Chiang Mai is recognized as Thailand's Northern Capital, "The Rose of the North". It's a city with a cultural personality of its own. In addition, it's been blessed with much majestic beauty in nature. Thais as well as guests from overseas, regard Chiang Mai as the holiday place to visit.

Chiang Mai was founded in the late 13th century and is one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in Thailand. It was once the capital of Lanna, an independent Thai Kingdom and has preserved its unique cultural heritage to a marked degree.

Chiang Mai is well-known for its roses and beautiful girls. Also, its serene life, fantastic tribes, beautiful mountains, and magnificent ancient temples will give you a fresh air and bring you to a totally different fairyland.

It would be difficult to find a city that reflects more of the country's diverse cultural heritage and modern aspirations than Chiang Mai. Tour buses crowd Burmese-style wats ablaze with the color of saffron and humming with the chanting of monks. Hilltribe groups sell their wares in the busy, modern market. Narrow streets lined with ornately carved teak houses lie in the shadow of contemporary skyscrapers. Chiang Mai's heart is its Old City, an area surrounded by vestiges of walls and moats originally constructed for defense, yet Chiang Mai is a modern city with a growing infrastructure of modern shopping malls and condominiums. The contrast is part of the town's charm.

Because of its temperate climate, many Thais choose Chiang Mai as a summer retreat during March, April and May, when the rest of the country is wilting under the heat.

泰国的北方首府清迈被认为是“北国玫瑰”。这是一座拥有独特文化特色的城市。除此以外，它还被赋予非常壮丽的自然景观。无论是泰国人还是海外的游客都公认它为一个度假胜地。

清迈建于13世纪末，是泰国最古老的定居点之一。清迈还曾是独立的泰国王——兰那的首都，它那独特的文化遗产被保护得尤其完整。

这个城市因玫瑰和美女而出名。同时，这里宁静的生活、奇妙的部落、美丽的山峦和宏伟的古庙也将带给你新鲜感，让你仿佛置身于一个完全不同的仙境。

很难找出一个城市能够比清迈更加折射出这个国家多样的文化遗产和现代气息。缅甸风格的寺庙里挤满了旅游车，寺庙里的藏红花火红耀眼，僧侣喃喃地念各不停。山地部落的人们在现代的集市里忙于叫卖着他们的商品。华丽雕刻的柚木房子整齐地排列在狭窄的街道上，街道掩映在现代大厦的阴影之中。清迈的中心地区是老城，它的周围是城墙和护城河的遗址，这些最初都是用来保卫古城的。然而，清迈是一个现代城市，这里的现代购物中心和公寓大楼日渐增多。这种古老与现代的对比也是清迈的魅力之一。

由于气候温和，许多泰国人都在三月、四月和五月的时候选择清迈作为避暑胜地，而这时泰国其他城市都已经热得毫无生气了。

personality n. 个性

magnificent adj. 宏伟的

contemporary adj. 现代的

majestic adj. 壮丽的

fairyland n. 仙境

condominium n. 独立产权的公寓

Leif 打算去泰国逛逛，但他还没决定去哪个城市，休息时他让对泰国比较了解的Shirley给他一点儿意见。

L = Leif 利 = 利夫 S = Shirley 雪 = 雪莉

L: I decide to visit Thailand in my coming vacation, but I don't know which city is better. Could you give me some advice?

S: Maybe you can choose Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand.

L: Why is Chiang Mai, not Bangkok, the largest city of the country?

S: Chiang Mai has totally different space-time sense from Bangkok. Bangkok is dazzling and busy, while Chiang Mai is simple and leisurely, and it is the city which lets people enjoy themselves so much as to forget to go home.

L: Can you tell me more in detail?

S: The people themselves are an unforgettable part of Chiang Mai. Handicrafts of silk, silver and wood are timeless souvenirs for visitors from all over the globe. Along with all this, a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment all help to make Chiang Mai one of Thailand's prime tourist attractions.

L: Does it have something very famous?

S: Yes, the city is famous for its roses and beautiful girls. The girls in Chiang Mai have white skin, pretty appearance and delicate features. They are optimistic and lively. So Chiang Mai is also called "beauty's nest".

L: It sounds good. I'll think about it. Thank you.

S: Not at all.

利：我决定假期去泰国旅行，但不知道去哪个城市好一点儿，你能给我一些建议吗？

雪：也许你可以选择泰国第二大城市清迈。

利：为什么是清迈而不是第一大城市曼谷呢？

雪：清迈与曼谷有完全不同的时空感，曼谷炫丽忙碌，清迈则纯朴悠闲，是一个让人留连忘返的城市。

利：你能更具体一点儿吗？

雪：清迈的居民就非常让人难忘。丝绸、银和木头的手工艺品对于来自世界各地的游客来说是永不过时的纪念品。各式的旅店、餐馆和娱乐及以上这些都让清迈成为了泰国主要的旅游胜地之一。

利：那儿有非常出名的东西吗？

雪：有啊，清迈因玫瑰和美女而出名。清迈的女孩子肤白貌美，眉清目秀，开朗活泼，因此，清迈又被称为“美人窝”。

利：听起来不错啊，我会好好考虑一下。谢谢了。

雪：不用谢。

dazzling adj. 眼花缭乱的

souvenir n. 纪念品

delicate adj. 细致优雅的

handicraft n. 手工艺品

accommodation n. 住处

假设你正坐在从清迈旅游回来的飞机上，有一位外国朋友开始和你聊了起来，让你介绍一下清迈。试着完成下面的对话。

1. 外国朋友: Why do so many Thais choose Chiang Mai as a summer retreat?

你：______________________________________________________

2. 外国朋友: Why didn't you choose Thailand's capital Bangkok?

你：______________________________________________________

3. 外国朋友: Are there something very impressive in Chiang Mai?

你：______________________________________________________

1. Because of the temperate climate of Chiang Mai.

2. Bangkok is dazzling and busy, but I like the simple and leisurely Chiang Mai.

3. Yes, rose and beautiful girls are very impressive there.

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