今年五月，我去了云南的丽江，那是一座有八百多年历史的古城。
This May I went to Lijiang in Yunnan, an ancient town with more than eight hundred years of history.
古城里没有汽车，只有安静的老街和清清的河水，河水从每条街的旁边流过。
There are no cars in the old town, only quiet old streets and crystal-clear water that flows along the side of every street.
白天，我在老街上慢慢地走，累了就找一家茶馆坐下，看来来往往的游客。
During the day I strolled along the old streets, and when I got tired I would find a teahouse, sit down, and watch the tourists come and go.
天气好的时候，从城里就能看见远处的雪山，蓝天下面，雪山白得发亮。
In good weather you can see the snow mountain in the distance right from town; under the blue sky, its snow shines bright white.
晚上的丽江完全是另一个样子，到处是灯光和音乐，热闹得像过节一样。
At night Lijiang is a completely different place: lights and music everywhere, as lively as a festival.
我在那里认识了一位开小旅馆的老人，他说他在丽江住了一辈子，从来没想过离开。
There I got to know an old man who runs a small inn; he said he has lived in Lijiang his whole life and has never once thought of leaving.
他笑着说：“城市越来越快，可是丽江一直很慢，慢就是我们的生活。”
He said with a smile: 'Cities get faster and faster, but Lijiang has always been slow — slow is simply our way of life.'
离开的那天早上我想，丽江迷人的地方，不仅是美丽的风景，而且是那种让人慢下来的生活。
On the morning I left, I thought: what makes Lijiang so charming is not only its beautiful scenery, but also the kind of life that makes people slow down.
🔊 Audio uses your device's Chinese voice for now —
teacher recordings are coming. Tap any word to see its meaning.
Key words 生词
迷人míréncharming; enchanting
古城gǔchéngancient town
游客yóukètourist
热闹rènaolively; bustling
风景fēngjǐngscenery
一辈子yíbèizia whole lifetime
Grammar note 语法点
不仅……而且……
"Not only A, but also B" — the 而且 part adds something further and often more important, as in 不仅是美丽的风景，而且是那种让人慢下来的生活.
丽江迷人的地方，不仅是美丽的风景，而且是那种让人慢下来的生活。 — What makes Lijiang charming is not only the beautiful scenery, but also the kind of life that makes people slow down.
越来越 + adjective
越来越 before an adjective means something keeps increasing over time, like "more and more", as in 城市越来越快.
城市越来越快，可是丽江一直很慢。 — Cities get faster and faster, but Lijiang has always been slow.
adjective + 得 + complement
得 after an adjective introduces a complement describing the degree, often with a vivid comparison, as in 热闹得像过节一样 or 白得发亮.
到处是灯光和音乐，热闹得像过节一样。 — Lights and music everywhere, as lively as a festival.
Check yourself 小测验
1. What can you see from the town when the weather is good?
2. How is Lijiang different at night?
3. According to the author, what makes Lijiang charming?
More HSK 4 reading practice
火锅与朋友Hotpot and Friends夜市文化Night Market Culture独自旅行Traveling Alone健身房At the Gym汉字的美The Beauty of Chinese Characters追剧Binge-Watching
All HSK 4 readings →