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今天我选择来给大家讲解的话题是《有趣的城市》。这是个旧题重返，几年前就有出现，那个时候也是让很多同学觉得很难。
Describe an interesting part of your country
You should say:
• Where it is
• How you know about the place
• What it is famous for
• And explain why you think it is interesting
其实《有趣的地方》原本可以是一道简单的话题，而“Interesting”这个单词让大家的思维受到了局限。很多人认为要让一个城市变得有趣，它一定要非常的与众不同、惊世骇俗才可以。也正是因为这样的想法，很多同学在思考内容的时候进入了死循环。
“Interesting”都是因人而异的。根据个人阅历的不同，大家会对不同的东西展现出兴趣。不管别人是否认可，只要你认为是有趣的即可。记得很多年前有问过一个外国朋友他觉得有趣的城市，他给我推荐了墨西哥的一个小城市。当我问他为什么这个地方为什么有趣时，他说那边的风景很美。
为此，我也可以这么说任何一个和城市相关的维度都可以成为“Interesting”的观点。
“City”维度拓展
location/ history/ culture-food/ language/ custom/ clothes/ architecture/ living costs/ scenic spots/ welfare/ leisure facility/ education/ transport/ economy/ regulations/ pace of life/ scale/ population/ popularity/ weather/ climate/ natural disaster/ events/ residents/ environment etc.
明确了维度，接着我们就按每一个小问来给出具体的答题方向。
作为地点类话题的必备第一小问，它的回答主要包含细节：
• 绝对位置 (东南西北中)
• 相对位置 (相对于我家/我学校/我家乡而言的远近)
• 怎么过去（交通/花费时间）
除此以外，我们还可以额外拓展1-2个和“City”相关的角度。要注意的是，因为第三小问也需要用到和“City”相关的角度，所以我们要合理分配角度，避免重复。第一问尽量选择比较轻的角度，比如：Name/ Popularity/ History/ Scale之类的。
① Location+Name
Example ：
Lhasa is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited. It is in the west of China, pretty far from here and it takes 2 days to get there by train. People call it “the City of Sunshine”, because it has many hours of daylight.
② Location+Popularity
Example ：
I am going to talk about a beautiful city called Zhoushan city, very close to the city where I live right now. It only takes about 1 hour for me to get there by car. As it is a coastal city, it is surrounded by the beautiful East China sea and long sandy beaches. During the summertime, it is packed out with tourists who come and enjoy this amazing city.
③ Location+History
Example ：
I am going to talk about Hangzhou, one of the most beautiful cities in my country. It’s in the east of China, very close to Shanghai and it only takes about 45 mins to get there by bullet train. It has a long history and dates back about 8000 years. During the Southern Song Dynasty, it was the capital city.
④ Location+Scale
Example ：
A beautiful city that comes to mind is Linxia city which is a part of the Gansu province. It’s in the west of China, a bit far from here. It takes about 20 hours by train. It is recognized as the smallest city in my country and there are only about 400,000 residents.
How you know about the city
这道题的难易程度取决于你选择的城市。如果你选择讲自己的家乡，这道题就会难度上升；如果你选择讲除家乡外的其他城市，它的难度就会降低。
在回答这道题之前，你可以先确定两端：第一次怎么知道的 (别人告知/ 网站/ 书本/ 电视剧等)以及你目前和这个城市所处的状态（去了/ 定居/还没去等），接着你就可以往里填充这个城市给你的第一印象即可。
① 非家乡
Example one：Hangzhou
The first time I heard about the city was when I was a little girl. My grandpa told me a beautiful story which took place there. It was about the unusual relationship between a man and a snake. He told me the story over and over again and I never got bored of it. I knew one day I would visit and 4 years ago I finally got the chance to go and it was as magical as I thought it would be.
Example two：Shanghai
The first time I visited Shanghai was when I was a little girl, maybe 7 or 8 years old. My mum took me there and we spent a week traveling around the city. I remember being in awe of the huge skyscrapers as I had never seen anything like it before. And the food was so varied and delicious. Now I travel to Shanghai at least once a year and I never get bored of it.
Example three：Lhasa
I hadn't heard about it until I was in high school. I clearly remember we read an article about the city in one of our geography classes. It said it was one of the most beautiful places in the world and everyone should visit it someday. It really triggered my curiosity. Then I searched for more information online. Even though I haven’t been there yet, it is on my wish list and I plan to travel there in the future.
② 家乡
至于你是怎么知道你的家乡的，大致分为4种情况：
a. 生在家乡，长在家乡
Example ：
It is my hometown so I was born and raised there. My mum told me when I was just a baby, my grandpa always took me to visit beautiful places dotted around the city. I don't really remember where he took me but I think it must have influenced me in some way as I spend a lot of my time wandering around, taking in all the beautiful scenery. I love showing people around when they come to visit.
b. 生在家乡，长在他乡
Example：
I was born in my hometown. However, I moved to another city when I was pretty young, maybe 4 or 5 years old. I didn’t really know much about my hometown until my parents started talking to me about it. They told me about a lot of interesting places and tasty food which really triggered my curiosity.
I searched for more information online and read several books about it. I even asked my parents to take me back to pay a visit. I finally went when I graduated from high school. Thanks to the trip, I have a much better understanding and appreciation of my hometown.
c. 生在他乡，长在家乡
Example：
Even though I wasn’t born in my hometown, I heard about it from my parents when I was young. They were always telling me about their city. They would share fond memories and memorable events they had while they were living there.
When I was 12 years old, my family decided to move back to my hometown. Finally, I got the chance to explore the city for myself. I fell in love with it the second I arrived and it was exactly as may parents had described it.
d. 生在他乡，长在他乡
Example：
I was born in a different city to my family but they would always talk about their hometown when i was young. They told me about the people, the places and the culture and they said it was one of the most historical cities in China.
As I got older I became more curious about the place and convinced my parent to take me for a visit. It was so fascinating seeing where my family grew up. We now go back every year without fail.
一个城市因为什么而有名，我们可以从“City”的角度中进行挑选，但千万不要和最后一问的观点相撞。若最后一问你阐述它有意思的点在于“节奏慢”，那这一问就要避免“生活节奏”这个维度。
以下是我为大家挑选的几个参考角度：
① Food 食物
“食物”包括：Type/ Flavor/ Ingredients/ Texture/ The way of Cooking/ Portion。 从以上细分角度来看，我们可以进一步说明其食物的有名之处。比如：四川以辣而闻名；舟山以海鲜而闻名；湘西以蒸菜而闻名；东北以大分量而闻名。
Example one：
It is the home of chili, so it is famous for its spicy food and millions of visitors travel there to try it out. The most famous dish is spicy hot pot which tastes incredible.
Example two：
It is known for its large portion sizes 大分量. Every restaurant sells huge plates and bowls of food. The local people say it is how they like to show their hospitality.
Example three：
Zhoushan is known for its fresh seafood. They have the best selection of fish and seafood in the country and you can always guarantee it is fresh. The restaurants serve some of the most delicious seafood platters you will ever find.
Example Four：
It has a reputation for its tasty steamed food. There are over 100 steamed dishes that can satisfy your taste buds. Even though they are all steamed, they all have their own unique flavor.
② facility 娱乐设施
娱乐设施是发展旅游业的关键之一。为此，一个娱乐生活丰富多样的城市一定也是有名的。
Example ：Honolulu
Honolulu is known as one of the best places to go if you like adventure holidays. It has an abundance of things to see and do and it is a perfect place for active explorers.
There are endless outdoor excursions to try, like hiking in the lush Waimea Valley or trekking to the Manoa Falls and, of course, you can try surfing, swimming, diving or just discover all the beautiful beaches.
③ Education 教育
教育会让一个城市有名的原因有这么两个：1. 有名的大学；2. 丰富的教育资源。比如：北京以北大、清华而闻名；杭州以浙大而闻名；上海以复旦、同济而闻名。这些大城市同时也以优良的教育资源吸引到众多学生去求学。
Example one：Hangzhou
It's home to Zhejiang university, a very prestigious university in my country which is ranked NO.4. It has cultivated a great number of talented people who have gone on to make important contributions to our country. Because of this, there is always a demand for places at the university.
Example two：Shanghai
Shanghai is known as one of the best places to study in China. There are an abundance of top notch schools and universities and they attract highly qualified and experienced teachers.
④ Transport 交通
交通可以让一个城市有名的原因在于“便利 & 多样性”，比如：上海、北京等。这些大城市的交通发展的非常完善，基本可以做到四通八达。
Example：Shanghai
Shanghai is well-known for its highly-developed transport system. There are nearly 20 subway lines which can take you to every corner of the city. You can travel from one side to the other in less than an hour. Shanghai also has the very first magnetic train. It is a special class of high-speed trains.
⑤ Climate 气候
环境破坏的前提下，多数城市都出现气候混乱的现象。为此，一个城市想要因气候而闻名，它要么就是四季如春，要么就是四季分明。
Example one：Sanya
Sanya is well-known for its hot weather. As it is close to the equator, it is scorching all year round. Because of this, it has become a top holiday destination. People flood to the city every year to escape the winter.
Example three：Dalian
Dalian is popular because it has four distinguished seasons. Each season brings its own beauty and there are many different activities you can do throughout the year.
⑥ Regulations & Social welfare 规章制度 & 社会福利
这一块是放在“Politics”里的，但的确也可以让一个城市变得有名。比如：杭州的“车让人”就让其他城市的人感受到这个城市的高度文明；澳门则在社会福利上领先其他城市很多。澳门政府基本上每年都会分红，澳门永久性居民将收到9000元/人，澳门非久性居民将收到5400元/人。如果是本地居民，还可以享受到医疗和教育上的各种优惠，综合起来远不止9000元。
Example one：Hangzhou
Hangzhou is recognized as one of the most organized cities in my country due to the strict regulations they enforce. In Hangzhou, drivers have to give way to pedestrians 车让人 when there are no traffic lights. Anyone who breaks the rule will be fined heavily. Because of this, tourists like the city as they can walk around with ease.
Example two：Shanghai
Shanghai is known as one of the first cities to introduce and implement a successful recycling initiative. Everyone in the city has to classify their rubbish into plastic, paper and glass. The efforts have paid off as the city is far cleaner and greener than ever before.
Example three：Macau
Macau is well-known for its social welfare. Annually, residents receive around 9000 yuan from the government. Even if you are not a permanent resident, you get 5400 yuan. There are also many health and education benefits. People say that Macau is a very economical place to live in.
⑦ Residents 居民
我们可以把“人”分成“名人”和“普通人”。我们在最后一问中提到一个城市的美是“广泛的普通人”创造出来的。在这个问题中，我们则可以从“个别的名人”着手去阐述。比如：杭州在一定程度上也是因为马云。
Example one：Hangzhou
Hangzhou is home to Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba. He was born and raised there and even set up his company in the city. He has made a great contribution to our nation. Thanks to him, to some extent, Hangzhou is much more popular than before.
Example two：Shaoxin
It is home to a famous writer, called Luxun. He was a well-known author in my country and wrote some amazing literature. Even though he passed away a few decades ago, he is still a huge influence nowadays. During the holidays, the city is packed out and people flock to visit his former residence, so they can find out more about his life.
⑧ Events 重大活动
针对于活动，它可以是已经举办过的，也可以是定期会举办过的。一个城市可以因为活动而变得有名的原因也是因为活动是扩大影响力的方式。比如：青岛啤酒节、哈尔滨冰雕节、杭州亚运会、北京奥运会等。
Example one：Hangzhou
Hangzhou is famous for the G20 and the Asian Olympic Games. These two international events attract thousands of people from all around the world and put Hangzhou on the map.
Example two：Qingdao
Qingdao is famous for its International Beer Festival. It started in 1991 and every August, it is held next to the sea. You can try out many different types of beer while eating some of the most delicious seafood in the country. The festival attracts millions of people every year.
有了这些内容以后，我们可以开始按主次或时间线进行答题。
① 按主次拆分
主要以什么而闻名，次要以什么而闻名。
Example one：Hangzhou=Environment+Education
Hangzhou is famed for its beautiful scenery. It has an abundance of beautiful lakes, surrounded by beautiful willow trees. Every weekend people flock to the lakes to enjoy the natural environment and fresh air. It's also home to Zhejiang university, a very prestigious university in my country which is ranked NO.4.
It has cultivated a great number of talented people who have gone on to make important contributions to our country. Because of this, there is always a demand for places at the university.
Example two：Shanghai=Leisure facility+Transport
Shanghai is known as the city that never sleeps. There are so many activities for you to try and you will never get bored. There are museums, art galleries, pubs and clubs just to name a few. Shanghai is also well-known for its highly-developed transport system.
There are nearly 20 subway lines which can take you to every corner of the city. You can travel from one side to the other in less than an hour. Shanghai also has the very first magnetic train. It is a special class of high-speed trains.
Example three：Qingdao=Events+Climate
Qingdao is famous for its International Beer Festival. It started in 1991 and every August, it is held next to the sea. You can try out many different types of beer while eating some of the most delicious seafood in the country.
The festival attracts millions of people every year. It is also popular because it has four distinguished seasons. Each season brings its own beauty and there are many different activities you can do throughout the year.
Example four：Beijing=Environment+Transport
It is famous for its cleanness. The streets are spotless and you never see people dropping their rubbish. It also has a highly developed transport system which runs like a well-oiled machine and makes it popular. The trains are never cramped and they are always on time.
② 按时间线拆分
以前以什么而闻名，现在以什么而闻名 。
Example one：Hangzhou=Tourist attraction-Culture
Hangzhou used to be famous for West Lake. People came to the city to appreciate its beauty. But now it is much more popular for its Wanghong culture. Many celebrities have set up businesses there and have settled down in the city.
Example two:Zhoushan=Food/ Culture-Environment
Zhoushan used to be famous for its seafood and Buddhist culture. People flocked to the city to taste the most delicious fish and worship the Buddha. Nowadays it is more famous for its clean air, it is one of the most unpolluted cities in China. For all these reasons, it is a great place to go on holiday.
Why you think it is interesting
关于一个城市有趣的点，我们可以从“City”相对应的角度着手。任何一个角度都可以让一个城市变得有趣，只是你要找好它的对立面。
① Transport 交通
从交通着手，这个城市有趣是因为它还保留着大量传统的交通工具，这就和现代化的交通工具产生了对立，因此很有趣；或者这个城市有趣是因为交通密布，可以做公共交通到达城市的每个角落，这样也就和大多数城市交通不发达形成对立，因此很有趣。
Example one：
It’s an interesting part of the country because it is still very traditional. It hasn't transformed into a modern city like many other places in China. It is still very charming and for me, the most appealing part of the place is its old fashioned transport system.
They don't have fast speed trains or Didi taxi's everywhere. If you want to get around the city, you have to use a bike, a horse, or tram.
Example two：
It’s an interesting part of China, as the transport system runs like a well-oiled 平滑的 machine. Unlike other cities that I have been to before which don’t have a highly developed system, it is very impressive and convenient. There are over 20 subway lines and it is easy to get from one end of the city to the other in a very short time. Residents prefer using public transport to private cars.
② Climate 气候
从气候着手，这个城市的有趣是因为它四季如春或者8月飞雪，这就和大多数城市的气候产生对立，因此有趣。
Example ：
Yunnan is an interesting part of China, because it's like spring all the year round. No matter if it is summer or winter, the temperature is always around 20 degrees. Because of this, the city is called “Spring city”. Flowers bloom throughout the year and trees are always green. It is such a pretty city.
③ Residents 居民
从人着手，这个城市的人追求潮流，就连老人出门都打扮精致，这和大多数城市里的人形成对立，因此有趣；这个城市的人非常开明，能接受各种差异性，这和大多数城市里人形成对立；这个城市的人之间相处融洽，彼此间像家人一般对待，这和大多数城市间人与人的冷漠形成对比，因此有趣；这个城市的人很有经商头脑，这也和大多数城市的人形成对比，因此有趣。
Example one：
The people are really fashionable and look sophisticated 精致的. They always get dressed up and never look scruffy 不整齐的. I clearly remember when I travelled there, I saw so many old ladies looking glamorous, wearing high heels, and bright lipstick. I asked one of them why they dressed up so much and she said that is just who we are.
Example two：
It is an interesting part of China as crime is practically unheard of. Everybody knows everybody and they always look out for 照顾 each other. The minute you arrive you get a real sense of community which is difficult to find nowadays. When I visited I stayed with a wonderful family who treated me like one of their own. We still keep in touch now.
Example three：
Wenzhou is an interesting part of China as it seems that most of the local people have great business sense. There are so many entrepreneurs from that part of the country who have set up successful businesses both here and abroad.
The businesses range from leather shoes to buttons to tires. I think if I wanted to start a business I would visit there more often to get some ideas and advice.
④ Architecture 建筑
从建筑着手，这个城市的建筑富有特有的风格。像中国东北有很多早期被殖民过的城市，它们的建筑风格受到了其他文化的影响因此和其他城市很不一样。
Example：
Harbin is an interesting part of China because it has an abundance of different architecture. Unlike other cities where the architecture tends to be similar, it has its own style. It was colonized 殖民 by many countries in the past, so the buildings have many influences, such as Russian and European, and Japanese.
There is a wonderful mish-mash of 大杂烩 colors, styles and decorations. Many people come from all over the country to see the architecture and it has been featured in many magazines.
⑤ Leisure facility 休闲设施
从休闲设施着手，这个城市有着丰富的娱乐活动让你玩不尽。这样的城市也和大多数城市产生对立，因此很有趣。或者这个城市也可以没有任何的娱乐生活，为此你可以回归最淳朴的生活模式，这也可以使人觉得有趣。
Example one：
London is an interesting part of the country because it is a city which never sleeps 不夜城. There is always something to do. If you spent a month there, you could do 3 activities a day and still only have scratched the surface 蜻蜓点水. There are many sights to see in London, for example Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge.
There are also numerous museums like The Tate , The National Gallery and The Natural History Museum. You also have traditional activities you can take part in like having high tea and eating fish and chips.
PS: 案例虽以伦敦为例，但它代表着所有的大都市，比如杭州，上海，北京，广州、纽约、曼哈顿、东京等。
Example two：
Xiazhi island is a very interesting place in my country because it is very laid back and peaceful. They don't have any modern activities. Instead, tourists get to enjoy a more simple time, watching the sun go down and fishing on the lake.
They don't really have a stable internet service either so people do not get glued to their phone. It really is a great place to go if you want to switch off and escape the fast life.
⑥ Living cost 生活成本
从生活成本着手，这个城市的低消费会和其他城市的高消费形成鲜明的对比，因此很有趣。很多年前出差去了一趟菲律宾，在那边呆了2个星期，每天都住着最豪华的别墅，吃着最贵的食物，但最后总共就花了2000多块钱。
Example：
Guilin is an interesting city as everything is so cheap. Unlike other big cities, such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou where the cost of living is through the roof 价格高, this place is affordable. It is the only place I know where you can have a good quality of life without breaking the bank 贵. You can eat out on a regular basis for less than 50 yuan and it is probably some of the best food you will try in China.
⑦ Pace of life 生活步调
从生活步调着手，这个城市的慢生活步调可以和其他大城市的快生活节奏形成对比，因此很有趣。
Example：
Zhoushan is an interesting part of China where people can enjoy a very slow pace of life. Unlike big cities where people are rushed off their feet 匆忙的, life here is laid back 悠闲的. In the city, you can slow down and enjoy life. Because of this, it is an ideal place for people to go on holiday.
⑧ Education 教育
从教育着手，这个城市有着丰富的教育资源也是一件非常有趣的事情。比如：菲律宾的碧瑶是一个非常小的城市。巴掌大的地方却有着21所综合类的大学专门培养英语类人才，所以每隔一条街你就能看到一所大学。除此之外，这个城市也成为亚洲人学英语的胜地。每年寒暑假，你会看到一大堆的韩国人、中国人去到碧瑶学习英语。
Example：
Baguio is an interesting city in the Philippines because it has an abundance of education institutes, far more than anywhere else in the country. Even though it is a small city, it has over 20 universities.
Most of the universities are well known for developing English as many people become teachers or work in call centers. They also attract students from all over Asia.
⑨ Language 语言
从语言着手，这个城市有着多语言体系也可以是很有意思的一件事情。比如：中国北部城市靠近韩国或者俄罗斯，所以他们多数人都会说两门语言。
Example：
Yanbian is an interesting part of China as most people are bilingual 双语的. As it is very close to Korea, the city is greatly influenced by Korean culture. People there can not only speak Chinese but also Korean. Sometimes, it’s even hard to tell if they are Korean or Chinese.
⑩ Economy 经济
从经济着手，这个城市科技产业发展的兴盛也会使这个城市变得很有趣。比如：深圳，它也被誉为“中国硅谷”。这个城市里大大小小的科技公司数不胜数，这些科技公司也使人们的生活变得十分便利。
Example：
Shenzhen is an interesting part of China as it is known as "China's Silicon Valley” 中国硅谷. There are a vast amount of tech companies, including Tencent and WeChat. Thanks to these companies, Shenzhen was put on the map. It is also one of the few cities in China which is mostly cash-free 无现金化的. People pay for everything using their mobile phone. It makes life a lot easier as long as you don't lose your phone.
看完以上四问的解析，你知道该怎么组织你自己的故事了么？
参考答案：【有趣的地方】
• Where it is
An interesting place in my country would have to be Guangzhou, a great cultural metropolis located in the southeast of China. It is about a 2-hour drive from Hong Kong and Macao. Guangzhou is very popular among young people as it is a city that never sleeps.
• How you know about the place
Actually, Guangzhou is my hometown and I was born and raised there. However, I didn't really appreciate its charm until I left for university and lived in another province. I was so keen to move away but soon realized the grass is not always greener on the other side. When I moved back I appreciated everything about it.
• What it is famous for
It is famous for many things but I think food and drink make it very popular. Most of the restaurants prepare and serve Cantonese food which is out of this world. They have so many delicious dishes to choose from. Morning tea is also a huge ritual in the city. Everyone starts their day with a cup of green tea and Dim sum. It is also well known for the climate. It never gets cold so you can wear light clothes all year round.
• Why you think it is interesting
P—There are many reasons why this city is interesting but for me, the most interesting thing in Guangzhou is its Cantonese culture.
E—Many dialects in China are dying out but Cantonese is still very popular and is used on a regular basis. Many students come from other parts of China just to learn it.
E—There are some people who don't know the language very well but have become fascinated by the culture. They watch soap operas and listen to songs. Having such a big Cantonese influence really makes Guangzhou stand out from other cities and for me makes it one of the most interesting places in the country. |
