VOA常速英语2014--中国人赴美旅游预计将大幅增长

 

Chinese Tourism to US Expected to Grow 中国人赴美旅游预计将大幅增长

SAN FRANCSICO—

San Francisco is a major stop for Chinese visitors, and an agreement between China and the United States, announced in Beijing this month, promises to draw even more Chinese tourists to U.S. destinations. A day spent in the northern California city with some visitors from China shed light on some of the reasons they are coming.

旧金山  一 旧金山是中国游客的一个大站，本月在北京中美两国之间达成的协议，将吸引更多的中国游客前往美国目的地。在加州北部城市花了一天时间，一些来自中国的游客道出了一些他们来此的原因。

Major West Coast cities are must-see destinations for Chinese tour groups, which take in sights that include San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Li Hong, who is here with her daughter, is impressed, saying, “It’s beautiful.” She said this is her first time in the U.S.

It’s pretty, and unlike China, she said, where pollution is a problem in the major cities. Here she sees blue skies and white clouds. She said her first impression is good.

Extended visas

Tourism from China is expected to grow since the announcement in early November that both countries will extend their multiple-entry business and tourist visas from the current one year to a maximum of 10 years.

Harry¹ Chen of San Francisco-based Joy Holiday takes Asian tours to U.S. cities and scenic² sites, including national parks. He said the visa change will help the economies of both countries.

“And also I think it’s a great way to get the two cultures to learn from each other, to build friendship, understanding,” he said.

Three friends from China sit on a bench at one of San Francisco’s scenic sites, the Palace of Fine Arts, with its Greek-style rotunda³ perched on the edge of a lagoon⁴. Ni Xi from Shenzhen said she and her friends are at the start of their U.S. visit.

She said they will stay in San Francisco for the day, then will visit Los Angeles, where they would like to go shopping, for three or four days. Then they'll go to the Grand Canyon⁵ for the scenery, she said, and Las Vegas, to see the casinos and other sights.

It’s a common itinerary⁶. While in San Francisco, visitors enjoy the distinctive⁷ neighborhoods. Tours stop in Haight-Ashbury, the psychedelic youth haven⁸ of the 1960s, and in the gay and lesbian Castro District.

Diverse sights

Tour guide LanKun Weidner said Chinese visitors find the diversity exciting. “You get to see people from all over the place, and food and architecture, and even lifestyles,” said Weidner.

Across town, Linda Lee's company, called All About Chinatown, offers specialized⁹ walking tours. Both Western and Chinese visitors learn the history of the Chinese immigrants on the West Coast.

Some scenes are familiar, like one shop that sells traditional Chinese medicine. A man behind the counter pounds the herbs to make a powder. But some are unfamiliar¹⁰ — like the tiny Chinatown shop making fortune cookies, a Chinese-American dessert invented in California.  

Linda Lee said the many private clubs found in Chinatown are new to the visitors from China. Some date to the 19th century and are still a haven. “All these private clubs were created by the Chinese to protect them and to make them feel at home,” she said.

It’s part of San Francisco’s story, and America’s story, which more and more visitors from China are experiencing.

1 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

2 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

3 rotunda   

n.圆形建筑物；圆厅

参考例句：

• The Capitol at Washington has a large rotunda.华盛顿的国会大厦有一圆形大厅。
• The rotunda was almost deserted today,dotted with just a few tourists.圆形大厅今天几乎没有多少人，只零星散布着几个游客。

4 lagoon   

n.泻湖，咸水湖

参考例句：

• The lagoon was pullulated with tropical fish.那个咸水湖聚满了热带鱼。
• This area isolates a restricted lagoon environment.将这一地区隔离起来使形成一个封闭的泻湖环境。

5 canyon   

n.峡谷，溪谷

参考例句：

• The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
• The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。

6 itinerary   

n.行程表，旅行路线；旅行计划

参考例句：

• The two sides have agreed on the itinerary of the visit.双方商定了访问日程。
• The next place on our itinerary was Silistra.我们行程的下一站是锡利斯特拉。

7 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

8 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

9 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

10 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。