。
传说这“摩崖天书”是石伯公所留。要是谁能在赤石壁上破译他写下的“天书”，就可以得到湖底的黄金。可是千百年来，始终无人能够破译这石伯公所留的“天书”。其实这并非摩崖石刻，而是地质运动、流水侵蚀、风化形成的痕迹。
看!石塘溪中“躺”着一块风化下来的岩石，其形状就像一副巨大的棺材，我们称之为“石棺”。中国文化中，有吉利含义的同音异义字有不少，比如蝙蝠的“蝠”和福气的“福”，所以蝙蝠图案代表的就是幸福快乐。棺材也是如此。看到石棺是吉祥的，因为棺材的“棺”音同升官发财的“官”字，同时棺材的“材”又音同财富的“财”，所以见到棺材就可以升官发财。许多动物和花卉都被赋予了吉祥意义，表达了人们追求幸福、美好、平安的愿望。龙，象征好运和权力;乌龟与鹤象征长寿，鹿与“禄”同音，指的官职禄位，象征功名利禄;鱼象征富余;鸡象征吉祥;大象象征和平;莲花、菊花和梅花象征出淤泥而不染，坚韧不拔，不屈不挠，奋勇当先，自强不息的精神品质;牡丹象征富贵繁华;桃象征长寿;石榴象征多子多福。
不知不觉我们已走出了如梦如幻的寨下大峡谷。穿越寨下大峡谷似乎在穿越时空隧道，我们不时地在与遥远的地质年代对话，可以说我们今天的寨下大峡谷之旅，不仅是一场地学科普文化之旅，而且还是泰宁特有的客家民俗文化、丹霞岩穴文化之旅。最后，我衷心地祝愿大家一帆风顺，万事如意。再见!
Taining World Geopark
Today we are going to visit Taining World Geopark in Sanming city.The bus ride lasts 30 minutes.Letme tell you something about this Geopark before we get there.
Taining Geopark features typical Danxia land form.But what is a Danxia land form and why is it of great value in geological scientific research?
Danxia is the name given to landscapes developed on red sedimentary beds influenced by internal forces like uplifting forces and external forces including weathering and erosion.The land form is characterized by spectacular red cliffs and a range of erosional landforms，including dramatic natural pillars，towers，ravines，valleys and waterfalls.These rugged landscapes have helped to conserve sub－tropical broad－leaved evergreen forests，and host many species of flora and fauna，many of which are considered rare or threatened.
The impressive and unique landscape of Danxia is a great natural beauty.The reddish conglomerate and sandstone that form this landscape of exceptional natural beauty have been shaped into spectacular peaks，pillars，cliffs and imposing gorges.Together with the contrasting forests，winding rivers and majestic waterfalls，China Danxia presents a significant natural phenomenon.
The Geopark we are going to visit is located in the middle part of the Wuyi Mountain range，northwest of Fujian Province.Its Danxia land form was developed during the late cretaceous period，about 65 million years ago.Unlike the other 650 Danxia landforms in China，Taining Geopark is an integrated geological park，characterized with not only typical Danxia land form but granite mountains，volcanic rocks and historical cultural relics as well.The park consists of ancient Taining town and four scenic areas，including stony desert，Golden Lake，Baxian Cliff，and Jinrao Mountain.The special geological land form，dense forest and winding rivers have made it a perfect place for both geological research and sightseeing.
The Geopark covers an area of 492.5 square kilometers，and Danxia landforms account for nearly half of it，which is about250 square kilometers.It’s the largest one in southeast China.The Danxia here displays characteristic rounded slopes and bell－shaped mountain summits，separated by deeply incised，narrow valleys and gorges.Incision into some faults and joints had been so rapid that there is little lateral erosion of the walls，producing deep，long and extremely narrow clefts，some less than body－width.For millions of years，Taining has recorded the formation and development process of the West Pacific continental margin of the cretaceous period，and retained the distinct ancient planation surface，which shows a process of erosion where a level surface is produced.The fractured mountain surfaces caused by numerous criss－cross valleys are also preserved.Taining’s Danxia land form features cave complexes on cliff face，deep valleys，winding creeks and primitive valley ecology.Compared with Danxia landforms elsewhere in China，Taining has typical“young”landforms.As the land form gets older，valleys widen and one gets isolated towers and ridges.
Taining Geopark maitains a primitive and biologically diversified ecosystem.90%of the area is in its pristine state.Although there are many bare rock surfaces，a large area is forested，with a large variety of rare plants，30 of which are under state protection.Following the re－location of former residents from the Geopark，many previously cultivated areas are being brought back to their natural state.
1.Zhaixia Grand Canyon
Zhaixia canyon is located 16 kilometers away from downtown Taining，about 30 minutes trip.
As we mentioned before，the rounded slopes and bell－shaped mountain summits in this area are separated by deeply incised，narrow valleys and canyons.Here you can see deep valleys，winding creeks，picturesque monoliths and numerous caves on cliff face.Over the years，Nature has carved and sculpted a spectacular“Danxia Caves Museum”at Taining.These caves come in different shapes and sizes.Some are like bee hives，while some are big enough to house a temple.As the old saying goes，human beings are shaped by the land they grow up in.These numerous grotesque caves embedded along the red cliffs or deep valleys have also cradled a bunch of celebrated scholars，such as Prime Minister Li Gang of the Southern Song Dynasty(1127－1279)and Defense Minster LiChunye of the Ming Dynasty(1368－1644).It is these caves that provide a secluded environment for scholars，who later outperformed their fellow countrymen and left their name to prosperity in Chinese history.
Ladies and gentlemen，the road on the rightwill take us to Lijiayan，a cave－study that the Ming Dynasty Prime Minister Li Chunye used when he was young.Lijiayan is 1.5 km from here，while another cave－study called Luozhuyan is 3 km from here.Luozhuyan is where the Southern Song Dynasty Prime Minister LiGang used to study.Since ancient times，people in Taining had fully utilized these numerous caves as studying places where they could stay concentrated and harbor the hope of standing out in the imperial examination in ancient China.Academies were established in villages near the cave－study area Lots of local Taining people successfully passed the imperial examination either at provincial level or state level，a stepping stone to a career as an official in ancient China.Now letme give you a more detailed introduction of the owners of the two cave－studies:LiGang and Li Chunye.
LiGang was born in Shaowu County of Fujian Province.He was once the Prime Minister of the Southern Song Dynasty.At that time，the Jin Empire on the north was constantly infringing on the Song borders.Officials of the Song were divided into two groups:one insisted on repelling the Jin while the other group insisted on surrendering to the Jin.The two parties argued fiercely and the surrendering group got the upper hand.The Prime Minister LiGang，who was strongly against surrendering to the Jin，was relegated to the position of deputy military training commissioner in 1128.What’s worse，he was later put into exile to Hainan，a remote province in southern China.In spite of all the setbacks，Li didn’t lose heart.Instead he dedicated himself into philosophical study.In 1130，Li came to Taining and stayed in one of the temples here.It was during that time that LiGang wrote Notes to I Ching，the Book of Changes.And an essay he wrote in Danxia Temple was inscribed into a tablet and kept as a precious local cultural heritage.
LiChunye was born and grew up in Taining.He spent years studying for the imperial examination.Years of hard study finally paid off.He successfully passed the imperial examination in 1616 and latermade it to the position of Defense Minister.The Minister’s Mansion in downtown Taining was his residence.It covers a total area ofmore than 5600 square meters，and is now a key historical relic under state protection.The Lijiayan Cave that LiChunye studied in was also a must for tourists.The 360 meter long，3 meter in depth and 1.5 meter high rock slot is quite a sight.
Ladies and gentlemen，can I have your attention，please?We are now in Zhaixia Grand Canyon，about 15 kilometers from Taining County.Developed and opened to tourists in 2004，this triangle－shaped canyon comprises three gorges，which are formed by water erosion，collapse and tectonic movement respectively.UNESCO’s experts praise it as a world level scenic site because of its geological landscape and ecological environment.Please follow me and mind the steps.
Zhaixia Grand Canyon boasts typical red cliffs，caves，valleys and volcanic lakes，so it has always been a top choice for tourists to appreciate the beauty of Danxia Terrain.Here you will witness a great variety of valleys，some of which are like spacious avenues;some are like dark and crooked valleys while some others are like narrow strips.Some people spoke highly of it，saying that“after one visit to Zhaixia Grand Valley，there is no need to visit other valleys in China.”
The elaborate and intricate canyon complexes，together with the red cliffs，the unique incised meandering creeks and unique Danxia cavern group，have formed the“Taining Style”land form.There are over 60 large single caves and over 100 niche－like ones in different shapes and sizes，constituting a unique Danxia micro－landscape.That’s why Taining is crowned as Danxia Natural Cave Museum.The development of Confucianism，Taoism，Buddhism，vernacular residence and funeral tradition in Taining is inseparable from Taining’s Danxia landscape.It’s a typical example of human’s harmonious coexistence with Nature.
The three gorges in Zhaixia Grand Canyon is Tongtian Gorge，Yitian Gorge and Xuantian Gorge.They are like three golden dragons joining end to end，forming a triangular valley.
This ancient village is called Zhaixia Village.The name Zhaixia literally means under the stronghold.During time of turmoil and war，local villagers built a stronghold on the top of the mountain to protect themselves from the ravage of war and bandits.When the war was over，they built villages near the bottomof the mountain.That is how the village got its name as the village on the foothill of a stronghold.
There are about150 people living here，all ofwhomare of one ancestry，the Yang family.It is said that they are the descendants ofwell－known General Yang of the Song Dynasty，who was known for his unflinching loyalty and remarkable bravery in defending the Song Dynasty’s boarders against foreign invaders.They immigrated fromthe north of the country and finally settled down here in Zhaixia Village.
Look at this rock.Can you tell what it looks like?Yes!It’s like an elephant with baggage on its back.It stands in front of the village to welcome visitors from around the world.
The layout of the village ismore or less like a gourd bottle，with a relatively small opening and getting larger at the back.The giant elephant－like rock and houses along the streamhave presented a pure and natural picture before us，as peaceful and delicate as what’s portrayed in the pastoral poems by Tao Yuanming，a Chinese poet of the 4thcenturay.The poemreads，
Within the world ofmen Imake my home，
Yet din of horse and carriage there is none;
You ask me how this quiet is achieved…
With thoughts remote the place appears alone.
While picking asters＇neath the Eastern fence
My gaze upon the Southern mountain rests;”
(Tr.By Yang Xianyi＆Gladys Yang)
Fengshui was very important to Ancient Chinese.Look，three bridges were built over Shitang River.It is said that“one temple，two stockade villages and three stone bridges”is a good combination that brings good fengshui.The three stone bridges have been here for several hundred years.Villagers living in the west of the great canyon had to go to Taining via these bridges.The stone bridges，murmuring brook and rural cottages present a peaceful pastoral life.
The small temple over there is where local people worship the God of Dead Wood.It originates from Hakka people’s worshipping rituals of plants.They believe everything，even dead wood has a spirit.In part，this ritual reflects Hakka people are somewhat environment－friendly.They cherish all creatures，great or small.
This small temple is Yanggong Temple dedicated to the Earth God Lord Yang and his wife Lady Yang.In ancient agricultural society，，land was held in high esteem，because it the source of food and clothing.Every year during festivals，offerings such as pigs heads and steamed buns were given and homage was paid to the Earth God，praying for a good harvest and happy life in the coming new year.
As we said before，local people believe in fengshui.This grove of towering ancient trees is the fengshui woods that bring good luck to Zhaoxia Village.Look at these two imposing trees.They forma gate at the entrance to Zhaixia Great Canyon.The locals call it“Golden Lock Pass”.
We are now walking through a bamboo grove.Look at the cleft righ in front of us.The bunch of caves in the cleft is shaped like a string of beads.Do you know how they are formed?It’smillions of years of water erosion.Layers of softer rock alternate harder rock.They were eroded more than the harder layers and a series of caves that resemble beads on a string were formed.
The cliff in front of us is Xuantian Cliff.Fromnorth to south，it extends a total length of about one kilometer，with a width of two to thirty meters and a height of 70 to 150 meters.Look at that cliff hanging over there，scraping the sky.That’s how it got its name Xuantian，which means hanging over the sky.
Look，what does the weathered stone over there looks like?Yes，an array of bony plates of Stegosaurus dinosaur.They lived during the Late Jurassic period，some 155 to 150 million years ago.And the Danxia land form in Taining was formed during the late cretaceous period，about 65 million years ago.
The narrow fracture to our right is called cleft in geology.As the incision into the faults and joints were rapid，there has been little lateral erosion of the walls，producing these deep，long and extremely narrow clefts，some less than body－width.There are altogether five such rectilinear fractures in this valley.
The three giant rocks in front of us look like the round belly of Maitreya，the fat laughing Buddha.Local people call it Shibogong，or the Lord of Stone，a respectfully title for stone deity.Legend said Shibogong is a big tease.He likes making fun of people but hemeans no harm.There were times when local villagers got lost and were hidden by Shibogong for a fewdays.These villagers would recall being treated to rice noodles and eggs，by Shibogong，while they were actually found with pine nuts and earthworms in their mouth.
The legend of Shibogong is unique in Taining，stemming from Hakka people’s worship of stone.They were awed by the nature，but not terrified.So the Lord of Stone is not frightening but teasing.
Guess what this wooden machine is for?Yes.It’s a bamboo shoot presser.Taining has an abundant resource of bamboo.Here in Taining，you can a whole range of bamboo products.
Ladies and gentlemen，please look up into the sky.On the ceiling of that dangling red cliff，you can see a natural cave sheltering hundreds of small caves，just like the sky dotted with stars，or a church’s dome.That is why it is named Tianqiong，meaning the sky.It’s quite amagnificent sight.Actually，it is themost attractive part of Zhaixia Grand Canyon.It has a diameter of 20 meters and a height of about 50 meters.Geologists said，it is the work of weathering and water erosion.Since the surface of the cliff is porous，the erosion has been uneven，with the softer part caved in gradually over time.
The triangle area we are now standing in connects Xuantian Gorge and Tongtian Gorge.To its left is the road to Ganlu Temple in GreatGolden Lake.
This is the second gorge in Zhaixia，the Tongtian Gorge.Here you will witness a wonder of nature，that is，the Cliff of Tongtian.It is somagnificent that the gorge is named after it.Look!Does the cliff look like a stone tablet?As a matter of fact，it is the work of weathering and incision on the mountain.It’s so tall that Chinese people call it Tongtian，which means an access to the sky，more or less like the Tower of Babel in the west.
These gravels of different sizes and shapes were the crumbled rocks fromthe weathered mountain.Geologists call it avalanche debris cone.The latest large－scale avalanche of the weathered mountain was in 1993.Local villagers heard crumbling sound in a winter midnight and mistaken it for the thunder.They were quite surprised，for it was rare to have thundering weather in winter.Of course，when they found out the truth，they could only be awed by the power of nature.
Now we are at the flank of Tongtian Cliff.Looking up from here，you can see the whole precipice is tainted with rosy colors.It has a height of about100 meters and a length of about 500 meters，against which the barrier lake Yanxi Lake is formed.
Yanqi Lake sits at the foot of Tongtian cliff，like a graceful and loving girl nestling by the side of the cliffs.As a Chinese poetWang Bo of the Tang Dynasty wrote，
The sunlight shoots through the rosy clouds，
and the autumn water ismerged with the boundless sky into one hue.
(Tr.by Luo Jingguo)
Yanxi Lake is a barrier lake，also known as debris－dam lake，a natural damming of a river by some kind of rock avalanche.
We are now in the third gorge of Zhaixia:Yitian.It is about one kilometer long and 5 to 20 meters wide.Here is an interesting juxtaposition of rocks form during different geological ages on both sides of the fault valley.The metamorphic rocks to your left were formed 400 million years ago，while the Danxia landform to your rightwas formed about80 million years ago.Can you believe it?There is a drastic discrepancy of about 300 million years!Some people call it the“Time Tunnel”.
Our next stop is an indecipherable cliff inscription.Cliff inscriptions are often done by famous people on special occasions or as decorations.Since the inscriptions were made on rocks，they are naturally much more enduring than those on paper.They offer us a glimpse into the past.But the one we are going to see is not really Chinese characters，but the cracks on the rock that look like Chinese characters，or even animals.
Legend says those inscriptions are left by Shibogong，the God of Stone.Anyone who deciphers the sacred writings will be rewarded with loads of gold hidden under the lake.But thousands of years have passed，no one can decipher them.In fact，they are the result of tectonic movement，wind and water erosion rather than real inscribtions.
Look!That weathered rock looks like a giant stone coffin.In China，coffins are a symbolic design with lucky meaning.In Chinese language，there are a lot of homo phonic characters，for instance，“bat”in Chinese has the same pronunciation with“happiness”.So the image of bat in Chinese culture represents happiness and blessing.It’s the same with coffin.Although itmight be a bit strange for foreigners，the design of coffins in Chinese culture represents winning，promotion and getting rich.The Chinese for“coffin”is pronounced as“guan cai”，which sounds the same as official and wealth.Chinese also attribute auspicious meanings to some animals and flowers.For example，dragons personify good luck and power;turtles and crane birds represent long life;deers embody good salary;fish represent surplus;chickens are auspicious;elephants stand for peace and stability.Lotus flowers，chrysanthemums，and plum flowers stand for purified traits of a person and friendship as well.Peonies represent prosperity and richness.Peaches mean longevity and pomegranates symbolize prosperous offsprings.
This is the end of our journey in Zhaixia.I hope you enjoyed the beauty of nature in the canyon，including the natural scenery and the time tunnel we walked through to the remote geological ages.This is also a trip of cave culture and folk culture of the Hakka people.Thank you!
Vocabulary:
karst n.喀斯特地形(石灰岩地区常见的地形)
sedimentary adj.沉积岩的
cretaceous adj.白垩纪的;似白垩的n.白垩纪;白垩系
incision n.切口;雕刻，切割;切开
fault n.断层
joint n.节理
planation surface n.夷平面
surrender vi.投降;屈服;自首
relegate vt.把降低到
deputy military training commissioner 团练副使
exile n.流放，充军;放逐，被放逐者;流犯
tectonic adj.构造的;建筑的;地壳构造上的
stronghold n.要塞
genus n.类，种;属
jurassic adj.侏罗纪的;侏罗系的
maitreya n.弥勒佛
flank n.侧面;侧翼;侧腹
2.尚书第
各位来宾，大家好!欢迎大家参观尚书第，明朝兵部尚书李春烨的府邸。
尚书府第古建筑群始建于明朝天启年间，也就是公元17世纪，占地5400平方米，南北长87米，东西宽52米，有房120余间，均系砖石、木结构。尚书第是典型的明代民居建筑群，1988年就已被列为国家重点文物保护单位。整个府第布局严谨合理，虽已有380多年的历史，依然宏伟壮观。尚书第里设有蜡像馆、民俗馆、以及大量的文物。
尚书第所在的胜利二街是泰宁城里唯一留存的古街，保存着大片明代住宅建筑群，这里居民日常饮水，也使用明代的水井，水井井圈上刻着“隆庆”“万历”等年号字样。
主体建筑为五幢，辅房八栋，有房120余间，均系砖、石、木结构。整个府第布局严谨合理，对于研究明朝年间建筑具有极高的价值。
我们现在来到仪仗厅，这是当时的主人，也就是李春烨迎送宾客的地方。厅上悬挂有“大司马”木匾。“大司马”本是秦汉时代的官名，明朝时是兵部尚书的别称。房子的主人李春烨是天启年间的兵部尚书。
这是第一幢的门厅，是供马夫、轿夫用餐的地方。在封建社会，马夫、轿夫是不能同主人进入正厅用餐的，这也充分暴露出封建社会的等级观念。第一幢我们把它辟为“古代建筑文化艺术陈列馆”，这里所展现的仅为我县古建筑文化艺术的一小部分，希望通过它，让各位游客对我们这个古老山城的古建筑文化有所了解。
我们现在来到尚书第的第二幢。这幢是尚书第的主体，也是整体建筑的精华。当年李春烨就居住在这幢房子里。我们现在把它辟为泰宁县文物陈列馆。请大家抬头望上看这幢门楼，它保存得非常完整。
尚书第建于17世纪，是什么让它历经380多年还保存得如此完好呢?一是基础牢固平稳。所有排柱位置，全用大条石铺平，柱下鹅卵石为基础。二是用以支撑的木材质地良好，无论是承重梁还是横向梁，都采用大型结构木材，坚固耐用。三是上不漏顶，全用大灰瓦密集压盖。四是有高大的封火墙分隔，即使历史上曾发生火情，也只有局部损失而不至于殃及其他房屋。
我们现在站的这个地方叫中堂，也就是大厅，是当时李春烨接待朝廷官员、接圣旨及办大事的场所。请大家抬头看这块匾，上面写着“清朝师柱”，称赞李春烨为国家的栋梁之才，中流砥柱。这是当时福建布政使莫俨皋为李春烨所立，布政使相当于现在的省长。
我们现在开始参观文物陈列室。第一间陈列室展现的都是泰宁新石器时代的一些古文物。这些展品可以证明早在新石器时期我们的祖先就在这片土地上生活。第二间陈列室主要陈列宋代文物。现在大家看到的这扇12折屏风，是用当地一种珍稀树种——花梨木雕刻而成的，雕刻工艺非常精美，是李春烨当时给女儿的嫁妆，属传世文物。现在我们来到第三陈列室，这间陈列室主要展示明末清初的一些青花瓷器和漆金木雕等。
我们现在来到第三幢，第三幢我们把它辟为蜡像馆，里面一共塑了二十五尊蜡像，也是当时全省最大的蜡像馆，展现了李春烨及其家人生活的情景。李春烨由于种种原因，文字记载不多，口碑故事不少，有说好的，有说坏的，褒贬不一，但他勤奋好学，大器晚成和为人孝道等优良品质还是值得我们借鉴和学习的。李春烨这一生主要经历了三个阶段:苦读，晋升，隐退。李春烨六岁开始读书，十六岁考上秀才，三十六岁中举人，四十六岁靠中进士。他苦读了40年，可以说是大器晚成。
现在我们来到第五幢，这一幢的建筑特点与前四幢有明显区别，从它建筑特点看，很可能是女眷住的，充足的阳光、宽敞的天井有利于小孩玩耍，李母等女眷在此居住既可照看小孩，又可以念念经文，安享晚年之乐。现在我们把第五幢辟为名人书画、石碑艺术馆。大家现在看到的四季诗，是南宋著名理学家朱熹晚年被打成伪学派，隐居在泰宁城南小均村时写下的。
现在大家有20分钟的自由活动时间，我们10点30分在门口集合。
2.Residence of Defense Minister LiChunye
Ladies and gentlemen，welcome to the residence of LiChunye，a minister of defense of the Ming Dynasty in the 17thcentury..
The residence was built in 1600s.It has over 120 rooms and covers an area of 5，400 ssquare meters，with a length of 87 meters from north to south and a width of 52 meters from east to west.The spectacular residence was built with bricks，stone and timber.As a typical residence of high ranking officials of the 17thcentury，the complex houses numerous tablets，stone and wood carvings and other ancient relics.In 1988，it was declared a national heritage site under state protection.Although the residence is more than 380 years old，visitors can still feel its grandeur and stateliness.Here，you are going to visit museums with wax figures，local folk customs and other notable relics.
Shenglierjie，where this residence is located，is the only well－preserved ancient street in Taining.A large number of Ming buildings can be found here.Locals still get their drinking water from wells dug in the Longqin and Wanli periods of the Ming Dynasty.
The residence has five main mansions and eight affiliated houses，with a total of 120 rooms.Most of the rooms were built with bricks，stones and timber.This compact and well laid out complex is of high value for the study of architecture from the Ming Dynasty.
We are now standing in the reception hall.This was the place where the host，namely Minister Li，welcomed and sent off visitors.The inscription on that horizontal wooden board reads“Dasima”in Chinese.It was the title of the defense minister in the Qin and Han Dynasties.It was also being used in the Ming Dynasty as an alternative name for defense minister，as Li Chunye once served as.
This is the lobby of the first mansion，the resting hall for horse keepers and sedan carriers.As feudal society was rigidly hierarchical，horse keepers and sedan carriers were not allowed to have meals with their masters in the same hall，this was where they stayed.The first mansion of the residence has now been made a museum of ancient architecture，hopefully it will give you some insights into the ancient architectures in Taining.
Now follow me to the second mansion.This was the master mansion where Li Chunye lived，and is now the exhibition hall of cultural relics of Taining.Look at that arch over the gateway to the second mansion.It’s surprisingly well preserved.
The complex was built in the 1600s.People may wonder how it survived the 380 years.First of all，it has a solid foundation.The foundations of all pillars were specially fortified with stone slabs.Secondly，the structures were supported by sturdy timber frames.All the logs used in the frame，including beams and load－bearing pillars were thick and sturdy structural timber.Thirdly，thick layers of gray tiles had prevented the complex from roof leakage，thus ensuring structural stability.Furthermore，high fire－proof walls were constructed.Though there were several fires in the past，the fire－proof walls protected the main chamber of the complex from being burned down.
Ladies and gentlemen，we are now in the main hall，where Li Chunye met other state officials and received imperial orders from the emperor.The four characters on the wooden plaque read:“Qing Chao Shi Zhu”.It was a compliment from Mo Yangao，the Fujian governor of the time，praising Minister Li for being an upright and honest official that held up the future of the country.
There are three exhibition halls in the second mansion.In the first exhibition room，relics of the Neolithic Age unearthed in Taining are on display.They are evidences of early human activities in Taining.On display in the second exhibition roomare cultural relics of the Southern Song Dynasty，including a folding screen made of rosewood，one of the dowries of Li Chunye’s daughter.As for the third exhibition room，there are blue and white porcelain and Gold lacquer wood carvings of the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty in around 1600s.
The third mansion is nowa exhibition roomofwax figures.It is so far the largest one of its kind in Fujian province，showcasing 25 wax figures of the Li family.For certain reasons there are not much written documents on Li Chunye.Instead，his stories，good or bad，passed along by word of mouth.In general，he was a diligent scholar，a dutiful son and an upright and honest official.Li started school at the age of six and became Xiucai，licentiate of exams held in the county level at16.It then took himanother20 years to become Jvren，or“recommended man”，a provincial graduate，administered at the provincial level every three years.Finally at the age of46 he succeeded in getting the title of Jinshi，or“presented scholar”，a graduate of the palace examination，administered in the capital immediately after the metropolitan examination every three years.From his career path，we can tell that Liwas rather a late bloomer.
Our last stop is the fifth mansion.These buildings in the rear are more private parts of the property.Because of its higher exposure to sunlight，it is reserved for children and eldermembers of the family.It is now a museum of cultural relics.You can see items of stone tablets，calligraphies and paintings of some celebrated artists.This is the poem by Zhuxi，a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar living in the 12thcentury.He was the leading figure of the School of Principle and most influential rationalist Neo－Confucian.Zhu stayed in Taining during his later years when he was demoted for attacking the incompetency and corruption of some influential officials.
Ladies and gentlemen，you have 20 minutes to explore the place.Have a good time and please remember we will gather in front of the entrance at10:30.
Vocabulary:
sedan n.轿子
embark v.从事，着手
rosewood n.红木;紫檀;花梨木;黄檀木
demote vt.使降级;使降职
3.上清溪
各位游客，我们今天到上清溪游览。上清溪景区位于泰宁县城东北部，距离三明市区190公里。让我们远离城市的喧嚣，呼吸清新的空气，去感受上清溪的古朴清幽。
上清溪全长50多公里，两岸森林茂密，赤石翠峰，有“天为山欺”的秀丽风景。溪水有九十九曲，八十八滩，令人惊叹。水流最宽阔处不足20米，最狭窄处只容两筏共进，非常适合漂流，被誉为“东南第一漂”。
各位来宾，现在请登上竹筏。漂流全程大约2个小时，请大家穿好救生衣，注意安全，难忘的上清溪漂流即将开始。
这里有美丽的丹霞地貌，那壮观的山峰峡谷为大家准备了一场视觉盛宴。这些奇峰异石是长期侵蚀、风化的结果，是大自然的鬼斧神工。这里90%地区处于原生状态，生物资源丰富，包括三十多种国家级保护植物，动物种类也十分多样。
大家请看前面这块岩石，这个景点叫做“鲤鱼跳龙门”。鲤鱼在中国文化中象征着坚持不懈的精神。传说逆流而上，跃过龙门的鲤鱼能变化成龙，因此鲤鱼跳龙门在中国传统文化中寓意吉祥。我希望它也能给各位游客带来好运。
大家看!正前方中间那块山崖，像不像一艘帆船朝我们驶来?相传，这大帆船是八仙所乘坐的仙船，八仙是中国神话中的神仙，住在渤海的仙岛上。事实上，我们眼前看到的这堵像一艘帆船的石墙是典型的丹崖，因为所有的崩塌和风化基本上都是纵向进行的，所以山峰在侵蚀、风化的作用下越变越瘦。下面这块大岩石像一条大鲨鱼。相传这条鲨鱼想搭乘这艘帆船前往仙岛，没想到被八仙发现，八仙将其点化成石，并将仙帆留在此处镇守鲨鱼精。
现在我们将要通过的这个小峡谷，叫百褶谷。左右两壁波浪起伏，曲折分明。岩壁上点缀着花草树木，很像现代女性穿着的百褶裙。故称“百褶谷”。
大家听说过著名的长江三峡吗?长江三峡西起长江上游城市，重庆的奉节和宜昌，一路向东直到湖北省。我们现在要参观上清溪的三峡，虽不如长江三峡瑰丽壮阔，但绝对值得一看。
眼前就是上清溪“小三峡”中的第一峡——兰花峡。兰花，自古以来就受到文人雅士的宠爱，备受赞誉。查尔斯在《中国的象征符号及艺术主题》一书中，是这样介绍中国文化中的兰花的:兰花是爱与美的象征，兰花代表了芳香与优雅。中国古代哲学家孔子笔下的兰花具有高尚的品格，更加强了兰花负载的正面意义。他认为品格高尚的人应让兰花成为激励自己向上的力量，去追求有意义的生活，无论是否得到世人承认，都要绽放美丽。这里名为兰花峡，是因为在峡谷两边的石壁上，生长着种类繁多的野生兰花。
大家请抬头看，前方岩壁上有一洞穴，那是老鹰栖息的地方。现在能够见到老鹰的地方已经是越来越少了，但这个地区90%还处于原生状态，仍然适合野生禽鸟生存。
现在我们来到上清溪小三峡中的第二峡，仙雨峡。峡谷长约600多米，是上清溪峡谷中最长的一条峡谷。两岸滴泉不断，就像是飘飘洒洒的仙雨，当地人说沾几滴仙雨是福气，不过可别感冒了哦。下雨的时候，这里会弥漫着雾气。
现在我们来到落霞壁，这里是上清溪漂流的中心点。大家请抬头看，左边这块红艳如火的赤壁丹崖多像一幅由飞禽走兽组成的巨型壁画，那漂亮的大红底色，就像是满天晚霞，不禁让我们想起诗人王勃在《滕王阁序》中所写的“落霞与孤鹜齐飞，秋水共长天一色”的名句。
据说，在这幅巨型的天然壁画中，还能找到十二生肖图案。十二生肖以十二年为一个周期，每年一种动物。假如谁慧眼识画，找出自己的生肖，一定会有好运。这落霞壁是因为水流侵蚀和风化剥蚀而造成的崩塌悬崖，随着岁月的流逝，落霞壁以后还将不断地崩塌后退，形成新的悬崖面，从而使河谷加宽。
过去上清溪是周边乡镇至泰宁城关的重要水路，主要运输粮食和竹木。在上清溪的右岸石壁上有处摩崖石刻，记载了一次疏通上清溪河道的时间:“乾隆己丑年仲秋月”，即1769年秋。1960年，修通了公路后，上清溪的水路运输才废弃。
这是上清溪最开阔的一段，叫“凤凰台”。传说是我国历史上最浪漫的神仙眷侣萧史和弄玉夫妇的居所。箫史善于吹箫，甚至能模仿凤凰的叫声。弄玉是秦穆公的女儿，也善于吹箫。他们结婚后飞来此地定居。一天清晨，萧史乘龙，弄玉乘凤，两人成仙而去。这个传说令人想起李白的诗句:“凤凰台上凤凰游，凤去台空江自流。吴宫花草埋幽径，晋代衣冠成古丘。”
此外，在山谷那边，你可以看到中国最神秘的墓葬文化之一——崖棺。崖棺是南方少数民族在古代埋葬死者的方式之一。他们把100多公斤重的棺材放置在陡峭的悬崖上。到现在为止，没有人知道他们是如何做到这一点的。
我们现在进入上清溪小三峡的第三个峡谷——忘归峡。这里两岸奇岩跋扈，峰回路转，扑朔迷离。竹筏行到这里，仿佛进入一座古老的迷宫，而且有股习习灵气迎面而来，确实令人乐而忘归。
各位游客，漂流上清溪仙境的旅程到此就要结束了，为此，连我们上清溪好客的金龟也特别跑出来送别大家了。我衷心祝愿各位游客旅途愉快，一路平安!
3.Shangqing River
Ladies and gentlemen，we are heading toward Shangqing River.It’s in the northeastern part of Taining County，about 190 kilometers away from Sanming City.To get far away from the hustle and bustle of the city，this tour with fresh air and clean river will be a wonderful experience that you will never forget.
The Shangqing River winds for 50 kilometers between cave－studded red cliffs and green mountains.The scenery is so beautiful that even the sky is humiliated by the mountain，as the locals proudly claim.The river’s 99 bends and 88 shoals can really throw you for a loop.That is why it enjoys a reputation of the Best Valley for Rafting in East China.Its widest place is less than 20 meters and the narrowest place can only allow two rafts passing at a time.
Now let’s get on board the raft..The whole rafting trip will take about 2 hours.Make sure you have your life jackets on，sit tight and enjoy the ride!
Sitting on the raft，you can feast your eyes with one of the most amazing Danxia landscapes，the magnificent view of the various valleys，and striking peaks.The grotesque rocks are the result of years of erosion and weathering，an example of the superb craftsmanship of nature.And 90%of the area is in its natural state，with rich biological resources，including over 30 plant species under state protection and a great diversity of animals.
Please take a look at the rock over there.It is called“Carp Leaping over the Dragon Gate”.The carp has long been an emblem of perseverance in China.Legend says that the carps who successfully jump over the rapids of the Dragons Gate will turn into dragons.So“Carp that leaped over the Dragon Gate”is an auspicious sign in Chinese traditional culture.I hope it will also bring you good luck.
Let’s look at that cliff right in front of us.Does it look like a ship sailing toward us?Local people said on board the ship were the Eight Immortals，a group of legendary saints in Chinese mythology who live on some fairy islands on Bohai Sea.The ship－like cliff is a typical Danxia cliff.With weathering and erosion going on vertically，the edge of the cliff was gradually skived off，becoming slimmer and slimmer.The giant rock beneath it is like a shark that tried to get on board to the mystical island，but got caught and turned into stone.The Eight Immortals left the sailboat to suppress the shark，preventing it from escaping and doing evils.
We are now rafting through Baizhe Valley.The ripple fold mountain cliffs on the two sides of the valley are decorated with trees，flowers and other vegetation，giving themthe look of an accordion－pleated skirt and gave the valley its name Baizhe，which means hundreds of pleats.
Have you ever heard of the Three Gorges，also known as Yangtze Gorges?It spans fromthe western upriver cities of Fengjie and Yichang in Chongqing Municipality eastward downstream to Hubei Province.We are also going to visit three gorges here in Shangqing River.Although they do not share the grandeur of the Yangtze Gorges，they are definitely worth the trip.
The firstof it is Lanhua Gorge，or Orchid Gorge.Orchids，known in Chinese as Lanhua，are deeply revered in Chinese culture，with a variety of positive attributes assigned to it.“The Lanhua is the emblemof love and beauty，and stands for fragrance and refinement，”writes Charles Alfred Speed Williams in“Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs.”The ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius also added to the positive symbolism attached to the orchid，writing of itas a flower of noble character.He believed that men of noble character should view the orchid as their inspiration for quality living and aspire to release beauty regardless of whether they were credited with doing so.Since a wide variety of orchids grow along the riverside，the gorge got its name as Orchid Gorge.
Ladies and gentlemen，please look up at the eagle nest on the cliff.Taining is home to many wild birds，some of which are on the verge of extinction and now under state protection.Eagles are becoming rare.As we said before 90%of the area is in its natural state，the environment remains suitable for wild birds.
The second gorge，Xianyu Gorge，stretches a length of more than 600 meters，the longest one of the three.There are water drops running down the steep cliffs on the two sides，so when crossing the gorge people might touch Xianyu，or“fairy droplets”in the air.Local people said it is auspicious to bath in the droplets.Just be careful not to catch a cold.The place will be totally engulfed in mist when it is raining.
After passing through Xianyu Gorge，we will come to the middle of our rafting trip，the Luoxia Cliff.Looking up to your left hand side，you can see the whole precipice is tainted with rosy colors.The clefts and erosions on its surface present a grand picture of various kinds of animals，justas Chinese poet Wang Bo of the Tang Dynasty wrote，“The evening mist flew off along with a solitary duck; the autumn river and the endless sky became a single hue.”
It is said that you can find all the twelve animals the Chinese Zodiac in this natural mural.Chinese Zodia relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes，according to a 12－year cycle.And it’s good luck if you can identify the animal of the year you are born.Thousands of years’weathering and water erosion have made the surface of the cliff rough and uneven.And the process of crumbling still continues and will gradually widen the river.
Waterway transport along Shangqing River used to be vital for carrying goods like food and bamboo products.The inscription on the cliff to your right recorded one of the dredging efforts by local authorities in the autumn of 1769，during the Qing Dynasty.Waterway transport through Shangqing River remained in service until the construction of highways in this area area in 1960.
The open terrain over there is called Phoenix terrace，where Xiao Shi and Nong Yu ascend to heaven and became immortals.Xiao Shi is a legendary figure skilled in Xiao flute playing，who could even imitate a phoenix cry on the flute.Nong Yu，the daughter of Duke Mu of Qin，was also a skilled Xiao player.They settled down here after they got married.One morning，Nong Yu rode aphoenix and Xiao Shi rode a dragon，and they flew off to some fairy land together.The legend remindsme of the poem written by Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty.
On Phoenix Terrace once phoenixes came to sing;
The birds are gone，but still roll on the river’s waves.
The ruined palace’s buried＇neath the weeds in spring;
The ancient sages in caps and gowns all lie in graves.
(Tr.by Xu Yongchong)
Besides，on the far side of the valley，you will see ancient China’s mysterious funeral practice—Cliff Coffin.Ethnic people in China used to put coffins weighing more than 100 kilograms in caves on steep cliffs.Until now no one knows how they did that.
We are no wat the last gorge，Wanggui Gorge.Literally，the name means the scenery is so attractive and picturesque that visitors forget about leaving.This part of the river has lots of winds and twists along the mountain cliffs.The fairy mists，grotesque cliffs and verdant forest provide a really magical experience.No wonder people will be reluctant to leave!
Ladies and gentlemen，this is the end of our rafting cruise.Look at the two rock tortoises.They have come to see us off，wishing you all a safe journey home.
Vocabulary
shoal n.浅滩
bestow vt.使用;授予
vertically adv.垂直地
skive vt.把…割成薄片;削匀;研磨
emblem n.象征;徽章;符号
precipice n.悬崖;绝壁;险境
dredging n.挖泥;清淤
4.金湖
各位团友，早上好!我代表××旅行社欢迎大家游览金湖，我的名字叫××，大家可以叫我××，非常高兴能有机会带领大家游览金湖，希望能给大家留下深刻印象。
金湖位于金溪上游，金溪以出产黄金著称。宋朝时大约有82万人迁居金湖，一方面，金湖是福建为数不多的平原地带，另一方面，金溪河床上矿物丰富的泥沙中蕴含大量的沙金，吸引了很多的淘金者。1980年，国家在金溪上游修建池谭水电站，建起大坝，泰宁县境内形成了一个人工湖，名为金湖，旅游业从此取代淘金成为当地的支柱产业。
金湖，以水为主体，以丹霞地貌为特征，是国内少有的丹霞地貌与浩瀚湖水相结合的风景名胜区。相较于中国另外六处丹霞地貌，金湖有着“水上丹霞”的美誉，被誉为天下第一湖山。在这里，你可以看到千姿百态的丹山，幽深的碧水，构成动态与静态的完美结合。
景区内有白水漈瀑布、醴泉岩、甘露寺、月下老人、大赤壁、水上一线天等名胜古迹180多处。
现在我们上船。请各位慢点走，上船后找个位子坐好，一定要注意安全。
白水漈瀑布
我们先去看白水漈瀑布。金湖景区有各种各样的瀑布十几条，眼前这条瀑布叫水漈瀑布，又称白水漈瀑布。瀑布分为两层，上下瀑布断崖均宽为10米，深约20米，远眺似白练悬空，是金湖最大的瀑布。每当雨过天晴，瀑布周围雾气腾腾，在阳光的照耀下，还可看到一道彩虹悬挂其中，光芒四射，蔚为壮观。
醴泉岩
白水漈西北侧是醴泉岩，岩中有一座禅寺。现在我们一起上岸去看看，请大家走好。醴泉禅寺始建于南宋绍兴二年，即公元1132年，毁于元代兵乱，明代重建，后来又毁于20世纪60年代，1982年在原有的基础上依岩重修。寺庙建在这高约30米、宽15米、深18米的大岩穴中，岩前翠松茂盛，环境幽雅。
清朝的乾隆皇帝曾六下江南，游尽江南的山山水水，留下了不少有趣的故事，传说他也到过泰宁醴泉岩。虽然乾隆皇帝打扮得与普通老百姓一样，但他有龙虎之相，寺里高僧一看就断定他是当今皇上。当日，高僧设宴招待乾隆，席间有一道泰宁地方菜，乾隆觉得色香味俱佳。回京后，乾隆叫宫廷厨师做这道菜，没有一个人做得出来，其实这道菜就是普通的菠菜炒油豆腐。
大家看那座山像什么?像一尊佛是吗?对了，像大肚子笑佛，弥勒佛，他象征财运。在半山腰弥勒佛的肚脐眼上有座墓，从西向东，总面积1040平方米。这就是明朝末年兵部尚书李春烨和他的夫人江氏的合葬墓。有的游客可能已经在县城参观过气势宏大的尚书第，那就是李春烨的故居，现为全国重点文物保护单位，是游客到泰宁的必游之处。李春烨生于1571年，死于1637年，距今已有300多年的历史。当地传说，为了提防盗墓者，李春烨出葬时，家人准备了八口棺材，以混淆真假，迷惑视听。但是，李春烨的墓在抗日战争期间还是被破坏了。
甘露寺
现在我们下船去甘露岩。大家看，左边这块红色岩石像一口硕大无比的钟，右边那块像一面鼓，甘露岩便在这钟鼓石之间。
这里就是甘露岩寺的山门，这块碑刻上题的是宋朝进士邹恕写的一首诗，表现了甘露岩寺的建筑特色和四周的秋季景色。
甘露岩是一个天然的内窄外敞的洞穴，高约80米，深30米。洞的上下为砾岩，中层为砂岩，寺内经岩层滤净，渗出的泉水清甜甘冽如甘露。各位请看，这个洞穴呈倒三角形，古人以独木擎天解决岩势上宽下窄的难题。寺庙后部狭窄，前面宽阔呈阶梯状。这个寺庙的全部建筑都是木质的，没有用一根铁钉。在泰宁地区，还有其他相类似的建于岩穴的建筑。可惜20世纪60年代初，庙里僧尼用火不小心，把整座寺庙烧毁了。现在我们看到的建筑，是1964年根据原有建筑风格重新修建的。
鸳鸯湖
现在大家请上船继续游览。瞧!前面就是鸳鸯湖了。鸳鸯在英语中称为中国鸭，鸳是雄鸟，鸯是雌鸟。在传统中国文化中，人们认为一对鸳鸯终生为伴，与其他鸭类水禽不同。因此鸳鸯一直是夫妻和睦相处、坚贞不移的美好象征，是艺术作品的常见形象。中国人把恩爱夫妻比作鸳鸯，鸳鸯图案经常在婚礼中使用，因为它们象征婚姻幸福和对伴侣的忠诚。这里的生态环境保护得较好，每年都有许多鸳鸯成双成对地从外地迁来过冬。
月下老人
鸳鸯湖口的这座山峰叫“月下老人”。月下老人是中国神话传说中专管婚姻的神仙，泛指媒人，简称“月老”。月下老人手持姻缘簿，并据姻缘簿所载，将红绳悄悄地系于男女双方的脚上，使他们结为夫妻。凡未婚男女可祈求得到理想中的终身伴侣，已婚男女瞻拜月老后，可期婚姻和美、白头偕老。
大赤壁
这个景点叫赤壁丹崖，通称大赤壁，是典型的丹霞岩，是经历了无数年的雨水冲刷、风化和地壳运动逐渐形成的。中国多个地方均有赤壁这一景点。三国形成时期，中国历史上就有个著名的赤壁之战。公元208元冬天，刘备、孙权联军与数倍于他们军力的曹操在赤壁展开决战，成功挫败曹操占领江南的计划。赤壁之战使刘备和孙权得以生存，并控制了长江，为蜀汉、东吴的建立提供了一道防线。赤壁之战的确切地点已经争论了1300多年，虽然人们从未认为泰宁赤壁就是当年著名战役的地点，但泰宁峭壁宽约500多米，高约100米，耸立在湖面上，碧水丹山，斐绿叠丹，是典型的水上丹霞地貌，与国内其他地方的丹霞地貌迥异，值得一游。
水上一线天
“一线天”是两山之间或两片悬崖之间的狭窄缝隙，从远处遥望，仿佛是一座大山被大斧劈开一道缝隙。置身一线天之中，抬头望天，只见一道狭窄天光。黄色、泰山等其他一些景区也有一线天，但今天大家要参观的一线天可不一般，是水上一线天。狭长水巷，只容一只小船擦崖而过。峭壁上长满各类花草，泛舟船上，微风拂面，让人忘却尘世烦恼。
我们现在看到的是金湖最开阔的水面——十里平湖。这里南北长8公里，东西宽3公里，周围群山环抱，水天一色，令人心旷神怡。顺便提一句，金湖的鱼非常美味，尤其是金湖银鱼。银鱼通体透明，没有鱼鳞，骨骼为软骨。金湖银鱼每年产量约有20多吨。
猫儿山
猫儿山位于金湖南部。从远处往前，可以清楚地看到那逼真的形象。关于这只猫儿有不少传说，最普遍的说法是那是一只被玉帝和王母贬到人间的一只神猫。玉帝在中国民俗文化中是掌管天、地、人三界的最高天神，是中国最重要的神袛之一。王母娘娘是玉帝的妻子，她收伏了一公一母两只老鼠精，罚在蟠桃园看管果树。过了好多年，王母娘娘看它们表现不错，就奖赏它们一坛仙酒。谁知这两只老鼠喝醉了，在天宫到处闹腾。待酒醒以后，它们自知唯一的出路就是下凡逃到人间了。老鼠繁殖能力很强，没几年就生下成千上万的鼠子鼠孙，人间鼠害猖獗。人间的皇帝无计可施，只得祈祷天宫帮忙。王母娘娘得知也十分恼怒，但她又担心别人知道是她赐予老鼠仙酒，酿成如此大祸，便企图掩盖真相，阻止天兵下凡镇压。伏在玉皇大帝脚下的那只金猫，见此情景不禁义愤填膺，便私自下凡，来到人间。金猫吃了数千只老鼠。玉皇大帝发觉金猫私自下凡，大动肝火，便派托塔天王来收伏金猫。金猫逃到山顶上，正要往下跳的时候，托塔李天王追赶到，从塔底飞出三把利剑，把金猫定在山顶上。
各位，金湖游览就要结束了。非常高兴能有机会陪伴大家一同畅游体会金湖的自然美。希望各位有机会再来三明游览。谢谢，祝您旅途愉快!
4.Golden Lake
Good morning，ladies and gentlemen，on behalf of…Travel Agency，I would like to extend a warm welcome to you.My name is…my English name is…，you can call me…It is my honor to be your local guide for your visit to Jinhu Lake，also widely known as Golden Lake.
Golden Lake is located in the upper reach of Jinxi River，which means the creek of gold.About 820，000 people moved here during the Song Dynasty，in part because it was one of Fujian’s few stretches of flat land，and in part to pan for gold from Jinxi River.Although there are still many quartz mines，gold production has decreased now.Tourism has now replaced gold production to bring the place wealth since the local government dammed the river to create Golden Lake in 1980.
Visiting Golden Lake，you will be given a treat to a scenic body of water，accompanied by Danxia topography;a type of land form resulting from years of water erosion and weathering and crustal movements that shape a particular area into impressive forms and contours with striking colors.And the one in Golden Lake is referred to as“Danxia on Water”and known as one of the top seven most beautiful Danxia landforms in China.High walls of rocks，green mountains，rolling hills and multihued surfaces of stone pillars rising from the water—these are common sights you will stumble upon as the tranquil waters take you downstream.
Altogether，there are more than 180 sitesin Golden Lake，such as Baishuiji Waterfall，Liquan Rock，Ganglu Rock Temple，Mount Yue Lao，Chibi Cliff(Red Cliff)，above－water Yixiantian and so on.
Please get on board the cruise boat and take a seat.Be careful.
Baishuiji Waterfall
Our first stop is Baishuiji Waterfall.There are a dozen waterfalls in Golden Lake Scenic Area.The largest one is this two－drop Baishuiji Waterfall.Both the two drops are 10 meters wide and 20 meters high.Seen from afar，it looks like a white ribbon flying in the air.If you are lucky，you can see rainbow over the waterfall，when water droplets reflect the sunlight.It’s really a dazzling sight.
Liquan Rock
Ladies and gentlemen，let’s get off the boat and visit Liquan Rock and a temple named after it.The temple was first built in 1132.It was ruined in a war in the Yuan Dynasty and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty，which was destroyed again during the Cultural Revolution between 1966 and 1976 and was restored in 1982.Like other temples in the area，Liquan Temple is built in a cave.The cave is 30 meters high，15 meters wide and 18 meters in depth.
There are many interesting stories about this temple.One of themis about Emperor Qianlong，the 6th emperor of the Manchu－led Qing Dynasty and the 4th Qing Emperor to rule over China proper.In fact，stories about this emperor’s six visits to southern China disguised as a commoner have been a popular topic for many generations.Local people said Qianlong also set foot here in Liquan Temple.Although disguised as a commoner，his regal bearing revealed his true identity.He stayed in the temple and enjoyed a vegetarian mealwith monks of the temple.One of the dishes amazed Qianlong.When Qianlong returned home，he ordered his imperial cooks to prepare the same dish.But the dish，although known to every local people in Taining，was apparently beyond the ample means of the imperial cooks.In fact it was nothing but saute spinach with deep－fried tofu.
Look，what does that mountain look like?ABuddha?Yes，the fat，smiling Buddha，also known as the Buddha of Wealth，or Maitreya Buddha.Halfway up that mountain，right at the location of the belly button of the Buddha lies the tomb of LiChunye，one of the Defense Ministers of the Ming Dynasty.Stretching from west to east，the tomb covers a total area of 1040 square meters.Some of you might have visited his residence in Taining County.It has been listed as a state－level key tourist spot，a must for tourists to Sanming city.LiChunye was born in 1571 and died in 1637，more than three hundred years ago.According to the locals，Li’s family prepared eight coffins in his burying ceremony to baffle possible tomb robbers.Despite all the efforts，the tomb was still damaged during the anti－Japanese war in 1940s.
Ganglu Cave Temple
We will now continue with our trip to Ganlu Cave Temple.Look，does the red stone on the left look like a giant bell and the left one a drum?The temple we are going to visit lies right between the two.
This is the gate to the temple.The stele over there was inscribed with a poem depicting the scenery of the temple and its surroundings.
It is called Ganlu Temple because Ganlu，or sweet dews in Chinese，exude slowly but continuously from the layers between the sandstone and conglomerate in Ganlu Cave in which the temple was built.The cave of Ganlu Rock is narrow inside and wide open outside，with a height of 80 meters and a depth of 30 meters.It looks like an inverted triangle，which imposed a great challenge for building a temple.Designers of the temple came up with the idea of erecting a huge pillar to prop up the whole structure.What a spectacular sight，and because of its location it.The temple was designed to have a narrow rear and an open，terrace like facade.The temple was builtwith wood and not a single nail was used.There are quite a few other structures built inside caves using similar techniques.It is a pity that the original temple was burnt down by a careless monk in early 1960s.The one we are now standing in was built in 1964 with the same architectural design of the original temple.
Yuanyang Lake
Dear friends，please geton board and continue our trip.Look!That is Yuanyang Lake.Yuanyang is also known as mandarin duck.Yuan and Yang respectively stand for male and female mandarin ducks.In traditional Chinese culture，mandarin ducks are believed to be lifelong couples，unlike other species of ducks.Hence they are regarded as a symbol of conjugal affection and fidelity，and are frequently featured in Chinese art.A Chinese proverb for loving couples uses the Mandarin Duck as a metaphor:“Two mandarin ducks playing in water”.The Mandarin Duck symbol is also used in Chinese weddings because in traditional Chinese lore，they symbolize wedded bliss and fidelity.Because of the well－preserved ecological system in the neighboring area，there are flocks ofmandarin ducks migrating from the north to spend the winter here.
Mount Yuelao
The mountain beside Yuanyang Lake is called Yue Lao.Yuelao，literally means the old man in the moon，is the character who unites people in marriages in a Chinese legend that originated from the Tang Dynasty.The figure later became a widely known image of an immortal.As the legend goes，Yuelao the matchmaker had a book that records all destined marriages.He would tie a man and a woman on their feet with red strand，and the two would surely become a couple even if they were once irreconcilable enemies or strangers far away from each other.In some areas in China，people built temples in honor of Yuelao and pray for good marriages.The mountain over there looks exactly like the figure of Yuelao.
Great Chibi
Great Chibi is a typical Danxia cliff，an impressive form resulting from numerous years of water erosion，weathering and crustal movements.“Chibi”means red cliff.Many cliffs in China bear the name of Chibi.There was a famous Battle of Chibi in Chinese history.It was a decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty，immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms.It was fought in the winter of 208 between the allied forces of the southern warlords Liu Beiand Sun Quan and the numerically superior forces of the northern warlord Cao Cao.Liu Bei and Sun Quan successfully frustrated Cao Cao’s effort to conquer the land south of the Yangtze River.The allied victory at Chibi，or Red Cliffs ensured the survival of Liu Bei and Sun Quan，gave themcontrol of the Yangtze，and provided a line of defense that was the basis for the later creation of the two southern states of Shu Han and Eastern Wu.The precise location of the battle has been a subject of debate for at least1300 years，Although Taining’s Chibihas never been a candidate site of the famous battle，it is a note－worthy attraction because the 500 meter wide and 100 meter high Chibi cliff rising from the water is a typical example of“Danxia on Water”，which differs greatly from other Danxia landforms in China.
Above－water Yixiantian
Yixiantian，also known as“strip of sky”，is a narrow rift among two mountains or cliffs.Viewed from afar，it seems like the mountain was chopped into two pieces by an axe.Looking up in the rift，people can only see a thin strip of the sky.It is not a rare scene in China.People may have seen similar sights in Mount Huangshan，Mount Taishan or other scenic spots around the country.But the one you are going to visit today is special，because it is a rift valley above the water.The waterway is only two meters wide，making it impossible for two boats to go through side by side.On the surface of the cliff grow a wide range of plant.Sitting on the boat，feeling the gentle breeze，people will forget all their troubles.
We are about to reach an area known for its tranquil water，stretching eight kilometers from south to north，three kilometers from east to west.Mountains，water and sky have been in complete harmony to bring calm and peace for tourists.By the way，the fish from Jinhu Lake are very delicious，especially the salangidae.They are tiny fish with translucent or transparent bodies and no scales.Their skeleton consists largely of cartilage.Each year over 20 tons of salangidae can be harvested in Jinhu Lake.
Mao’er Mount
Mao’er Mountain，otherwise known as Cat Mountain，sits on the south of Jinhu Lake.Looking from afar，you will see a vivid skyline of a giant cat.There are many legends about this mountain，the most popular of which is about a celestial cat banished to the world of mortals by the Jade Emperor and the Celestial Queen Mother.The Jade Emperor in Chinese folk culture is the ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below including that of Man and Hell.He is one of the most important gods of the Chinese traditional religious pantheon.And the Celestial Queen Mother is his wife.She defeated and tamed two rat demons and had them guard the Garden of Peaches.The Queen Mother was pleased by their good behaviour and granted the rat demons some celestial liquor.You can imagine these two happy rat demons got drunk，and started some chaos in Heaven.When they came to their senses，they had no choice but to descend to Earth and hide.Rats are highly prolific and the two of them bred thousands of off springs in just a couple of years，starting a plague of rats.The emperor of the mortal world did not know what to do and asked for help from Heaven.When the Celestial Queen Mother heard of the matter，she was furious but she didn’t want anyone to know that itall started with her granting the rats liquor，so she tried to cover itup and didn’t send the divine troops to contain the situation.But the cat sitting under the throne of the Emperor of Jade was aflame with indignation.He came down to the human world without any official order from its superior.The cat successfully defeated and ate thousands of rats，but his disobedience was something the Jade Emperor couldn’t tolerate.The emperor then summoned Li Jing，also known as Pagoda－Bearing Heavenly King Li，to capture the cat.The pagoda Li Jing carries can capture any spirit，demon or god.When the cat ran to the top of a mountain，the pagoda shoot three swords at the cat and nailed it on the mountain.The cat was later petrified and became Mao’er Mount.
Ladies and gentlemen，we have come to the end of our visit in Jinhu.Itwas my pleasure to be your guide and I hope you had a wonderful time with me.I also hope that you will come to visit Sanming city again in the future.Thank you and have a pleasant trip home.
Vocabulary:
quartz n. 石英石
tranquil adj.安静的，平静的;安宁的;稳定的
wreck n.破坏;vt.破坏;使失事;拆毁
exude vt.散发;流出;使渗出vi.流出;渗出;发散
conjugal adj.婚姻的;结婚的;夫妻之间的
irreconcilable adj.矛盾的;不能和解的;不能协调的
celestial adj.天上的，天空的adj.天上的，天空的
secular adj.世俗的;现世的
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