太姥山风景名胜区

三、太姥山风景名胜区

太姥山是一个国家级地质公园。一亿多年前的燕山晚期，由于地下岩浆上升侵入，一座以肉红色钾长花岗岩为主体的峰林隆出海面;此后，经过若干次的地壳运动的剧烈震荡，分别在东西、南北与近水平方向形成三组互相垂直的向节理发育，造就了峭壁、嶂谷、岩洞等山体格局;再后来，花岗岩表面又经千百万年的风化剥蚀，流水冲刷，慢慢地形成今天的奇峰、怪石，还有幽深的洞穴。

1.母子峰

太姥山一直以来都被奉为海上仙山。根据太姥山志记载，太姥山原名才山。有一妇人在山中种植草药，为人乐善好施。有一年，村里的很多孩子得了麻疹，妇人用她的草药救活了很多病孩。她死后，人们深信她已羽化登仙，尊她为太母，每年两祭，后又将才山改名为太母山。汉武帝时，命大臣东方朔授封天下名山，太母山被册封为天下三十六名山之首，并改名为太姥山。

不管怎么个说法，在东南沿海一带的老渔民心目中，太姥娘娘就是他们的保护神，每逢狂风巨浪袭来，或生活上遭遇苦痛，海上的船员都会面朝太姥山顶礼膜拜。

古人有诗赞曰:“太姥无俗石，个个皆神工。随人意所识，万象在胸中。”古往今来，中国人根据想象给这些石头一一命名。请大家看前面这座山峰，它就是著名的“母子峰”，是太姥山的标志性景观，太姥山的母爱内涵，在这里展露无遗。

楞伽宝塔

这座八角宝塔始建于唐朝，称为“楞伽宝塔”。这座塔在清朝期间倒塌。1984年从山坡下拾得遗石，修复成原状。楞伽宝塔选址非常讲究，在太姥山各处都能望见这座宝塔。

各位团友，大家往这边看，是否感觉这组山峰有点像云南的路南石林?这就是“十八罗汉”，大家不妨想象一下，十多位光头和尚疾走如飞，跨山越海，衣袂飘然。

国兴寺

各位团友，这是国兴寺。唐玄宗时，福建都督辛子言入闽赴任，船经东海，突遇风浪，幸得太姥山神示梦而获救，大为感激，绘图呈奏皇上。唐明皇李隆基敕建国兴寺。寺院建成于877年，规模宏大，有360根石柱，柱础栏盾遍镂人物、鸟兽、花卉。遗憾的是，该寺在建成四百年后，于1244年被大火烧毁。此后几百年中，尚存的石柱被后人用来盖屋、铺路，甚至用来搭桥过溪，目前仅有7根矗立寺前。国兴寺遗址目前正在进行挖掘整理，期待重现该寺曾经的辉煌。

这座曾经气势恢宏的的古刹，怎么就毁于一炬，化为废墟了呢?这还有个故事。传说宋朝时，福鼎有两个书生同科考中，杨国显中了状元，王以刚中了探花。皇帝把状元杨国显招为驸马，王以刚从此悒悒不乐，心怀怨恨，请奏出家当和尚。不久，偷奸耍滑的王以刚便把原来的主持赶走，自已做了和尚头。他以化缘为名，到处搜刮钱财，附近村庄还传说许多上山进香的妇女离奇失踪。这年杨国显受钦命为十三省巡按，出帝京视察民情。他回到太姥山下的故乡，乡亲们纷纷控告国兴寺住持为非作歹。于是杨国显到国兴寺中暗察。他在大殿内转来去，终于发现了壁上的一句偈言:“谁人打我鲤鱼钟，十条性命十条空。”杀气腾腾，不像出家人所为。杨国显想，我偏要打，看他如何。就在这时，地板被顶了起来，露出一个地洞口，一群妇女从地洞爬了出来，原来鲤鱼钟是她们开饭的信号。王以刚把这些妇女藏在不远处的一个葫芦洞里，这葫芦洞和国兴寺有地道相连。真相大白，杨国显带领官兵杀进国兴寺，一把火烧毁了葫芦洞和国兴寺。

各位团友，这座山峰叫迎仙峰，太姥山是海上仙山，这迎仙台自然是为众仙所设，他们常在这里喝茶聚会。好，大家往这边看，是不是有两个老神仙在那岩头上下棋呢?这便是“仙翁对弈”。现在往前走去看“金猫扑鼠”。前面这根笔直的山峰，顶部有两块岩石，像一只威猛的猫儿扑向吱吱哀鸣的老鼠。看罢“金猫扑鼠”，我们一同往左侧望去，这座山峰如顶盔掼甲的一员大将，叫“将军岩”。大家再看这块巨大的石屏，人称“仙人锯板”，传说是仙人在山中修建寺庙时留下的几块板材。

The Scenic Area of Taimu Mountain

Taimu Mountain is a national geological park.About100 million years ago in late Yanshanian age，granite peaks emerged fromthe sea due to magma intrusion fromunder the ground.After some dramatic tectonic movements，three mutually perpendicular joints that ran east and west，north and south and horizontally were developed，resulting in sheer peaks，valleys and caves，which，after millions of years of erosion and weathering，came to look the way they do today，with deep caves and grotesquely shaped stones and peaks.

1.Muzi Peak(Mother＆Son Peak)

Taimu Mountain has long been known as a fairy land on the sea.According to local historical chronicle，the place was once called Cai Mountain.It is said that a woman used to plant herbs in the mountain.She had a heart of gold and was happy to give alms to people.One year，many children in the village came down with measles and she cured themwith her herbs.After she died，people believed that she had ascended to heaven and become an immortal.People revered her as Taimu Niangniang，meaning Grand Godmother and worshiped her twice every year.Later CaiMountain was renamed after her as Taimu Mountain.In the Han dynasty，2nd century BC，when Dong Fangshuo was entrusted to canonize the famousmountains in China，Taimu Mountain was officially designated as Top One in the thirty－six sacred mountains.

No matter what different legends there are，to the fishermen at the southeast coast of China，Taimu Niangniang is their protective mother.In the case of rough sea or misfortune，people will face towards the Taimu Mountain and pray to her.

Ancient Chinese said，“No rocks in Taimu are common;they are the work of gods.They change with one’s imagination.”Over the millennia，the endlessly imaginative Chinese have named all these rocks.This peak is the landmark of Taimu Mountain——Muzi Feng，or Mother and Son Peak.It’s like the natural embodiment of a mother’s love.

Lengqie Pagoda

This is Lengqie Pagoda.It is an octagonal pagoda first built in the Tang Dynasty，which was more than 1100 years ago.The pagoda collapsed in the Qing Dynasty about three hundred years ago.In 1984，people retrieved the remaining rocks from the pagoda at the mountain slope and restored the pagoda.Lengqie Pagoda is so well located that it can be seen from any part of the mountain.

Ladies and gentlemen，please look this way.If you have been to Yunnan，do you find these peaks very much like the Stone Forest?Well，we call them Shiba Luohan，or the Eighteen Arhats.Just imagine more than a dozen bald Buddhist monks scurrying forward，over the mountain and across the sea，with their robes flapping in the wind.

Guoxing Temple

This is Guoxing Temple.In the 9th century during the Tang Dynasty，the governor of Fujian was caught in a storm when he was on his way to his post.Taimu Niangniang appeared in his dream and gave him tips to ride out the storm.He then did a landscape painting of Taimu Mountain and presented it to the emperor，together with an account of how he was miraculously saved.The emperor decided to build a temple there.That was the Guoxing Temple.The construction was finished in 877 and the temple once sprawled across the landscape，with 360 stone posts exquisitely carved with flowers，legendary figures，and auspicious animals，but sadly，the temple burned down four hundred years later，in 1244.Over the centuries the stone posts were scavenged to build walls，sidewalks——even the small bridge over the creek.Now，only seven of the 360 posts are left standing.Now archaeologists are excavating the ruins with the hope of restoring the temple to its original splendor.

There is a legend telling of the fire that burned down this once magnificent temple.Around one thousand years ago in the Song Dynasty，two scholars in Fuding came in first and third in an imperial examination.One was Wang Yigang，the other was Yang Guoxian.The emperor married his daughter to Yang Guoxian.Wang Yigang was so consumed with jealousy and resentment that he quit his job and became a monk in Guoxing Temple.Soon he went rogue.He drove off the Abbot and took over the temple himself.He looted nearby villages in the name of begging for alms and there were frequent reports of missing female pilgrims.One year，Yang Guoxian was appointed to be an imperial inspector in charge of 13 provinces.When he came to his hometown he received a lot of complaints about Wang Yigang and he decided to investigate.He carefully examined the temple and saw a notice on a wall that read“Those who strike this fish bellwill bemore than dead!”This murderous tone was so un－Buddhist－like that Yang Guoxian decided to defy this warning and struck the bell.To his surprise，a trap door in the floor opened and a band of women crawled out fromthe burrow under it.The bell turned out to be the signal for their meal time.Wang Yigang had hidden these women in a nearby cave called Hulu Dong，which was connected with Guoxing Temple by a tunnel.The evil secrets were thus revealed.Yang Guoxian brought troops to attack the temple and the temple was burned down through the battle.

Ladies and gentlemen，this peak is called Reception Peak.Taimu Mountain is a fairy land and Immortals like to have tea parties here.No wonder there’s even a reception!Please look this way at this peak.Do you see two of the immortals playing chess on top of the peak?This is called“Immortals over a Chess Game”.Let’s walk a little further to see“Golden Catafter a Mouse”.On top of this column－like peak are two rocks that look like a fierce cat pouncing on a frightened squeaking mouse.Please look to your left.There is an imposing peak looking like a general in full armor，hence the name“Jiangjun Yan”，or The General Rock.Do you see that huge screen of a stone?Local people call them“Celestial Planks”.Story has it that the planks were left behind after the immortals finished the construction of a temple in the mountains..

Vocabulary:

granite　　　n.花岗岩

magma　　　n.岩浆

intrusion　　　n.侵入

perpendicular　　　adj.垂直的

sheer　　　adj.峻峭的

grotesquely　　　adv.奇异地

erosion　　　n.侵蚀

weathering　　　n.风化作用

chronicle　　　n.编年史

measle　　　n.麻疹

herb　　　n.药草

millennia　　　n.千年期(millennium的复数);

canonize　　　vt.推崇;将…封为圣徒

designate　　　vt.指定;指派;

sacred　　　adj.神圣的

retrieve　　　vt.取回

scurry　　　vi.急赶

octagonal adj.八角形的

2.葫芦洞

太姥山大小洞穴一百多处，全部走完要28天。洞内曲径通幽，流水潺潺。不少洞穴相互连接，上可通天，下可入海。

请大家随我进入葫芦洞。葫芦洞与国兴寺之间有一条地道相连，当年无恶不作的和尚王以刚，就是将掳掠来的良家妇女关在这里。洞内曾经建有葫芦阁，现已荡然无存，不过还能找到一些残碎的唐砖宋瓦。

今天早上我们大部分时间要在将军洞探幽。将军洞由十多个洞组成，是一个洞群，洞洞相连，如同地下城市。将军洞洞道约一公里，洞内有天井，有厅堂，甚至葱葱茏茏长着各种花木。这个将军洞一进一出需要两个多小时，有时还要用上各种姿势，或蹲，或爬，或侧，或蹑，人们笑称:“太姥健身操”。

走出将军洞，往左侧方向走去，便到达隐真峰。隐真峰是观海的绝好位置。大家站在这里，前方就是茫茫海域，脚下是忙碌的秦屿镇。

这座高耸入云的山峰叫天柱峰，意思是这座山峰是跟柱子，支撑于天地之间，你看名副其实吧!

2.Hulu Cave——Jiangjun Cave(Generals Cave)

The Taimu Mountains have over 100 caves and will take 28 days to visit all of them.There are winding paths and gurgling streams in the caves.Many of them are connected.Some will lead you to a mountain top，while some will take you to the sea.

This is the Hulu Dong，which was connected with Guoxing Temple by a tunnel.This is the place where the evil monk，Wang Yigang，kept his kidnapped women.There used to be some buildings in the cave.If you look carefully，you can still find some shards of Tang and Song Dynasty tiles.

We are going to spend most of the morning exploring Jiangjun Dong，or Generals Cave.It is a group ofmore than a dozen caves that are connected with each other.It’s like exploring an underground city.The path is about one kilometer long.There are natural skylights and halls.You can even see trees and bushes thriving in the caves.It takes two hours to explore the caves，and you have to use different postures like squatting，crawling，tiptoeing or walking sideways to get through.People playfully call it the Taimu Contortionist Exercises.

Now we are out of Jiangjun Dong.Please turn left.This is Yinzhen Peak.Yinzhen Peak is a perfect place to command a view of the sea.Look forward，you’ll see the boundless ocean，and look down，you’ll see a vibrant town.

This towering monolith is called Tianzhu Feng，meaning a column that supports the sky.It definitely has earned the name itself!

Vocabulary:

gurgle　　　v.作汩汩声

shard　　　n.陶瓷碎片

skylight　　　n.天窗

vibrant　　　adj.充满生气的

monolith　　　n.柱状山

3.一线天

各位团友，今天我们准备要从狭窄的“一线天”中挤过去。在中国，但凡名山都有“一线天”景点，狭长的石罅之间泻进一线阳光。大家肯定也游览过武夷山的“一线天”。不过太姥山的一线天绝对是与众不同的，长达60多米，高40多米，据说体重超过240磅的都无法通过，不过，到目前为止所有游客都是顺利通过。有些路段相当有挑战性，行人必须时仰时俯，再做一套太姥健身操才能通过。好，现在大家到夹缝中求生存吧。

各位，我们已到达一片瓦寺，大家在这里喝点福鼎名茶——白茶吧。白茶多产于福建省，是一种轻度发酵的茶，茶叶先在太阳下萎凋后再行简单加工，以阻止茶叶进一步氧化发酵，因成品茶多为芽头，满披白毫，如银似雪而得名。茶汤本身呈淡黄色，并非白色或无色。

白茶最早仅做药用，关于白茶的功效，有一个广为流传的故事。村中许多孩子感染麻疹，太姥山上有一种茶老母教村民用茶叶治好了孩子的病。这位好心的妇人死后即羽化登仙，乡人十分感激，尊她为太姥娘娘。现在鸿雪洞顶还有一株老岩茶——绿雪芽，相传这株茶树为太姥娘娘所栽，是福鼎白茶的始祖。此说有几分真实我也无从考证，但这确实是一株老树。这株老茶树文化大革命期间曾被人砍倒，现在又枝叶横逸，茂密旺盛。1992年，为纪念中国茶叶出口日本800周年，日本人来到太姥山，接梯搭架，拍下这株名茶的录像。

白茶中最有名的是白毫银针和白牡丹，都产于福鼎。白毫银针只用芽尖，白牡丹是一芽一叶或一芽两叶，两者茶味皆清香醇厚。白茶具有清热去火的功效，颇受人们喜爱。福鼎的银针是中国十大名茶中唯一的白茶品种。

这便是太姥山著名的七星洞。七星洞长约40多米，平均宽度为95米，与其说是洞，不如说是一条行弄，石弄顶上镶嵌着七块摇摇欲坠的圆石。站在洞口往里头看，这些石块反射了太阳光，似乎像星星一样闪烁发亮。七星洞周围有不少景点，如“二佛谈经”和“九鲤朝天”。

太姥山有着“山海大观”的美誉，你们看面前这组山峰，背后便是蔚蓝深碧的大海。如果大家能继续向上攀登，直到摩霄顶峰，站在那里，东望茫茫汪洋，西眺绵绵苍山，一派奇景尽在眼前。

各位团友，我们已经来到秦屿古镇。秦屿原是四面环海的岛屿，20世纪70年代经过围海造田，现已变成田畴万亩、面海背山的大集镇。萨公堤是观潮的最佳地点。

这里是牛郎岗沙滩，长120米，宽400多米，岸边的礁石形成了天然更衣室，是优良的海滨浴场。祝大家玩得愉快。

3.Yixiantian(AThread of Sky)

Nowwe are going to squirmour way through the tight“Thread of Sky”，or“Yixiantian”in Chinese.Every decent Chinese mountain resort claims one of these narrow cracks，from which tourists can viewa ribbon of sky far above.I believe you＇ve been to the one in Wuyi Mountain，but what we have here is different.It is 40 meters high and 60 meters long.It is said that no one over 240 pounds can fit through this crack，but so far no one has gotten stuck.In some parts it can be rather tricky;you have to bent and twist your way through，doing Taimu Contortionist Exercises one more time.Welcome to this narrowescape!

Let’s enjoy some white Tea here at Yipianwa，A－piece－of－tile Temple.Fuding is well－known for its white tea.White tea is a lightly oxidized tea grown mostly in Fujian province.The tea leaves and buds are allowed to wither in sunlight before they are lightly processed to prevent oxidation or further tea processing.The name“white tea”derives from the fine silvery－white parts on the unopened buds of the tea plant，which gives the plant a whitish appearance.The beverage itself is not white or colorless but a pale yellow.

Originally，the tea was used as amedicine.There is a famous story about the health benefits of tea in Ningde:Some local children in a village got sick with measles.Then an old woman fromTaimu Mountains of Fuding taught the villagers to use tea leaves as a medicine to cure their children.This kind－hearted woman became a goddess when she died.The locals were very grateful to this woman and called her Goddess Taimu，or Taimu Niangniang.People believed that the first tea bush that Taimu Niangniang planted is the one on top of Hongxue Cave.I＇m not sure if that is true，but it is a very old bush indeed.It was cut down during the Cultural Revolution.Fortunately，new leaves and branches sprouted from the stump and now the bush is still flourishing.In 1992，some Japanese TVcrewbuilt scaffolds and filmed this precious bush to commemorate the 800th anniversary of China’s tea export to Japan.

The most famous white teas are Silver Needle and White Peony，both of which are from Fuding.Silver Needle is made out of buds only;White Peony is made out of one bud with one or two leaves.Both of them have a fresh and mellow taste.People like to drink white tea because this tea can cool the body down.Besides，Fuding Silver Needle is the only white tea on the list of China’s Ten Famous Teas.

This is Qixing Cave，or Seven－stars Cave.It is40 meters long and about95 centimeters wide，so it’s more like an alley than a cave.Seven boulders precariously perched on top of the crevice.They reflect sunlight and sparkle like stars if you look at them from the dark of the crevice.There are some interesting rocks to look at near Qixing Cave.Some are like monks discussing Buddhist doctrines，and some are like carps looking up at the sky.

Ladies and gentlemen，Taimu Mountain is known as a fairy mountain on the sea.Right behind these peaks is the deep blue sea.If you can continue to climb up the mountain until you get to the top of Moxiao Peak，you will see the fantastic sight of the vast expanse of sea on the east and rolling mountains on the west.

Ladies and gentlemen，we are now at the ancient town of Qinyu.Qinyu used to be an island surrounded by the sea.After land reclamation in the 1970s，Qinyu gained a large stretch of farmland and became a big town with the sea in front and the mountains at the back.Shagong Pier is the best site to watch the tides.

This is Niulanggang Beach.It is 120 meters long and 400 meters wide with many natural change rooms formed by the rocks on the beach.This is a nice bathing beach.I hope you’ll have a good time here.

Vocabulary:

squirm　　　vi.蠕动，扭动

contortionist　　　n.柔术演员

oxidize　　　vt.使氧化

stump　　　n.树桩

commemorate　　　vt.庆祝

scaffold　　　n.脚手架

precariously adv.不牢靠地

4.福瑶列岛

各位团友，我们今天准备游览福瑶列岛。老实说，我都有点妒忌福鼎人了。老天爷偏爱福鼎，给了这绝美的山景，又给了秀丽的小岛。

福瑶列岛由十一个岛屿组成。我们现在要坐轮渡前往大嵛山岛，在十一个岛屿中它面积最大，有21平方公里，人口五千多。大嵛山岛曾入选《中国国家地理》杂志评选的中国最美的十个海岛。大嵛山岛的神奇之处在于，岛上一棵树也没有，铺天盖地的是没膝的牧草。从山顶往下看，整个岛屿就是草的海洋。在中国南方，大片草地已属罕见，更不用说在这浩瀚大海中的南国海岛了。岛上有两个淡水湖，人称“天湖”，因为两个湖泊都位于海拔两百米以上的山峦之间。两个天湖为往来船只提供了珍贵的淡水补给。大嵛山岛的淡水储量达160万立方米，仅次于我国最大淡水岛——台湾。许多人喜欢在湖边露营。天湖之上，雾气氤氲。有时，云雾笼罩整个山谷，千山万壑都隐藏在朦朦胧胧的雾霭之中。有时云雾停留在山谷下面，汇成一片白茫茫的海洋，与东海融为一体。这时你站在山峰之上，有如置身于海中蓬莱，人间仙境。另一个不容错过的景点是大使沙洲。沙滩坡度和缓，海浪退得也慢，在沙滩上留下各种奇妙的图案。

各位团友，大嵛山岛马上就快到了。四十分钟的轮渡时间可不短，对于晕船的朋友来说更是如此，但相信大家会不虚此行。请拿好随身行李，准备上岸。

4.Fuyao Archipelago

Ladies and gentlemen，we are going to visit Fuyao Archipelago today.I have to admit that I’mrather jealous of people in Fuding.Fuding has such spectacular mountains，and as if that is not blessing enough，it is endowed with gorgeous islets as well.

The ferry will take us to Dayushan Islet，the biggest of the 11 islets of Fuyao Archipelago.The Islet covers 21 square kilometers with a population of more than five thousand.It is acclaimed as one of the ten most beautiful islands in China by Chinese National Geography.One amazing thing about this islet is that there is not a single tree on it.The whole islet is covered with meadow grass knee high!If seen from the top of the hill，the islet is like an ocean of grass!A large expanse of pasture is already a rare scene in south China，let alone a pasture in the middle of the deep blue sea.There are two fresh water lakes on the islet.People call them“sky lakes”because they are embedded among the peaks，more than 200 meters above sea level.They are precious fresh water supply for passing－by ships.The total fresh water reserve is 1.6 million cubic meters，second only to Taiwan，which is the biggest fresh water island in China.Many people like to camp by the lakes.The hill often gets misty because of the lakes.At times，it looks as if everything is shrouded in the mist，peaks and valleys，and sometimes the mist rests low in valleys and merges with the sea.Standing on top of a peak and looking down on this unearthly beauty，you may for a moment feel that you are in a fairy land.Another sight you should notmiss is Dashi Beach.The beach is a very gentle slope so the waves recede slowly，leaving interesting patterns on the sand.

Ladies and gentlemen，we are almost there.Forty minutes on the ferry is not an easy trip，especially for those who can become seasick but you will find it worthwhile.Please remember to take all your belongings with you.We will be getting off the ferry in a while.

Vocabulary:

endow　　　vt.赋予;捐赠

gorgeous gorgeous　　　adj.华丽的

acclaim　　　vt.称赞

archipelago　　　n.群岛，列岛

5.杨家溪

杨家溪位于太姥山西侧。相传北宋名将杨宗保、杨文广、杨金花曾率兵在此平叛，并派杨家将士驻守此地，所以此溪叫做杨家溪。杨家溪自龙亭瀑布至渡头村，全程11.5公里。

龙亭瀑布由文、武两瀑构成，文瀑一级直下落差136米，为福建省单级落差最高的瀑布;武瀑分两级而下，落差135米。瀑布周围还有将军印、文笔架等景点。游客可以乘竹筏顺流而下，到渡头村，全程两个小时。下游渡头村有两片枫香林，总面积250亩，约有1100多棵枫树。秋末冬初，枫叶黄里透红，犹如绯云停驻;两片枫香林之间的间隔地带有17丛古榕群，树龄最长者已有800多年，其中一株“榕树王”，树干周长12.6米，冠幅直径51米，高30米，树干中空，有7个洞口，洞内可容数人。

杨家溪还保存有不少文化遗存，如古桥、古驿站、五代吴越王屯兵处等。

各位团友，现在我们向东狮山进发。东狮山是太姥山脉最高峰，在柘荣境内。山下有柘洋古城堡遗址。柘洋城堡始建于元代，几百年后，柘洋城堡有力地阻挡了倭寇的进攻，此后在闽东沿海又兴建许多城堡以抵御倭寇。

如果喜欢民间艺术的话，大家还可以参观剪纸艺术馆。柘荣被国家文化部正式命名为“中国民间剪纸艺术之乡”。剪纸是一种古老、优雅的民间艺术，它的历史几乎就和纸的历史一样悠久，是古代女子必备的一门技艺，“要看新娘巧不巧，就看剪花好不好”。现在剪纸是柘荣的一项重要行业，从业人员达3000人，产品销往全国，并出口到十几个国家。

剪纸兼有装饰和礼仪功能。新婚夫妇的墙上、家具上，必须贴上大红的“囍”字。庆祝老人生日时，常常用剪纸的“寿”字表达喜庆和祝福。春节期间，除了常见的花鸟剪纸外，还常使用年年有余剪纸，图案是一个胖乎乎的小孩抱着一条大鱼。剪纸也用做刺绣图案。剪纸图案往往都具有吉祥喜庆的象征意义，纸张一般选择红色的，因为红色在中国是最吉利的颜色。

当今世界，文化趋于多元，剪纸也引入了多种主题、图案、形象，使用范围也不仅限于民居了。宾馆大厅和会议厅也喜欢用大幅的剪纸作品装饰。

5.Yangjiaxi River

Yangjiaxi River is situated in the west of Taimu Mountain.The river is named after the famous generals of the Yang family in the Song dynasty，about a thousand years ago.Legend has it that Yang Zongbao，Yang Wenguang，and Yang Jinghua put down rebellions in this area，and their troops were stationed here after that.Yangjianxi River starts from the Longting Waterfalls to Dutou Village，with a whole distance of 11.5 km.

Longting Waterfalls is made up of Wen Waterfalls and Wu Waterfalls.The drop of Wen Waterfalls is 136 meters，which is the highest in Fujian Province; Wu waterfalls＇drop is 135 meters.There are some interesting scenic spots around the waterfalls.Their names are given according to their shapes such as“the General’s Seal”，“the Brush Pens Stand”.You can take a 2－hour bamboo raft cruise down the stream to Dutou Village.In Dutou Village there are two stretches of maple woods，covering about17 hectares，totaling more than 11 thousand maple trees.It will be a beautiful sight to see when the leaves of the maple trees turn red in late fall.Among the maple trees，there are 17 ancient banyan trees.The oldest one is more than 800 years old.“King of Banyan Trees”is the biggest one of them，about30 meters high.Its trunk is12.6 meters in circumference，and the diameter of its canopy reaches 51 meters.The trunk is almost hollow，with seven openings.You can get into the cavity and explore the inside，just as the way you explore a cave.

There are also some interesting cultural relics along the river，like ancient bridges，ancient courier stations and ancient barracks.

Ladies and gentlemen，we are on our way to the highest peak of the TaiMu Mountains，Dongshishan，or East Lion Mountain in Zherong County.AT the foot of the mountain are ruins of ancient castles.They were first built in the Yuan Dynasty in the 14^thcentury.A few centuries later these castles played important roles in fighting off Japanese pirates，and more castles were built along the eastern coast of Fujian to ward off Japanese pirates.

Zherong’s Paper－cuts

You can also visit paper－cut studios in Zherong if you are into folk art.Zherong is designated as“Home of Chinese Paper－cuttings”by the Ministry of Culture.Paper cutting is an ancient，elegantart that dates almostas far back as the creation of paper itself.It used to be one of the crafts that every girl had to master in order to be considered a worthy bride.Now paper cutting has become an important business in Zherong，with 3000 people working in this trade.Their works are sold across China and more than a dozen other countries as well.

Paper－cuttings are traditionally used for both decoration and ceremonies.A big red paper character“xi”，which means“double happiness”，is a must on the newlywed’s bedroom walls and furniture.For elderly people celebrating their birthdays，the character“shou”，which represents longevity，will add delight to the whole celebration.During the Spring Festival，among many other patterns of birds and flowers，a pattern of chubby child holding a big fish is often used，because it signifies abundance.They are used as patterns for embroidery as well.Whatever the design，the meaning is usually symbolic，and they are as such considered auspicious.Red paper is commonly used，since red is the most auspicious color in China.

In today’s multicultural world，paper－cutting embraces any number of themes，designs，and images，and they are not just used in households.Large pieces of paper－cuttings are often favored decorations for hotel lobbies and conference halls.

Vocabulary:

rebellion　　　n.叛乱

relic　　　n.遗迹;废墟

courier　　　n.送快信的人

barrack　　　n.营房

auspicious　　　adj.吉利的