The land of China ushers in summer with the calls of frogs and chirping of cicadas.

中国大地在蛙声和蝉鸣声中迎来了夏季。

There are six solar terms in summer: Start of Summer, Grain Buds, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Minor Heat and Major Heat.

夏季共包含立夏、小满、芒种、夏至、小暑、大暑。

With the passing of each solar term, the hot period is coming, the crops grow vigorously, and it enters a busy season for farming.

随着节气的推进，炎热降临，农作物旺盛生长，农事进入繁忙的季节。

Entering the Start of Summer temperatures rise significantly.

进入“立夏”气温明显升高。

When it’s Grain Buds, the grains of summer crops grow full.

小满时夏熟作物的籽粒逐渐灌浆饱满。

During Grain in Ear, people harvest summer crops and sow autumn crops, making it the busiest time of the year.

芒种期间，夏熟作物要收获，夏播秋收作物要下地，是一年中最忙的时节。

The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is the Summer Solstice.

北半球一年中日照时间最长的一天是夏至。

The position of direct sunlight on the earth reaches the northernmost end of the year, almost directly on the Tropic of Cancer.

太阳直射地面的位置到达一年的最北端，几乎直射北回归线。

Minor Heat means that the sizzling summer heat officially begins.

小暑意味着盛夏酷热正式开始。

It’s not the hottest times though. The hottest is what follows, Major Heat.

小暑虽不是一年中最炎热的时节，但紧接着就是一年中最热的大暑。

There is a Chinese saying that goes” Minor Heat, Major Heat, drenched in sweat.”

民间有“小暑大暑，上蒸下煮”之说。

Chengde Mountain Resort in North China’s Hebei province was where Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) emperors took breaks and handled government affairs in summer. As one of the four famous gardens in China, it took 89 years to complete.

位于河北省的承德避暑山庄是清代皇帝夏天避暑和处理政务的场所，是中国四大名园之一，耗时89年建成。

Empress Dowager Cixi, an important figure in the late Qing Dynasty, also set up a palace there.

慈禧太后，清朝晚期的重要人物，在这里还设置了寝宫。

It’s said that watermelon is one of the most favored fruits of Cixi.

传闻中，慈禧太后最钟爱的水果之一便是西瓜。

Every summer, she ate a lot of sweet watermelons.

每到夏季，都要享用清甜的西瓜解暑。

Chinese people’s love for watermelon has actually lasted for thousands of years.

中国人对于西瓜的喜爱已经持续了上千年。

Watermelon is a must have summer fruit for Chinese people.

西瓜是中国人必备的消夏良品。

Since China’s reform and opening-up, the country’s watermelon industry has made great progress and China has become the world’s largest watermelon producer and consumer.

改革开放以来，我国西瓜产业得到了长足的发展，成为世界上最大的西瓜生产国和消费国。

China has various regions suitable for growing watermelons throughout the country.

中国从南到北皆有适合种植西瓜的区域。

The tastes and sweetness of watermelon differ from place to place due to different soil environments and climates.

产地的土壤及气候环境的不同赋予了西瓜不同的口感与甜度。

According to statistics, there are nearly 2000 registered watermelon varieties in China, and the annual planting area reaches about 2.3 million hectares, ranking first in the world.

根据数据统计，目前中国已登记的西瓜品种接近2000个，年播种面积约保持在3500万亩，持续位居世界第一。

The joy of consuming icy cold watermelon only belongs to summer. Once entering autumn, it is easy to get sick from eating the fruit. As the weather turns cooler, the busy autumn harvest nears.

冰镇西瓜的快乐只属于夏天。一旦进入立秋，再吃西瓜就有伤身的说法了。随着天气转凉，秋收的忙碌也即将开始。

作者：读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21042971/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处：bilibili… Read the rest

As the temperature gradually drops in winter, some animals begin to hibernate, and most plants fall into a long period of dormancy.

冬季随着气温逐渐降低，一些动物开始冬眠，大部分植物也都落叶进入漫长的休眠。

The six solar terms in winter are Start of Winter, Minor Snow, Major Snow, Winter Solstice, Minor Cold and Major Cold.

冬天的六个节气分别是立冬、小雪、大雪、冬至、小寒、大寒。

Start of Winter marks the cold season’s beginning when people stockpile harvested crops.

“立冬”是冬季的开始，人们将收割完的作物储藏起来。

Entering the period of Minor Snow, Southern Chinese people start to pickle meat. When the temperature drops and the weather gets dry, it’s a decent opportunity to make preserved meat.

在“小雪”时，南方人开始腌腊肉。气温下降，天气干燥，是加工腊肉的好时候。

During Major Snow, rivers in North China become frozen and people go skating.

“大雪”时，北方河流结冰，人们可以尽情地滑冰嬉戏。

The day of Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight of the year.

“冬至”时白昼最短。

On that day, people in the north eat dumplings while their southern counterparts consume rice dumplings instead.

那一天，中国北方冬至要吃饺子，而南方则吃汤圆。

Minor Cold and Major Cold are the last two of the 24 solar terms of the year.

“小寒、大寒”是全年二十四节气中的最后两个节气。

The weather turns bitterly cold and foods that will warm your body become a must eat, for example, lamb.

天气酷寒，温补食材成为餐桌上的必备佳肴，如羊肉等。

Winter fishing and hunting culture also enrich Chinese people’s dining tables.

冬季的渔猎文化同样丰富了中国人的宴席。

From mid-December to January the following year, winter fishing in Chagan Lake in Northeast China’s Jilin province adds warmth and vitality to people’s lives during snowy and icy days.

每年12月中旬到次年一月，中国东北部吉林省的查干湖冬捕，使人们在一片冰天雪地之间热闹起来。

According to legend, the emperor of the Liao Kingdom (AD 916-1125) loved eating “iced fish”。Every year in the last month of the Chinese lunar calendar, he would lead his family to camp on the frozen Chagan Lake, breaking the ice and fishing.

相传古时辽国的皇帝爱吃“冰鱼”。每逢腊月，便率领家眷浩浩荡荡来到冰冻的查干湖上扎营，破冰捕鱼。

This ancient method of winter fishing has been passed down today.

这一古老的冬捕方式延续至今。

Every winter, an ice and snow fishing and hunting cultural tourism festival is held at Chagan Lake attracting flocks of tourists from other parts of China and abroad, which has also helped boost the local economy.

每年冬季冰雪渔猎文化旅游节都在查干湖举办，吸引很多国内外的游客前来观看，拉动了当地旅游经济的发展。

In 2008, Fishing in Chagan Lake was approved by the State Council China’s cabinet as a state-level intangible cultural heritage.

2008年查干湖冬捕被国务院批准确定为国家级非物质文化遗产。

In addition to eating the right food for winter, the healthiest winter lifestyle is exercise.

除食补过冬以外，最为健康的过冬方式便是运动了。

In China’s Northeastern region where ice is frozen for thousands of miles, skiing and ice skating are common winter activities setting off a popular winter sports craze for all locals.

在千里冰封的东北地区，滑雪、溜冰是冬季常见的热闹场面，掀起了全民参与的冬季运动热潮。

Beijing will host the 24th Winter Olympic Games in 2022 when China will welcome athletes from all over the world.

2020年，北京市将举办第24届冬季奥林匹克运动会，中国的冬天将与来自世界各地的奥运健儿结缘。

Under the snow, the winter season pulses with vitality.

白雪皑皑的冬季之下蕴藏着生机。

People live on their wisdom and tenacity waiting for the arrival of spring.

人们依靠智慧与坚韧等待着春天的到来。 作者：读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21059214/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处：bilibili… Read the rest

Lantern Festival,the earliest existing carnival in China,falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

元宵节，中国人的狂欢节，是在农历的正月十五。

Its arrival also marks the end of Spring Festival celebrations.

它的到来也预示着春节庆祝活动的结束。

It is customary to appreciate the beauty of lanterns at night during Lantern Festival.

元宵节素有热闹喜庆的观灯习俗。

Large scale lantern exhibitions are held throughout the country.

全国各地会举办大型的花灯展览活动。

The Zigong Lantern Show in Southwest China’s Sichuan province and Yuyuan Lantern Show in East China’s Shanghai are representative lantern shows with traditional local characteristics

中国西北部四川省的自贡灯会，上海豫园元宵等会等，都是极具传统性和地方特色的灯会。

The Qinhuai Lantern Show in Nanjing,East China’s Jiangsu province,is one of the most famous shows in China,dating back more than 1700 years.

中国东部江苏省南京市的秦淮灯会，是中国最著名的灯会之一，已有1700多年历史。

It is held annually during Lantern Festival and runs for more than 50 days,which is inscribed one of China’s first national intangible cultural heritages

共持续50多天，是中国首批国家级非物质文化遗产。

It is also longest running,most attended and grandest lantern show in China.

也是中国持续时间最长，参与人数最多，规模最大的民俗灯会。

Gu Yeliang ,a native of Nanjing,is an inheritor of Qinhuai Lantern making a national intangible cultural heritage.

顾业亮，南京本地人，是秦淮灯彩国家级非物质文化遗产代表性传承人。

He began to make lanterns at the age of eight.

他8岁开始灯。

Over the past 40 years,he has traveled to 47 countries and sent the art of Qinhuai lantern to foreign skies.

40多年来，他走遍47个国家，将秦淮彩灯为代表的中国灯艺送上了异国的天空。

With the increasing number of Chinese living abroad,the world is gaining interest and accepting Chinese culture.

随着海外华人数量的增加，世界也越来越了解和接受中国文化。

Lantern shows are held every year in many parts of the world to celebrate Lantern Festival.

在海外很多城市，每年也都举办灯会庆祝元宵佳节。

Today,Auckland,the largest city in New Zealand,has successfully hosted 20 Lantern Festival shows

如今，奥克兰，新西兰第一大城市，已成功举办20届元宵灯会。

There are also regional differences in China’s lantern art culture.

中国的灯艺文化也存在着地域差异。

Lantern with lit candles are signatures of the South.

花灯是南方的标志。

In Northeast China,Lantern Festival in Harbin,Heilongjiang province,boasts a one-of-a-kind scenery.

在中国东北，黑龙江省哈尔滨市的元宵节，拥有独一无二的风景。

Glittering and translucent ice sculptures in different shapes create a fairytale of crystallized reflections of colors and light.

晶莹剔透、造型各异的冰雕在炫丽灯光下营造出一个冰雪童话世界。

In addition to viewing lanterns,there is another custom of Lantern Festival that cannot be missed,eating tangyuan,or glutinous rice balls.

除了观灯之外，元宵节还有一项习俗不能错过，那就是吃汤圆或元宵。

The fillings can be sweet,such as sesame or jujube paste,or savory,with minced meat or vegetables.

馅料可以是甜的，比如芝麻或者枣泥，或咸的，也可以加肉末或蔬菜。

These sweet and round delicacies are molded from glutinous rice flour,symbolizing the wholesomeness of family.

糯米粉揉成圆圆的团子，象征家庭圆满。

Sometimes people will pick out a tangyuan and put in a special “stuffing”,such as a coin.

有时候人们还会在一锅元宵里挑出一颗放入特殊的“馅儿”，如一枚消过毒的硬币。

The one lucky person who bites onto that coin is said to be blessed with good luck in the new year.

预示着吃到的人将在新的一年里财运红旺。

Lantern Festival is the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations.

元宵节是春节的最后一天。

For those working or studying away from home,it is time to bid farewell to their families and set out on a journey in a broad new year.

对于在外工作和求学的游子来说，他们即将惜别团聚，满怀乡思，再次踏上新一年的征程。 作者：读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21059353/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处：bilibili… Read the rest

The first day of the first lunar month is Spring Festival, the beginning of a new year for China.

农历正月初一是春节，对中国人来说是新一年的开始。

Spring Festival is China’s biggest extravaganza and a day for family reunion.

春节是中国最盛大的节日，也是家庭团聚的日子。

Being around family members at the turn of the year is a vital ritual for the Chinese people.

在新旧交替的时刻陪伴在家人身边，是中国人至关重要的仪式感。

Many of those living away from their hometowns return home during Spring Festival, which gives rise to what’s called “the largest annual human migration in the world”, also known as the “Spring Festival travel rush”.

身处异乡的人们集中在春节期间返乡，形成了一年一度“全球最大规模的人口迁徙”，也就是“春运”。

The Spring Festival celebration is a continuous process, starting from the 23rd or 24th of the 12th lunar month.

春节是一个持续的庆祝过程，从农历十二月二十三或二十四的小年起，就算春节的开始了。

People often worship the Kitchen God, clean their houses, do their shopping and put up Spring Festival couplets（blessing words posted on door frames） until New Year’s Eve on the lunar calendar.

人们会开始祭灶神、大扫除、买年货、贴春联等一直忙碌到农历十二月三十的除夕。

These customs can be traced back to a Chinese legend.

这个习俗来源于中国神话传说。

It is said that in ancient times, there was a monster named Nian, who would come out and harm the world by the end of each lunar year.

相传在远古时代，有一种怪兽叫“年”，每逢新旧岁之交，便出来危害人间。

People then took measures to send the monster away, such as putting up red couplets as Nian detested the color red, and setting off fireworks and firecrackers at their doors to scare it away.

人们随后采取措施把怪兽赶走，比如贴红联，因为“年”讨厌红色，并在门口燃烟花、放鞭炮，以吓走年。

In addition to staying up late on New Year’s Eve, having a New Year’s Eve dinner and watching the Spring Festival Gala are two important customs of Spring Festival.

除守岁以外，吃年夜饭和看春晚也是中国人在春节的两项重要习俗。

New Year’s Eve dinner are manifested in different ways in different parts of China.

年夜饭有不同讲究。

Those in South China must have a dish of fish, because “fish” in Chinese sounds similar to the character for “prosperity” symbolizing an abundant and comfortable life.

南方的年夜饭必有一道鱼，因为鱼在汉语中寓意“年年有余”的富足生活。

Those in North China often eat dumplings, which symbolize “reunion” and “fortune”.

而北方则吃饺子，有“喜庆团圆”和“吉祥如意”的寓意。

The Spring Festival Gala is a variety TV program broadcast annually to celebrate the lunar New Year.

春节联欢晚会，是每年除夕夜晚为庆祝农历新年举办的综艺性文艺晚会。

The gala attracts the largest audience of any entertainment show in the world, and runs for more than four hours, making it the longest TV show in the world.

春晚吸引了世界上最多的观众，节目时长超过4个小时，是世界上最长的电视节目。

It is often hailed as a cultural feast for Chinese people on New Year’s Eve.

它是中国人的文化年夜饭。

There is also a custom of of giving and receiving red envelopes, or hongbao.

春节还有发红包的习俗。

Traditionally, adults placed money into red envelopes and gave them to the children to wish them peace and good luck in the coming year.

长辈把钱放进红色信封里，把它们送给孩子们，祝愿他们在新的一年里平安、好运。

Nowadays, with the popularization of mobile payment in China, it is a trend to send red envelopes digitally.

如今中国移动支付的普及使手机发红包成为潮流。

The internet can deliver New Year’s wishes to each and every loved one, even if they are thousands of miles away.

便捷的网络能将人们的新年祝福第一时间传递给每一位亲友，即使他们远在千里之外。

The joyous atmosphere of Chinese New Year will linger until the first full moon of the first lunar month.

跨年之后，新年的欢乐气氛要一直持续到正月第一个月圆。

Then the Lantern Festival is celebrated, which is bound to be another busy day.

到了元宵节，又将是一个热闹非凡的日子。 作者：读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21059285/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处：bilibili… Read the rest

Qingming is not only one of China’s 24 solar terms, but also an occasion for Chinese people to honor their lost family members.

清明既是中国传统节气，又是中国人追思亲人的传统节日。

Speaking of the solar term Qingming, which is observed in early April when the temperature begins to rise and rainfall increases, it is the right time for spring cultivation and sowing.

月初的气温开始回升，降雨量增加，这使得它成为春天耕种和播种的关键时刻。

At the same time, Chinese people will visit tombs of their ancestors around Qingming to pay respect to the deceased.

与此同时，中国人会在节日期间扫墓以祭奠已故亲人。

Most of the time the whole family will go to the cemeteries with offerings, clean up weeds around the tombs and pray for family prosperity.

全家带着祭品前往墓地，清理坟墓周围的杂草，以表达对逝者的敬意和缅怀，把美好的心愿告诉祖辈，保佑家族兴盛发展。

Qingming was included as a Chinese public holiday in 2008.

2008年清明节被列入中国法定节假日。

Chinese people call themselves the descendants of the Yan Emperor and Yellow emperor.

中国人称自己为炎黄子孙。

A grand ceremony is held on Qingming every year in order to commemorate the Yellow Emperor, also known as the Xuanyuan Emperor.

为了共同缅怀中华民族的人文始祖轩辕黄帝，公祭典礼每年都会在清明盛大召开。

On this day, Chinese from all over the world pay respects to this ancestor together.

在这一天，全世界的华人华侨共同祭拜这位始祖。

This serves as a reminder of the roots of Chinese people and a chance to revisit the civilization of our ancestors.

自己从何而来，血脉中流淌着怎样的文明，都会从祭祖活动中得到答案。

These traditions are often accompanied with a more recreational activity spring outing.

人们在扫墓祭祖时通常还伴着另一项活动，踏青郊游。

The spring sunshine brings everything back to life, and the time is best to enjoy the beautiful scenes outside.

阳光灿烂，万物复苏，这正是欣赏春景的最好时机。

The mild temperature and fresh air are calming and stress-relieving, making spring outings another leisure choice for those who lead busy modern lives.

清明踏青的习俗增添了现代都市人的生活乐趣，户外适宜的温度和清新的空气能舒缓现代人的工作压力，在大自然中获得好心情。

Qingtuan, which literally means “green bulb”, was originally an offering for ancestors during Qingming.

青团字面意思是绿色的团子，原是清明节祭奠祖先的祭品。

As the custom of worshipping ancestors has weakened with time, it is now regarded as a favored spring outing snack, especially popular among people in south of the Yangtze River.

但随着祭祀功能的淡化，现在更多被人们当做春游小吃，在江南一带尤为流行。

Qingtuan is a round green dessert.

青团是一种圆形的绿色甜点。

Its green dough is made by mixing glutinous rice flour with boiled mugwort juice. The dough is then wrapped around red bean paste or other sweet fillings, then steamed until cooked.

做法是将新鲜艾草熬出青汁后，和在糯米粉里揉成团，裹进豆沙等馅料蒸制而成。

The combination of its soft and chewy dough with sweet and smooth fillings makes it a delicious light snack.

软糯弹牙的外皮带着悠长的艾草香味，细腻的豆沙馅甜而不腻。

Now, more new types of Qingtuan are available and some novel fillings are even going viral, such as egg yolk with meat, vegetarian options and fillings with fruit.

到了现代，传统美食青团出现了更多新奇的口味，甚至成了网红小吃，蛋黄肉松青团、蔬菜青团、水果青团等让人目不暇接。

The next holiday that’s loved by the Chinese people is Duanwu, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival.

下一个深受中国人民喜爱的重大节日是端午节了。

The deafening drums and cheerful shouts pierce the sky as the mighty dragon boat race is about to start.

震耳欲聋的鼓声和呐喊声穿破天际，浩浩荡荡的龙舟大赛就要开始了。

作者：读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21059372/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处：bilibili… Read the rest

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is Qixi, widely regarded as China’s Valentine’s Day.

农历七月初七是七夕节。七夕节被普遍认为是中国的情人节。

Many different stories lay claim to being the origin of the festival but one version is the most popular and accepted.

因为它承载着关于牛郎和织女的古老爱情传说。在众说纷纭的故事当中最广为流传的版本是：

The youngest daughter of the Jade Emperor ( the ruler of the world in legend), the Weaver Girl was a fairy who weaved rosy clouds in the sky.

玉帝（神话传说中天地的主宰）的小女儿织女，是在天上纺织彩霞的仙女。

She became tired of the boring immortal life and decided to descend to the mortal world. She met and fell in love with a cowherd.

她厌倦了乏味的神仙生活，私自来到人间，与凡人牛郎相恋。

The Jade Emperor strongly objected to the couple’s union and forcibly separated them by the Milky Way leaving them torn apart by the galaxy and only allowing them to meet once a year.

玉帝得知后震怒，强行拆散了这对夫妻，让他们分居银河两边，只允许他们一年见一次面。

Despite that, the distance could not stop their love for one another.

尽管如此，遥远的距离却不能阻止牛郎和织女对爱情的坚持。

They still love each other and look forward to meeting once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

从此他们终日思念彼此，期盼着一年一度的相会。

On the brighter side, the tragedy of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl could not happen in modern China.

如今牛郎织女一年一会的凄美故事在现代中国已经不再上演。

With the development of high speed railways, lovebirds no longer have any difficulty reuniting even if they are many miles apart.

高速列车的发展让恋人们即便相隔遥远也不再一面难求。

Beijing and Shanghai, the two largest cities in China are 1200 kilometers away from each other.

北京和上海这两座中国最大的城市，单程距离超过1200公里。

But a ride on the high-speed rail only takes four hours and there are more than 100 high-speed trains traveling between the two cities every day.

但高铁仅需4个多小时，同时每天有超过100个班次的高速火车往返在这两座城市之间。

The convenience and efficiency of modern travel have shortened the “galactic distance” between couples.

便捷高效的现代交通缩短了情侣们之间的“银河”距离。

On Qixi, more and more young people are going on dates and exchanging gifts to express their affection. This in turn gave rise to a unique Qixi economy.

每到七夕这天，越来越多的年轻人在一起约会、送礼表达爱意，形成独有的七夕经济。

Long queues are also often formed at the gate of the Civil Affairs Bureau where couples rush to register for marriage when love is in the air.

民政局的门口也会早早排起长队。很多情侣赶在这一天办理结婚登记手续，在甜蜜的节日氛围中祈求爱情地久天长。

This is because Qixi carries with it a symbolic meaning, choose your own love and remain faithful for life.

因为其良好的寓意：婚姻自主、忠贞不渝。

More than 2000 years ago, Qixi also known as “the Begging Festival”.

相传在两千多年前七夕节也称“乞巧节”。

In ancient China, women would visit their close friends and worship the Weaver Girl on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month praying they could become as clever as the Weaver Girl and find their faithful lover.

中国古代，女性会在七月初七这一天访闺中密友，拜祭织女，祈求能够像织女一样心灵手巧，收获忠贞的爱情。

In traditional Chinese marriage, women who pray for dexterity often devote all their energies to family life.

在中国传统婚姻中，祈求灵巧的女性往往会将全部精力投入到家庭生活中。

However, times have changed as has the role of women.

然而随着时代的发展，中国女性的角色发生了转变。

A more diversified social role enables women in China to pursue their love courageously and no longer be bound to domestic life like the Weaver Girl.

更加多样化的社会角色，使得中国女性可以勇敢的追寻自己的爱情，不再像织女一样受到束缚。

High-speed rail has brought tremendous changes.

高速火车的车轮带动着时代发展的巨变。

Many Chinese traditions have changed, but the tradition of festive reunions has stayed strong.

很多中国传统发生了变化，但中国人佳节团聚的传统从未改变。

In another month, another festival of reunion, Mid-Autumn Festival is coming.

再过一个多月，团聚的节日——中秋就要到来了。 作者：读书有三到我先到 https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv21077324/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 出处：bilibili… Read the rest