Sapporo is not your typical Japanese big city. Located at the north of the Japanese Archipelago（群岛，列岛）， it has a pleasant climate from June to July. One of Sapporo's features lies in its distinctively clear-cut four seasons. In spring， awaking from a long sleep， numerous flowers burst into bloom. In summer， sunny days follow each other. In fall， trees are clad in golden yellow and crimson red（深红色的，绯红的）。 In winter， everything is veiled in silky white snow. Sapporo has four distinct seasons， each of which exhibits impressively elegant charms. Especially in June， when the FIFA World Cup takes place， Sapporo enjoys a fresh， green season with sunshine， while the rainy season starts in the rest of Japan.
With a current population of approximately 1.83 million， Sapporo is Japan's fifth largest city， where the pioneer spirit coexists with its well-balanced， highly advanced urban functions. Historical structures stand amidst high-rise buildings. A park full of greenery embraces relaxing people. There are hot springs in the city. Sapporo's attraction lies in the unique harmony of urban convenience and oases of relaxation. Sapporo is a gourmet （美食家）city where delicacies can be savored during every season. There is also an entertainment district， Susukino， which accommodates over 5，000 shops， restaurants and pubs.
Odori Park stretches from Sapporo TV Tower， the reference point of north， south， east and west， to the west， and is an oasis where citizens can relax. From spring to fall， colorful flowers are blooming in the gardens around vivid green lawns and fountains. Snow statues at the Sapporo Snow Festival and White Illumination appear in winter. All these attractions entertain citizens and tourists.
Sapporo， a core city of Hokkaido's politics and economy， has hosted various international events. Among the Japanese venues for the FIFA World Cup， only Sapporo has hosted the Olympics. Other international sporting events hosted include the Winter Universiade. It has also been successful in holding cultural events such as the Pacific Music Festival （PMF）， the brainchild （某人的创作）of the world-known conductor， the late Leonard Bernstein.
Sapporo is also a core city where cultural， educational and technological facilities of world standard converge： Sapporo Concert Hall， "Kitara，" features performances by leading world-famous musicians； Moerenuma Park is designed by a sculptor， the late Isamu Noguchi； Techno Park houses companies that specialize in advanced technological development and Hokkaido University accommodates exchange students from various countries.
Note：
HIROBA has "dual arenas" comprising one open and one closed and its most prominent feature is the "hovering soccer stage，" which is the world's first air hovering mobile system. The natural turf soccer field prepared in the open arena can be moved into the all-weather closed arena.
2008年2月1日星期五
Tokyo (Japan)
The sheer level of energy is the most striking aspect of Japan's capital city. While it's true the city has a somewhat depressing shortcoming- shoebox housing estates and office blocks traversed by overhead expressways crowded with traffic - Tokyo remains a glittering example of the 'miracle' of post-WWII Japan. Despite mega-construction， the average Tokyo suburb hasn't fallen prey to supermarket culture yet： streets are lined with tiny specialist shops and bustling restaurants， most of which stay open late into the night. Close to the soaring office blocks exist pockets of another Tokyo - an old wooden house， a Japanese inn， an old lady in a kimono （和服）sweeping the pavement outside her home with a straw broom. More than anything else， Tokyo is a place where the urgent rhythms of consumer culture collide with the quieter moments that linger from older traditions.
Major attractions in Tokyo：
Imperial Palace ：The Japanese emperor and the imperial family still call the Imperial Palace home， so unless you get a royal invite to tea tourists are restricted to the outskirts and the gardens. New Year's Day （2 January） and 23 December （the Emperor's birthday） are the only exceptions to this rule.
Ginza（银座）：Despite its disaster-ridden history and propensity for shape-changing， Ginza has become synonymous with conspicuous consumption and excessive shopping. At the end of the 19th century， after fire razed it to the ground， it was ressurected with brick buildings and wide boulevards that mimicked（模仿） the Champs Elysses.
Shinjuku （新宿）：The Shinjuku district is， without doubt， the most vigorous part of Tokyo； two million people per day pass through Shinjuku station alone. The two sides - east and west - sit side-by-side in mutual harmony； west Shinjuku is the staid commercial hub of the city， while the east is its colourful and exotic （异国情调的；奇特的）counterpart. The west is planned， administrative and skyscrapped， while the east side is rambling （杂乱的）， chaotic and full of fast-food shops and pawn shops.
Major attractions in Tokyo：
Imperial Palace ：The Japanese emperor and the imperial family still call the Imperial Palace home， so unless you get a royal invite to tea tourists are restricted to the outskirts and the gardens. New Year's Day （2 January） and 23 December （the Emperor's birthday） are the only exceptions to this rule.
Ginza（银座）：Despite its disaster-ridden history and propensity for shape-changing， Ginza has become synonymous with conspicuous consumption and excessive shopping. At the end of the 19th century， after fire razed it to the ground， it was ressurected with brick buildings and wide boulevards that mimicked（模仿） the Champs Elysses.
Shinjuku （新宿）：The Shinjuku district is， without doubt， the most vigorous part of Tokyo； two million people per day pass through Shinjuku station alone. The two sides - east and west - sit side-by-side in mutual harmony； west Shinjuku is the staid commercial hub of the city， while the east is its colourful and exotic （异国情调的；奇特的）counterpart. The west is planned， administrative and skyscrapped， while the east side is rambling （杂乱的）， chaotic and full of fast-food shops and pawn shops.
Mumbai (India)
An island connected by bridges to the mainland， Mumbai is the industrial hub of everything from textiles to petrochemicals， and responsible for half of India's foreign trade. But while it aspires to（热望，向往）be another Singapore， it's also a magnet for the rural poor. It's these new migrants who are continually re-shaping the city， making sure Mumbai keeps one foot in its hinterland and the other in the global marketplace.
Mumbai is located on India's central-western coast along the Arabian Sea. The city developed for 150 years in isolation from its hinterland and still seems to belong in a different world to the huge， predominantly Hindu state of Maharashtra which encompasses a 500km （310mi） coastal strip， a portion of the Western Ghats and a significant part of the Deccan plateau. The Western Ghats （literally， steps） start to rise just north of Mumbai and run parallel to the coast. They have an average elevation （平均海拔）of 915m （3001ft） and are covered with tropical and temperate（温带的）evergreen forests and mixed deciduous（落叶性的）forest and harbour a rich array（大量）of plant and animal life， including 27% of India's flowering plants.
The principal part of the city is concentrated at the southern claw-shaped end of the island. The southernmost peninsula is known as Colaba and this is where most travellers gravitate （被吸引）since it has a decent range of hotels and restaurants and two of the city's best landmarks， the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. Directly north of Colaba is the area known as the Fort， since this is where the old British fort（堡垒，要塞）once stood. Further west is Marine Drive， which sweeps around Back Bay， connecting the high-rise modern business centre with Chowpatty Beach. To the north are the suburbs of Greater Mumbai. Here you'll find the two airports， Sahar International and the domestic Santa Cruz.
Mumbai is located on India's central-western coast along the Arabian Sea. The city developed for 150 years in isolation from its hinterland and still seems to belong in a different world to the huge， predominantly Hindu state of Maharashtra which encompasses a 500km （310mi） coastal strip， a portion of the Western Ghats and a significant part of the Deccan plateau. The Western Ghats （literally， steps） start to rise just north of Mumbai and run parallel to the coast. They have an average elevation （平均海拔）of 915m （3001ft） and are covered with tropical and temperate（温带的）evergreen forests and mixed deciduous（落叶性的）forest and harbour a rich array（大量）of plant and animal life， including 27% of India's flowering plants.
The principal part of the city is concentrated at the southern claw-shaped end of the island. The southernmost peninsula is known as Colaba and this is where most travellers gravitate （被吸引）since it has a decent range of hotels and restaurants and two of the city's best landmarks， the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. Directly north of Colaba is the area known as the Fort， since this is where the old British fort（堡垒，要塞）once stood. Further west is Marine Drive， which sweeps around Back Bay， connecting the high-rise modern business centre with Chowpatty Beach. To the north are the suburbs of Greater Mumbai. Here you'll find the two airports， Sahar International and the domestic Santa Cruz.
Kobe (Japan)
Kobe - home of one of the world's leading international trading ports - is a truly inviting city， noted for its beauty and thriving urban environment， superbly enhanced by the backdrop（背景）of verdant（长满绿色植物的）Mount Rokko.
Kobe has prospered from times of old as the hub of Japan's maritime activities. As far back as the 8th century it had a port， then called the Owada Anchorage， now known as Wadamisaki. It became a key place for both land and sea trade and， by the end of the 13th century， had come to be known as the Port of Hyogo. In 1868， Kobe opened itself to the outside world and began to write its own history as one of Japan's first five major ports opened to trade with the West.
In 1868， Kobe had a population of 134，000， which swelled to one million by 1939， making it one of the six major cities in Japan. Over the years， the port grew in size and importance， and industry flourished. Then came the Second World War， bringing widespread and unprecedented devastation to Kobe. By the time hostilities ended， the population had dwindled to a mere 380，000. Today， Kobe has a population of 1.5 million.
Kobe's downtown area contains districts that retain the atmosphere of those exotic bygone days. Prime examples include what is known as the Old Foreign Settlement， Nankin-machi （Chinatown） and Kitano， famous for its old western-style houses built by early foreign residents and known as Ijinkan.
Kobe is easily accessible by land， sea and air. It is approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen train. Kobe， together with Osaka and Kyoto， forms the economic focal point of Kansai （关西）， western Japan.
The town of Nara is famous nationwide for sake （日本酒） brewing， while Mount Rokko and Arima Hot Spring are popular resorts easily accessible from the city centre. A mere 30-minute drive westward from the city centre takes you to the Tarumi-Maiko Coast， which commands superb views of the scenic Suma Beach and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge （total length： 3，911 meters）， the world's longest suspension bridge.
Although Kobe was seriously damaged by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 17 January 1995， restoration has progressed rapidly. In remembrance of that catastrophic event， the Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park， as well as other facilities， has been erected.
Kobe has prospered from times of old as the hub of Japan's maritime activities. As far back as the 8th century it had a port， then called the Owada Anchorage， now known as Wadamisaki. It became a key place for both land and sea trade and， by the end of the 13th century， had come to be known as the Port of Hyogo. In 1868， Kobe opened itself to the outside world and began to write its own history as one of Japan's first five major ports opened to trade with the West.
In 1868， Kobe had a population of 134，000， which swelled to one million by 1939， making it one of the six major cities in Japan. Over the years， the port grew in size and importance， and industry flourished. Then came the Second World War， bringing widespread and unprecedented devastation to Kobe. By the time hostilities ended， the population had dwindled to a mere 380，000. Today， Kobe has a population of 1.5 million.
Kobe's downtown area contains districts that retain the atmosphere of those exotic bygone days. Prime examples include what is known as the Old Foreign Settlement， Nankin-machi （Chinatown） and Kitano， famous for its old western-style houses built by early foreign residents and known as Ijinkan.
Kobe is easily accessible by land， sea and air. It is approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen train. Kobe， together with Osaka and Kyoto， forms the economic focal point of Kansai （关西）， western Japan.
The town of Nara is famous nationwide for sake （日本酒） brewing， while Mount Rokko and Arima Hot Spring are popular resorts easily accessible from the city centre. A mere 30-minute drive westward from the city centre takes you to the Tarumi-Maiko Coast， which commands superb views of the scenic Suma Beach and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge （total length： 3，911 meters）， the world's longest suspension bridge.
Although Kobe was seriously damaged by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 17 January 1995， restoration has progressed rapidly. In remembrance of that catastrophic event， the Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park， as well as other facilities， has been erected.
Kabul (Afghan)
Kabul （Afghan） Kabul， city in east central Afghanistan， capital of the country and Kabul Province. Kabul is on the Kabul River， situated at an elevation of about 1800 m （about 5900 ft） making it one of the highest capital cities in the World. The population is around 1 million people. The nation's chief economic and cultural center， it has long been of strategic importance because of its proximity （接近）to the Khyber Pass （开伯尔山口兴都库什山脉最大和最重要的山口。在巴基斯坦与阿富汗之间，穿行开伯尔山，东口距巴基斯坦白沙瓦16公里。历史上为连接南亚与西亚、中亚的最重要通道）， an important pass in the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Manufactures of the city include textiles， processed food， chemicals， and wood products. Tajiks are the predominant population group of Kabul， and Pashtuns（阿富汗民族，几乎半数的阿富汗人属于普什图民族）are an important minority. Kabul University （founded in 1932） had been the country's most important institute of higher education prior to its closure due to war in 1992. The university was the best known in the region in the 1970 and 1980's. The university now is being partially reopened and only a few students are returning. The University needs much reconstruction in order to operate normally.
An ancient community， Kabul rose to prominence in 1504， when it was made the capital of the Moghul Empire（摩格尔帝国） by the conqueror
During the past decade of turmoil in Afghanistan， Kabul Museum has been virtually emptied and in other areas of the country sites have been plundered.
Babur （回教君王巴布尔）。 Delhi replaced it as the imperial capital in 1526， but Kabul remained an important Moghul center until it was captured， in 1738， by the Persian ruler Nadir Shah. In 1747 Kabul became part of an independent Afghan state， and in the 1770s it replaced Qandahar as the capital of Afghanistan. It was a focus of British， Persian， and Russian rivalry for control of the Khyber Pass in the 19th century， when it was twice occupied （1839-1842 and 1879-1880） by British troops. The city grew as an industrial center after 1940.
Kabul was occupied by troops of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics （USSR） in 1979； the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan on Feb. 15， 1989. The city has gone through the toughest and most disastrous civil war in its history between 1992-1996. Over 50，000 people lost their lives during the Mujahideen （圣战） infightings on the streets of Kabul in 1992-1996 period. The city has been under the control of the Taliban government since 1996 and ended in 2001. The Northern Alliance took over the city as the Taliban withdrew from Kabul and retreated southwards. The fate of the city is yet to be known. The role of UN and World community is important in bringing a stable government in Kabul.
Infrastructures such as roads and traffic system， telephone system， electricity， water sanitation， renovation of buildings are in shambles and the need for reconstruction is very much needed to bring back the city of Kabul to a better place for living.
An ancient community， Kabul rose to prominence in 1504， when it was made the capital of the Moghul Empire（摩格尔帝国） by the conqueror
During the past decade of turmoil in Afghanistan， Kabul Museum has been virtually emptied and in other areas of the country sites have been plundered.
Babur （回教君王巴布尔）。 Delhi replaced it as the imperial capital in 1526， but Kabul remained an important Moghul center until it was captured， in 1738， by the Persian ruler Nadir Shah. In 1747 Kabul became part of an independent Afghan state， and in the 1770s it replaced Qandahar as the capital of Afghanistan. It was a focus of British， Persian， and Russian rivalry for control of the Khyber Pass in the 19th century， when it was twice occupied （1839-1842 and 1879-1880） by British troops. The city grew as an industrial center after 1940.
Kabul was occupied by troops of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics （USSR） in 1979； the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan on Feb. 15， 1989. The city has gone through the toughest and most disastrous civil war in its history between 1992-1996. Over 50，000 people lost their lives during the Mujahideen （圣战） infightings on the streets of Kabul in 1992-1996 period. The city has been under the control of the Taliban government since 1996 and ended in 2001. The Northern Alliance took over the city as the Taliban withdrew from Kabul and retreated southwards. The fate of the city is yet to be known. The role of UN and World community is important in bringing a stable government in Kabul.
Infrastructures such as roads and traffic system， telephone system， electricity， water sanitation， renovation of buildings are in shambles and the need for reconstruction is very much needed to bring back the city of Kabul to a better place for living.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is arguably the world's most revered city. It's the city of King David （1，000 B.C.）， the place of Christ's last ministry and crucifixion（钉死于十字架）， and the site where the prophet Mohammad is believed to have ascended to heaven. Over a turbulent 3，000-year history， Jerusalem has seen more than its share of sieges， while Jews， Christians， and Muslims have all tried their hand at ruling the city.
During the centuries of the Crusades（十字军东征）， Jerusalem was the ethereal （天国的）vision that moved the armies of Europe and Islam， but for almost 700 years after the Crusades ended， the actual city of Jerusalem existed as a shadowy， forgotten backwater（荒僻处）， slowly falling into ruin and decay. Not until the 19th century did the city again begin to come alive and reemerge from behind its walls.
During the years of the British Mandate（托管）（1918-48） the current incarnation（原意为化身）of Jerusalem developed as a quiet religious center， tourist attraction， and university town in a remarkably beautiful mountain setting. Nineteen years of division by war， barbed wire（有刺铁丝网）， and minefields （1948-67） brought Jerusalem's gentle renaissance（复兴，复活）to a temporary halt.
Situated along an edge of the West Bank in east-central Israel， Jerusalem is the nation's capital and largest city， with a population of around 560，000. It is comprised of the history-drenched Old City， and modern urban neighborhoods that have grown up outside the Old City's walls.
Modern Jerusalem is a center of government， culture and tourism. Naturally， the Old City is of most interest to visitors， given sacred landmarks like the Curch of the Holy Sepulcher， the Dome of the Rock， and the Wailing Wall. Numerous museums and other historic sites lend further appeal to one of the world's holiest（最神圣的）cities.
During the centuries of the Crusades（十字军东征）， Jerusalem was the ethereal （天国的）vision that moved the armies of Europe and Islam， but for almost 700 years after the Crusades ended， the actual city of Jerusalem existed as a shadowy， forgotten backwater（荒僻处）， slowly falling into ruin and decay. Not until the 19th century did the city again begin to come alive and reemerge from behind its walls.
During the years of the British Mandate（托管）（1918-48） the current incarnation（原意为化身）of Jerusalem developed as a quiet religious center， tourist attraction， and university town in a remarkably beautiful mountain setting. Nineteen years of division by war， barbed wire（有刺铁丝网）， and minefields （1948-67） brought Jerusalem's gentle renaissance（复兴，复活）to a temporary halt.
Situated along an edge of the West Bank in east-central Israel， Jerusalem is the nation's capital and largest city， with a population of around 560，000. It is comprised of the history-drenched Old City， and modern urban neighborhoods that have grown up outside the Old City's walls.
Modern Jerusalem is a center of government， culture and tourism. Naturally， the Old City is of most interest to visitors， given sacred landmarks like the Curch of the Holy Sepulcher， the Dome of the Rock， and the Wailing Wall. Numerous museums and other historic sites lend further appeal to one of the world's holiest（最神圣的）cities.
Gwangju (South Korea)
Gwangju is Korea's fifth largest city with a population of 1.4 million， with a reputation for exquisite food thanks to the rich harvests in the mild southern part of the Korean peninsula. But the World Cup city has other attractions， too.
There is a long-cherished tradition of the arts and of a certain liberty of mind and democracy that is associated with Gwangju. This tradition has most recently been captured within the framework of the Gwangju Biennale， an arts festival growing in renown around the world.
To stage a World Cup of culture that will be commensurate（相称的） with its image as a city of arts， Gwangju links the World Cup matches with the fourth edition of the Biennale. Fans visiting the games from abroad will be fascinated to witness authentic performances including the distinctive style of traditional farm music known as Gwangsan Nongak as well as Gossaum Race， a loop fight played by the full moon.
There are also a variety of sightseeing programmes for foreign tourists， linking the spectacular Dadohae （"Many Islands Sea"） National Marine Park with other popular places in and around Gwangju.
Occupying a surface of 330，000m2 in the new city centre area， the Gwangju World Cup Stadium is a football-only stadium.
But while it is keen to continue supporting traditional values， Gwangju is also rapidly developing into a future-oriented community where past and future co-exist in harmony. The city has approached the new millennium buoyantly， especially with its encouragement of the cutting-edge photonic（光子的）industry and with its continuing development of the humanistic culture and arts.
Thus the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan comes at just the right time to provide Gwangju with a golden opportunity to show the world just how genuine， how deep-rooted and how rich its cultural heritage really is.
There is a long-cherished tradition of the arts and of a certain liberty of mind and democracy that is associated with Gwangju. This tradition has most recently been captured within the framework of the Gwangju Biennale， an arts festival growing in renown around the world.
To stage a World Cup of culture that will be commensurate（相称的） with its image as a city of arts， Gwangju links the World Cup matches with the fourth edition of the Biennale. Fans visiting the games from abroad will be fascinated to witness authentic performances including the distinctive style of traditional farm music known as Gwangsan Nongak as well as Gossaum Race， a loop fight played by the full moon.
There are also a variety of sightseeing programmes for foreign tourists， linking the spectacular Dadohae （"Many Islands Sea"） National Marine Park with other popular places in and around Gwangju.
Occupying a surface of 330，000m2 in the new city centre area， the Gwangju World Cup Stadium is a football-only stadium.
But while it is keen to continue supporting traditional values， Gwangju is also rapidly developing into a future-oriented community where past and future co-exist in harmony. The city has approached the new millennium buoyantly， especially with its encouragement of the cutting-edge photonic（光子的）industry and with its continuing development of the humanistic culture and arts.
Thus the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan comes at just the right time to provide Gwangju with a golden opportunity to show the world just how genuine， how deep-rooted and how rich its cultural heritage really is.
Busan (South Korea)
Busan is the largest port and fisheries city located on the southeast coast of the Korean Peninsula.
With a population of four million， Korea's second largest metropolis grew into a modern port city between 1906 and 1944. It first opened its ports as the first international port in Korea in 1876.
As a frequently visited coastal city for Korean and foreign vacationers alike， Busan offers precious natural resources including mountains， rivers， hot springs and the sea， all to be enjoyed in a year round temperate climate. Busan， with its four distinct seasons， is reinventing itself into an international tourist sea resort. Aquariums let visitors embark on undersea journeys and sea resorts are equipped with amusement parks bringing tourists the best service and hot springs that could be offered in a special tourist zone.
All year round， exciting festivals await visitors at Busan. At the Busan Sea Festival， the summer's heat and the clean white sands， along with the fresh sea winds mingle with youthful vitality. Furthermore， the biggest seafood market at the Busan Jagalchi Festival offers fresh seafood and the Busan International Film Festival features world famous top-quality films. Various festivals such as the winter North Polar Bear Swimming Contest and the Greeting Sunrise Festival give residents and tourists a new lease on life.
Located close to the sea and plains， Busan is a place where people can relish fresh natural dishes ranging from raw fish， seafood soup， roasted eel to roasted beef and barbecued goat meat. Most of all， a tasteful combination of grilled Dongrae， a traditional plate with traditional Korea rice wine， know as makkolli， which used to be a presented to the king of the Josun dynasty， is especially worth a try.
Busan is also a city of sports. It has successfully hosted international sporting events such as the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympic Games， football and yacht competitions and the 1997 East Asian Games. Because of its hosting experience and world class facilities， Busan has been chosen to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 14th Asian Games.
With a population of four million， Korea's second largest metropolis grew into a modern port city between 1906 and 1944. It first opened its ports as the first international port in Korea in 1876.
As a frequently visited coastal city for Korean and foreign vacationers alike， Busan offers precious natural resources including mountains， rivers， hot springs and the sea， all to be enjoyed in a year round temperate climate. Busan， with its four distinct seasons， is reinventing itself into an international tourist sea resort. Aquariums let visitors embark on undersea journeys and sea resorts are equipped with amusement parks bringing tourists the best service and hot springs that could be offered in a special tourist zone.
All year round， exciting festivals await visitors at Busan. At the Busan Sea Festival， the summer's heat and the clean white sands， along with the fresh sea winds mingle with youthful vitality. Furthermore， the biggest seafood market at the Busan Jagalchi Festival offers fresh seafood and the Busan International Film Festival features world famous top-quality films. Various festivals such as the winter North Polar Bear Swimming Contest and the Greeting Sunrise Festival give residents and tourists a new lease on life.
Located close to the sea and plains， Busan is a place where people can relish fresh natural dishes ranging from raw fish， seafood soup， roasted eel to roasted beef and barbecued goat meat. Most of all， a tasteful combination of grilled Dongrae， a traditional plate with traditional Korea rice wine， know as makkolli， which used to be a presented to the king of the Josun dynasty， is especially worth a try.
Busan is also a city of sports. It has successfully hosted international sporting events such as the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympic Games， football and yacht competitions and the 1997 East Asian Games. Because of its hosting experience and world class facilities， Busan has been chosen to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 14th Asian Games.
Bangkok (Thailand)
It's worth putting up with the traffic jams， pollution， annual floods and sticky weather to experience one of Asia's most exciting cities. Bangkok has dominated Thailand's urban hierarchy， as well as its political， commercial and cultural life， since the late 18th century. Although the late 20th-century boom（迅速发展）is over - you can still shop in air-conditioned comfort in Western-style malls（设在郊区的大规模购物中心）。
Bangkok proper seethes（沸腾，热闹）on the east side of the Chao Phraya River. The city is reportedly sinking at a rate of 90cm （36in） every year， but there's too much happening in this vibrant city for anyone to get that sinking feeling for too long.
Metropolitan Bangkok covers 1569 sq km （612 sq mi） of southern Thailand， sitting in the middle of the most fertile rice-producing delta in the world. A network of natural and artificial canals crisscross（纵横交错地分布于） the city， feeding to and from Thailand's hydrological lifeline - the broad Chao Phraya River - which snakes through the city providing transport for passengers and cargo.
Bangkok is divided in two by the main north-south train line. Old Bangkok， where a large proportion of the city's temples and palaces and its Chinese and Indian districts are found， lies between the river and the railway. East of the railway， comprising the main business， tourist and sprawling residential districts， is 'new' Bangkok. Of course， outside of these general classifications， Bangkok sprawls in all directions with a mixture of commercial， industrial and residential areas.
Jim Thompson's House， the former abode （此指住处） of mystery man and silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson is a great spot to visit for authentic Thai residential architecture and South-East Asian art. Thompson was a New York architect who served as a spy in Thailand during WWII. After setting up house in Bangkok， he gradually built up worldwide clientele（顾客）for a craft that may otherwise have died out. Each wall of Thompson's house has its exterior side facing the building's interior， exposing the wall's bracing（支撑）system to residents and guests.
Bangkok is a cultural melting pot and there's no better evidence of this than Pahurat， on the edge of Chinatown. A wide variety of Indian goods are available in this small area， ranging from an astonishing array of silks to Thai shoulder bags. The choice is amazing， the haggling is fierce and the bargains can be unbelievable - if you're good enough， that is. Head down little alleys into the 'bowels' of this area and you'll find foodstuffs， household items and a thriving culture that might ordinarily pass by unnoticed. Pahurat lies west of Chinatown towards the river.
Bangkok proper seethes（沸腾，热闹）on the east side of the Chao Phraya River. The city is reportedly sinking at a rate of 90cm （36in） every year， but there's too much happening in this vibrant city for anyone to get that sinking feeling for too long.
Metropolitan Bangkok covers 1569 sq km （612 sq mi） of southern Thailand， sitting in the middle of the most fertile rice-producing delta in the world. A network of natural and artificial canals crisscross（纵横交错地分布于） the city， feeding to and from Thailand's hydrological lifeline - the broad Chao Phraya River - which snakes through the city providing transport for passengers and cargo.
Bangkok is divided in two by the main north-south train line. Old Bangkok， where a large proportion of the city's temples and palaces and its Chinese and Indian districts are found， lies between the river and the railway. East of the railway， comprising the main business， tourist and sprawling residential districts， is 'new' Bangkok. Of course， outside of these general classifications， Bangkok sprawls in all directions with a mixture of commercial， industrial and residential areas.
Jim Thompson's House， the former abode （此指住处） of mystery man and silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson is a great spot to visit for authentic Thai residential architecture and South-East Asian art. Thompson was a New York architect who served as a spy in Thailand during WWII. After setting up house in Bangkok， he gradually built up worldwide clientele（顾客）for a craft that may otherwise have died out. Each wall of Thompson's house has its exterior side facing the building's interior， exposing the wall's bracing（支撑）system to residents and guests.
Bangkok is a cultural melting pot and there's no better evidence of this than Pahurat， on the edge of Chinatown. A wide variety of Indian goods are available in this small area， ranging from an astonishing array of silks to Thai shoulder bags. The choice is amazing， the haggling is fierce and the bargains can be unbelievable - if you're good enough， that is. Head down little alleys into the 'bowels' of this area and you'll find foodstuffs， household items and a thriving culture that might ordinarily pass by unnoticed. Pahurat lies west of Chinatown towards the river.
Bali (Indonesia)
Bali is so picturesque（图画般的美丽） that you could be fooled into thinking it was a painted backdrop（背景幕）： rice paddies（稻田，水田）trip down hillsides like giant steps， volcanoes soar through the clouds and the forests are lush（苍翠繁茂的）and tropical.
But the postcard paradise gloss（这里指景象） has been manufactured and polished by the international tourist industry rather than by the Balinese themselves - who don't even have a word for paradise in their language - and it pays scant （极少的）regard to the economic reality of life on Bali， which is still recovering from Indonesia's economic crisis and the collapsing currency.
Just considering the weather， the cooler dry season from April to October is the best time to visit Bali. The rest of the year is more humid， more cloudy and has more rainstorms， but you can still enjoy a holiday.
Balinese festivals， holidays and special celebrations occur all the time， so don't worry about timing your visit to coincide with local events.
The following are the major attractions in Bali.
Including the two beach sites of Kuta and Legian， this area is a major resort for travelers， offering cheap accommodation， Western food， great shopping， surf（冲浪运动）， sunsets and riotous nightlife.
The capital of Bali has been the focus of much of the growth and wealth on the island over the last quarter of a century. It now has all the bustle（繁忙）and confusion one associates with （与……联想起来）the fast-growing cities of Asia. While the traffic， noise and pollution make it a difficult city to relish （欣赏，品味）， Denpasar still retains pleasant， tree-lined streets and gardens and is very much part of the 'real' Bali.
The Bali Museum consists of an attractive series of separate buildings， including examples of both palace and temple architecture. The exhibits themselves are not always well presented， but there are enough arts and crafts and everyday items displayed to make it worthwhile.
Situated in the hills 20km （13mi） north of Denpasar， Ubud is the cultural centre of Bali. Extensive development in recent years has meant that Ubud has engulfed（吞没） a number of nearby villages， although these have retained their distinct identities.
In Ubud itself， the Puri Lukisan Museum displays fine examples of all schools of Balinese art in a beautiful garden setting. There are several other quality galleries such as Museum Neka， which features（以……为特色）work of some Western artists who have painted in Bali， and Agung Rai Gallery， a commercial operation which also houses a small， but important， permanent collection. Ubud is a good place to see Balinese dancing and hear Balinese music.
But the postcard paradise gloss（这里指景象） has been manufactured and polished by the international tourist industry rather than by the Balinese themselves - who don't even have a word for paradise in their language - and it pays scant （极少的）regard to the economic reality of life on Bali， which is still recovering from Indonesia's economic crisis and the collapsing currency.
Just considering the weather， the cooler dry season from April to October is the best time to visit Bali. The rest of the year is more humid， more cloudy and has more rainstorms， but you can still enjoy a holiday.
Balinese festivals， holidays and special celebrations occur all the time， so don't worry about timing your visit to coincide with local events.
The following are the major attractions in Bali.
Including the two beach sites of Kuta and Legian， this area is a major resort for travelers， offering cheap accommodation， Western food， great shopping， surf（冲浪运动）， sunsets and riotous nightlife.
The capital of Bali has been the focus of much of the growth and wealth on the island over the last quarter of a century. It now has all the bustle（繁忙）and confusion one associates with （与……联想起来）the fast-growing cities of Asia. While the traffic， noise and pollution make it a difficult city to relish （欣赏，品味）， Denpasar still retains pleasant， tree-lined streets and gardens and is very much part of the 'real' Bali.
The Bali Museum consists of an attractive series of separate buildings， including examples of both palace and temple architecture. The exhibits themselves are not always well presented， but there are enough arts and crafts and everyday items displayed to make it worthwhile.
Situated in the hills 20km （13mi） north of Denpasar， Ubud is the cultural centre of Bali. Extensive development in recent years has meant that Ubud has engulfed（吞没） a number of nearby villages， although these have retained their distinct identities.
In Ubud itself， the Puri Lukisan Museum displays fine examples of all schools of Balinese art in a beautiful garden setting. There are several other quality galleries such as Museum Neka， which features（以……为特色）work of some Western artists who have painted in Bali， and Agung Rai Gallery， a commercial operation which also houses a small， but important， permanent collection. Ubud is a good place to see Balinese dancing and hear Balinese music.
订阅：
博文 (Atom)