在城市里慢慢走
What is City Walk in China?
Name: ________________ Date: ________
Key words
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 门票 | ménpiào | admission ticket; entrance fee |
| 条 | tiáo | strip; slip (as in 纸条) |
| 走 | zǒu | to go; to leave |
| 路上 | lùshang | on the way; on the road; en route |
| 一会儿 | yíhuìr | a moment; a while |
| 路 | lù | road; path |
| 慢 | màn | slow; to slow down |
| 走路 | zǒulù | to walk |
| 旁边 | pángbiān | beside; next to; nearby |
| 爷爷 | yéye | grandpa; paternal grandfather |
| 运动 | yùndòng | sports; exercise; to exercise; to move about |
| 远 | yuǎn | far; distant |
English (for the teacher)
In the last few years, young people in China have fallen for a new way to have fun. They don’t go to famous places, don’t queue and don’t buy tickets; they just wander slowly through the streets, looking around. Everyone calls it “city walk”.
A city walk has no real plan. You can pick an old street and just keep walking. On the way you look at the old houses and the big trees by the road, step into a little bookshop, or sit for a while in a small café.
In Shanghai, Wukang Road is a famous city-walk route. Both sides of the road are lined with old houses, and in autumn, when the leaves turn yellow, lots of people take photos there.
Why do young people like city walks? First, it’s cheap. Second, it’s relaxing. Work and study are busy, so a walk at the weekend makes you feel much better. Third, only when you walk slowly do you notice things you usually miss.
One young person said: “I’ve lived in this city for five years, but only when I went out walking that afternoon did I find such a good noodle shop right next to my home.”
Of course, some people laugh at them: “Isn’t that just going for a walk? My grandpa goes out walking after every meal, and has for decades!”
They have a point. But a city walk is a little different from a stroll: you stroll for exercise, and you city-walk to get to know your own city again.
Next weekend, you could try it too. You don’t need to go far: start from your own front door and see what you find.