Poetry and Geography in Chinese-English Translation

Fortunately, most of China’s greatest poems were given English translations long ago. Hence, translating them anew is rarely a requirement: authoritative translations can be presented instead (ideally duly referenced – but that is the client’s choice). Contextual knowledge assists in every translation task, and the following is a case in point. Lacking much knowledge of Southern China’s geography, I found this translation a challenge. The side-by-side parallel translation format that I prefer shows – very clearly on this occasion – how terse Chinese can be compared to English. In this translation I made two very small mistakes. Can you spot them?

从化市位于广州市区北面约60公里，东南与增城、惠州市龙门县毗邻，西南与白云区接壤，西与花都区交界，怀抱流溪河林场、黄龙带水库管理区，西北与清远市佛岗县、韶关市新丰县相接，版图形似象征胜利的字母“V”形，总面积2000平方公里，居民总人数约54万，是珠江三角洲冲积平原向粤北山区?南岭?的过渡带，地形多变，清澈秀丽的流溪河发源于北部高山，聚集众多的溪流蜿蜒而下，成为从化的母亲河。

The city of Conghua is about 60 kilometers north of the city of Guangzhou. Southeast of Conghua is the city of Zengcheng bordering the county of Longmen, which is under the jurisdiction of the city of Huizhou. Southwest of Conghua is the district of Baiyun, and west is the district of Huadu. Conghua encompasses the forest area of the Liuxi River and the Huanglong Reservoir Administrative Area. Northwest is the county of Fogang, which is under the jurisdiction of the city of Qingyuan; and directly north is the county of Xinfeng, which is under the jurisdiction of the city of Shaoguan. The perimeter of Conghua is roughly the shape of the victory letter “V” and contains 2000 square kilometers, in which approximately 540,000 people reside. The area is between the fluvial plains of the Pearl River Delta and the varied terrain of the mountain region of northern Guandong (? Nanling?). This mountain region is where the Liuxi River originates, which after gathering numerous streams along its path, eventually becomes the source river of Conghua.

从化被誉为“北回归线上的明珠”，山清水秀，风光旖旎，境内有巍峨挺拔的“天堂顶”、“五指山”、“通天蜡烛”等十座海拔千米以上高山，密林蔽日，峡谷幽深，清泉湍急，大小湖泊水库一百多个，星罗棋布、错落有节，景致独特。

The natural beauty of the area has earned Conghua the prestigious title of “a pearl on the Tropic of Cancer”, and within its borders are ten mountains – including the famous “Peak of Heaven”, “Five-Finger Mountain”, and the “Towering Candle” – that reach to over 1000 meters above sea level. The leafy trees around the mountains are a sun shelter, the canyons are deep, the springs flow with a rapid current, and the area includes over 100 lakes and reservoirs of different sizes. Together, these create a marvelous and unique sight.

石门、流溪河国家森林公园各具特色，相映成趣。

The Shimen and Liuxi River National Forests both have particular features that make them special.

一年四季，漫山遍野的梅花、桃花、李花、山杜鹃、红枫等你追我赶，竟相开放，气势磅礴；春华秋实，青梅、三华李、荔枝、杨梅、红柿、柑橙等特色果品次第登场，尽显自然造化。

Blooming throughout the year, plum, peach, wild azalea, and red maple trees are abundant across the mountains and plains. As if trying to outdo each other, they span out vibrantly, creating a majestic and inspiring scene. After Spring, Autumn brings other trees to blossom: green plum, San Hua plum, litchi chinensis, red barberry, red persimmon, and citrus orange. All of which, as if to demonstrate nature’s boundless yield, ripen in turn.

万亩毛竹常年翠绿，依山起伏，时或遇风摇曳呜鸣，宛若深邃莫测的海洋。

Year round, the bamboo covering tens of thousands of acres remains green. It grows on every mountainside, rising and falling in alternate waves that whir in the wind and ripple like a lush, deep ocean.

流溪河湾畔，更有优质温泉自河底泉眼涌出，无色无味，水质晶莹，富含多种对人体有益元素，举世闻名。

Around the bay of the Liuxi River, pleasant hot springs issue from the many mouths beneath, bringing up clear, taintless spring water that is rich in beneficial minerals. The quality of these spas has gained them worldwide renown.

崇山峻岭之间，点缀着众多的农家村落，它们大都依山傍水，不加雕琢，朴实无华，常年沐浴在山风雨雾中，正如诗云：“鸡声茅店月，人迹板桥霜” 谁的诗？，一派原生态的田园风光。

The grandeur of the mountain area is enhanced by the many villages that are scattered around the feet of hills or alongside streams. Languishing in the breeze and fine rain of the mountains, these villages are sparse, unadorned, and echo the serenity evoked in a poem by 诗人名 (=the writer of the Chinese did not know the poet’s name!):

尤其是高处的山村，如广州地区人居海拔最高的锦村阿婆六社，群山环抱，云雾缭绕，人迹稀少，民风淳朴，空气清新。

This is especially true of the settlements at the greatest heights, such as the Six Grandmothers Community of Jin village, which is surrounded by hilltops, swirling fog, breezes, and currents of fresh air. It is the highest inhabitation in Guangzhou.

置身其中，仿若人间仙境，世外桃源。

The people who live in such removed places are humble and content.

这里的确是都市人群远离尘嚣，寻求精神解脱，回归本源的梦想家园。

Being there is like experiencing a fairyland or a distant Shangri-La.

游客驴友，或漫步于山间小径，或攀爬登高，各得其所，尽情享受大自然的恩赐！

For people accustomed to metropolitan life, an escape from the rush of city living and its many stresses can be found in the dreamy environment such settlements provide. Whether hiking trails or climbing hills, tourists and backpackers cannot fail to marvel at nature’s gracious gifts to the region!