认识胡同 Know about Hutong

2009-08-18 17:00 BJT

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城市规划师郑一鸣:北京城市的街道的格局是一致的。
Interview with a city planning expert Zheng Yiming: The directions of hutongs in Beijing are due south, due north, due east and due west, which is in accordance with the pattern of roads in Beijing.

旁白:北京城南北方向有一条中轴线,皇城(故宫)就在这条中轴线的中心位置,整个城市就是以这条中轴线为核心,呈东西对称分布的。
Aside: An axis line runs north and south direction in Beijing. The Imperial Palace (The Forbidden City) is in the middle of this axis line. The whole city is divided by this line in a symmetrical pattern.

旁白:而标准的四合院一般都是坐北朝南,东、西、南、北四面都建有房屋,并合围出一个敞亮的院落。这样既可以抵御冬天的西北风,又可以多得日光照射。
Aside: Generally speaking, a standard siheyuan faces south. Houses are built in the four directions, east, west, south and north and form a spacious courtyard. It can defense the strong northwest wind in winter and enjoy sunshine.

采访城市规划师郑一鸣: 这种方方正正的方位感深深影响了北京人的生活,同时影响了北京人的思维方式。你要到北京问路,很少会有人给你指路的时候说左或用右来给你指路。
Interview with a city planning expert Mr. Zheng Yiming: The strong sense of direction has deeply influenced the life of people in Beijing and their thinking as well. If you ask the way in Beijing, it is seldom to hear someone use right or left to tell you the way.