Feifei: Hi 大家好，欢迎收听今天的《都市掠影》节目。

Jo: Now Feifei, I am very excited about our trip to Xi'an. I have been to quite a few big cities in China, but this is the first time to Xi'an. You are from Xi'an, so tell me - lots of people say it's very different from other cities in China, is that true?

Feifei: Yes, it is quite different. Xi'an is a well-known ancient town with a history of more than 3,600 years. It is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China because it has been the capital of 13 dynasties.

Jo: So is it just a very old traditional town then?

Feifei: Jo 这个问题提的很好，大家都知道西安是中国乃至世界有名的历史古都，3600多年的历史给给这个古都添加了很多神秘感。We spoke to Richard Hawkins who has been living and working in a language school in Xi'an for four years.

In Xi'an you get the modern aspects of Xi'an but what you get is the traditional, the older parts of Xi'an. They sit cheek by jowl, next to each other. You still get the old man playing Mahjong on the street, you get the kids with the red neckerchiefs coming to and from school but you also get the flash shopping centres. Obviously lots of places in China seem to be rushing for glass and steel high rise buildings, but Xi'an is still trying to retain its charm and its Chinese character and traditions.

Richard Hawkins, English language teacher

Jo: Richard says you get the modern aspects of Xi'an and the traditional, older parts of Xi'an.

Feifei: Modern 现代的，aspects 方面，样子。Richard 说你可以看到西安不仅有现代的一面，而且仍然留有以前老城的样子。

Jo: He says the older parts of Xi'an sit cheek by jowl, next to each other.

Feifei: That's an interesting expression - cheek by jowl 紧靠着，紧挨着。他的意思就是说老城的建筑还是一个连一个，挨的很紧。

Jo: He says you can see old men paying Mahjong on the street, and children with their red neckerchiefs coming to and from school.

Feifei: 老人们坐在街上打麻将娱乐，孩子们带着红领巾上下学。Red neckerchief 红领巾。

Jo: Richard also says many places in China are "rushing for glass and steel high rise buildings".

Feifei: Glass and steel high rise buildings 玻璃钢筋造就的高楼大厦。

Jo: But Xi'an is still trying to retain its charm and its Chinese character and traditions.

Feifei: To retain 保持，保留。Chinese character and traditions 中国的特色和传统。So what is Richard's favourite part of town?

My favourite part of the town has got to be in and around the city centre. The walls are fantastic, they are complete, they still give you a feeling of what it must have been like all those years ago, the walls actually did guard you from invaders.

Richard Hawkins

Jo: Richard's favourite part of the town is in and around the city centre.

Feifei: In and around the city centre 市中心和市中心周围。

Jo: He says the walls are fantastic, and they give you a feeling of what it must have been like years ago, when the wall was there to guard the town from invaders.

Feifei: Guard 守卫；invader 侵略者。

Jo: It sounds like there's a lot to see in Xi'an, but we are only going there for two days!

Feifei: I know! But Richard is going to tell us what he thinks is worth seeing in a day.

Jo: Here are some words and expressions that he uses. The Terracotta Warriors.

Feifei: 兵马俑 the Terracotta Warriors.

Jo: Muslim Quarter.

Feifei: 回民街。

Jo: Back alleys.

Feifei: 小胡同，小巷子 back alley.

Jo: Eaves.

Feifei: 屋檐，房檐。

Jo: Crafts.

Feifei: 手工艺品。

Jo: Paintings.

Feifei: 水彩画，油画。

Jo: Calligraphy.

Feifei: 书法。

Jo: Sub or micro-environment.

Feifei: 小的或是微小的环境 sub or micro-environment. Let's listen.

Well in a day you can see a few things, you've got to go to Bing Ma Yong, or the Terracotta Warriors, but if you want a real experience of Xi'an, I'd probably say go to the Muslim Quarter. The Muslim Quarter; its winding little back alleys, it's got great architecture, the old Chinese buildings with the eaves. But you can wander around at the back streets, looking at the shops that sell all sorts, from Mao's little red books to Chinese clothing and all sorts of Chinese crafts, painting, calligraphy, etc. It's a place within the city that you don't actually realize that you are right in the middle of a city of seven million people, its own sub or micro-environment.

Richard Hawkins

Jo: Well I think I know where I am going to visit when I am in Xi'an.

Feifei: Hope you liked this On the Town and on behalf of what I believe are the very warm-hearted and friendly people in Xi'an, I'd like to invite you to Xi'an for a visit.

Jo: Join us again next time for another On the Town, and don't forget you can visit our website at www.bbcukchina.com. See you!

Feifei: 感谢收听，再见！