21. Mountains in the River 江中之山

原文字幕

In ancient times, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, in Eastern China, was called Jingkou. Located at the golden cross the Yangtze River and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, it is a place of strategic importance. The upper reaches of the Yangtze River deposit a lot of silt here, which has gradually built up into a small island in the river. There are three beautiful mountains here, namely, Jinshan Mountain, Beigu Mountain, and Jiaoshan Mountain, which are closely connected with the Yangtze River and are called the Three Mountains in Jingkou. Jinshan Mountain is only 42 meters above sea level. Although Jinshan Mountain is said to be on the Yangtze River, because the river’s course has moved to the north, Jinshan is now some distance away from the Yangtze. Beigu Mountain, 10 meters higher than Jinshan Mountain, is just beside the Yangtze River. From here, Jinshan Mountain can be seen in the west and Jiaoshan Mountain in the east. The mighty river flows around the foot of the mountain. Jiaoshan, the highest of the three, with a altitude of 70.7 meters and an area of 38 hectares. It is located in the Yangtze River, surrounded by water. Encircled by the green waves, the green mountain looks like a piece of jade floating on the river. People can reach the island by boat to experience the gentle river water in the dry season, and appreciate the magnificent scene in the wet season. Compared with many famous mountains, this seemingly inconspicuous landscape composed of three beautiful mountains coexist and integrate with the Yangtze River, becoming a landmark in this area.

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Words

mighty 有力的

To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.

hectare 公顷

encircle 环绕

jade 翡翠

inconspicuous 不明显的，不引人注目的

22. Flaming Mountain and Grape Valley 火焰山和葡萄沟

原文字幕

Areas around the latitude of 42 degrees north on earth are mostly known as their cool and pleasant climate. But there is one exception, which is famous for its incredible heat. This is the “Flaming Mountain” in China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Of course, it is not really “burning”. The mountain is barren and red, with blackish tint. In summer, ground temperatures can be as high as 70-degree Celsius. People are tricked by their senses into seeing “flames”. The terrain is the main reason for the heat of the Flaming Mountain. It is located at the low point of the Turpan Basin which is also the lowest point of the Chinese mainland. The height different between it and the surrounding mountains is more than 5,000 meters, so the hot air in the basin cannot easily disperse. As a result, the Flaming Mountain becomes the hottest place on its latitude. There is no grass on the Flaming Mountain, but the canyon nearly is shaded by grapes. The canyon is only 8 kilometers long from north to south, but its annual output of grapes can reach more than 10 million kg. Almost every family here grows grapes. After harvest, they are sent to shade houses for drying. The shade houses are built on the slopes of barren mountains, high up and with no shelter, so as to make full use of the hot dry winds in the Turpan Basin. There are many holes in the walls of the shade houses, which not only help with ventilation, but also help avoid direct sunlight on grapes. It takes just 40 days for the fresh grapes to be dried by the hot air.

image

Words

autonomous 自治的

tint 浅色；色彩；给...着色

The girl tinted her hair green.
There’re tinted windows on this car.

blackish 带黑色的

terrain 地形

disperse 散开

The crowd dispersed when the rain dell suddenly.

slope 倾斜

ventilation 通风

They used good ventilation facilities in the building.

23. The Perfect Stopover for Migratory Birds 太平洋西岸最大的候鸟停歇地

原文字幕

The Yangtze, China’s longest river, rising from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, flows eastwards for 6,300 kilometers, eventually reaching Yuantuojiao, in Jiangsu Province in eastern China, where it flows into the sea. A large amount of sediment carried by the Yangtze River has been deposited here due to the tides. Gradually, the sandbar is becoming a growing and extending beach plain. It has also become a popular stopover for a large number of migratory birds. In the Yangtze River Delta to the north of Yuantuojiao, abundant rivers carry huge amounts of sediments to the sea. They also bring nutrients, piling up to form fertile coastlines and unique sandy ridges and sandbars. Around the coastline of the Yellow Sea in China, hundreds of kilometers of coastal wetlands and ecological zones have formed. Every spring and autumn, nearly 3 million migratory birds around the world stop here to replenish themselves. The Yangtze River Delta next to the Yellow Sea is one of China’s most economically developed and densely population region. While the economy is developing rapidly, a large number of coastal wetlands have been preserved. This creates valuable habitats for millions of migratory birds and endangered species that prefer not to be disturbed. Today, sediment accumulation, and continental shelf settlement are two dynamic geological forces which are constantly shaping the landscape and ecological processes of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Wetlands, making it one of the most diverse and richest coastlines in the world. It is an organic combination of natural, biological and human functions, and a key hub on the East Asian-Australasian flyway of migratory birds.