A：How did the Forbidden City get this name？
B：Well，in the feudal society，emperors had supreme power，so his residence was certainly a forbidden palace。
A：His residence？You mean the whole palace？
B：Yes。The Forbidden City is divided into two parts。The southern section，or the Outer Court was for the emperor to exercise his power over the nation，and the northern part，or the Inner Court was for his royal family。
A：Oh，unbelievable。This was too luxurious。
B：Even the whole country belonged to him。That's why he is called the Emperor。
A：OK，then。I love these unique structured towers with the delicate carvings on them。It's really artistic。
B：Yeah，the buildings and designs of the Forbidden City are the peak of Chinese traditional architecture，not only scientific but also suitable for living。
A：I agree。It's definitely a product of wisdom。Well，why were those small animal sculptures placed on the tops of the buildings？
B：Some of them are mascots and some are symbols of power。
A：Why are there so many yellow things？Is yellow the lucky color in China？
B：Oh，no。In fact，yellow is the symbol of the royal family。
A：Just like the pattern dragon，right？
B：Exactly。Here is the Nine-dragon Screen。
A：Oh，it's really fabulous。I wanna take a picture here。
B：Sure，this will be a really good picture。
A：紫禁城这个名字是怎么来的啊？
B：这个嘛，在封建社会，帝王拥有至高无上的权利，那他的住处当然是禁地啦。
A：他的住所？你是说这整个宫殿吗？
B：是的。紫禁城分为两个部分。南部，或者叫外院是皇帝实施权力管理国家的地方，北部，或者叫内院是皇室的住所。
A：哦，真难以置信，好奢华啊。
B：甚至连整个国家都是属于他的。这就是为什么他被称为皇帝啊。
A：好吧，嗯，我喜欢这些造型别致的塔，它们上面有很多精致的雕刻。真是艺术啊。
B：是啊。紫禁城的建筑和设计达到了中国传统建筑的顶峰，不仅科学而且很适合居住。
A：我同意。它真是智慧的成果。还有，为什么把那些小动物的雕塑放在建筑物顶部呢？
B：有一些是吉祥物，还有一些则是权势的象征。
A：为什么这里有这么多黄色的东西啊？在中国黄色是幸运的颜色吗？
B：哦，不是的。实际上，黄色是皇族的象征。
A：就像是龙的图案，对吗？
B：没错。这个是九龙壁。
A：哦，它真漂亮啊。我要在这里照一张照片。
B：可以，一定会是一张很棒的照片。
A：Good morning。According to our traveling schedule，today we're going to visit the Palace Museum。Are you ready now？
B：Good morning。I'm anxious to have a sightseeing there。It looks like rain，so I want to put my raincoat on。Just a moment，I'll be back。
A：Don't hurry。It is still early now。I'll be waiting for you。
B：Everything is OK。Let's set off right away。
A：Now，we are standing on the grounds of the imperial palace。
B：Oh！It is gorgeous and elaborate，indeed。
A：This is the world-famous Forbidden City where once emperors，empresses and their families lived。
B：What exquisite carvings，what's that white terrace？
A：That's the marble terrace on which the three main halls of the front part of the palace were built。
B：Now，I'm beginning to get a better idea of the size of the place，as I'm on a higher plane。
A：This is the Tai He Dian。It was formerly used on such occasions as a new emperor's accession，the emperor's birthday and the announcement of important edicts。
B：The throne is mounted on a stage-like platform。
A：Yes，the bronze-animals around the platform are all hollow。They are incensories。
B：I can well imagine the solemn and ethereal atmosphere of the scene when the magnificent hall was rendered misty and fragrant by the smoke of sandalwood rising from these incensories with the emperor in full attire on the throne and officials standing on both sides in reverence and deference。
A：Yes，such was devised to give a mystic touch to the person of the emperor so as to inspire awe and wonder。
B：Right。This hall is entirely different from any of the royal courts I have seen in the west。My hands are itching to take some snapshots of it as a remembrance of the visit。Do you think it is all right for me to do so？
A：Of course，go ahead。
B：Shall we proceed to the next hall？
A：OK。Let's go there。This is the Zhong He Dian。
B：Oh，how splendid！What was it built for？
A：It was here that the feudal emperors handled their daily affairs。
B：Yes，a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere permeates the place。
A：And the last of the three is Bao He Dian。It was built in the Ming Dynasty。Formerly banquets and royal examinations were held here。
A：早上好。依照我们的旅游行程，今天我们要去参观故宫博物馆，你现在准备好了吗？
故宫全貌B：早上好。我有点担心到那观光，看起来下雨了，我想去穿上我的雨衣。等我一会，就回来。
A：别着急，现在还早着呢，我就在这等你。
B：一切都好了，我们马上出发吧。
A：现在我们站在皇宫里了。
B：哇！真是金碧辉煌啊！
故宫平面图A：这是以前皇帝、皇后和皇室家族居住的举世闻名的紫禁城。
B：这是多么精致的雕刻啊，那个白色的台子是什么？
A：故宫前厅的三大殿都以那个大理石台阶为基石建造的。
B：现在，我开始对这个地方的大小有了更好的了解了，好像是在一架更高的飞机上俯视。
A：这是太和殿。皇帝登基、生日、命将出师、殿试传胪，都在这里举行隆重的典礼。
B：王位像高踞在一个舞台般的台子上。
A：是的，围绕台子的动物铜像都是中空的。它们是香炉。
B：我完全可以想象当皇帝正襟危坐在王位上，旁边站着肃穆的文官武将保护着皇帝的庄严隆重的情景，整个大殿弥漫着从这些香炉中升起的烟雾蒙蒙的檀香。
A：是的，这样设计是为了给皇帝增添一份神秘感，使人们更加尊重景仰他。
B：没错。这个宫殿与我之前参观过的任何西方的皇宫都不一样。我手已经痒痒了，想要拍几张照片以作留念。你觉得可以吗？
A：当然可以，照吧。
B：接下来我们去哪个殿？
A：我们去中和殿。
B：噢，好壮观啊！这是为什么而建的？
A：这是封建皇帝每天处理政务的地方。
B：是的，整个宫殿蔓延着平和宁静的氛围。
A：最后一个是保和殿。它是明代修建的，以前的皇宴和殿试都在这里举行。
Imperial a。帝国的
Elaborate a。精心制作的
Empress n。皇后
Terrace n。平台
Marble n。大理石
Accession n。就职，就任
Edict n。敕令
Throne n。御座，宝座
Solemn a。庄严的；严肃的
Ethereal n。轻飘的，缥渺的；稀薄的
Atmosphere n。大气，环境
Attire v。打扮，n。服装
Reverence n。尊敬，敬畏，尊严
Deference n。敬重，唤起
Mystic a。神秘的
Inspire vt。激起，唤起
Awe n。畏惧
Itching a。渴望的
Snapshot n。快照
Proceed vi。进行
Feudal a。封建的
Permeate vi。弥漫，充满
Tranquil a。宁静的
Feudal adj。封建的
Supreme adj。最高的
Residence n。住所
Royal adj。皇家的
Luxurious adj。奢侈的
Structured adj。有结构的
Artistic adj。富于艺术想象力的，有艺术技巧的
Sculpture n。雕塑
Fabulous adj。极好的，绝妙的
Big Ben 大本钟
Great Barrier Reef 大堡礁
Hyde Park 海德公园
Pyramids 金字塔
Sydney Opera House 悉尼歌剧院
The Leaning Tower of Pisa 比萨斜塔
The Louvre 卢浮宫
The Statue of Liberty 自由女神像
Mount Fuji 富士山
Niagara Falls 尼亚加拉大瀑布
Notre Dame 巴黎圣母院
Taj Mahal 泰姬陵
The Arch of Triumph 凯旋门
The Eiffel Tower 埃菲尔铁塔
The Parthenon Temple 巴台农神庙
Tower Bridge 伦敦塔桥
