2016年CRI Countdown Ceremonies Held across China to Welcome 2016

 

In Beijing, the Imperial Ancestral Temple just outside the Forbidden City lit up with holiday decorations as people gathered together, held a countdown ceremony and said farewell to 2015. 

Meanwhile, Shanghai put on a dazzling performance on stage complete with LED lighting¹, in front of about 4,800 people at a local park. 

In the frosty city of Harbin, people congregated² around an illuminated³ ice tower at the Ice and Snow World while fireworks lit up the night sky and a bell rang to usher⁴ in the New Year.

In Hong Kong, there was a huge firework party at the Victoria Harbor as usual, creating a joyful⁵ atmosphere for residents and tourists alike.

When the clock struck midnight, the Hong Kong Convention Center displayed the giant characters "2016" and New Year blessings⁶ in multiple languages.

According to the director, Mao Weicheng, the pattern of the firework symbolizes⁷ that 2016 will be a hopeful and dynamic year.

"We have designed heart-shape patterns and patterns of 160 smiling faces. In such a short time, the effect of the firework show will be spectacular."

The display of fireworks starts simultaneously⁸ over the 10 ships on the waters of the harbor and the tops of seven tall buildings along the harbor, lasting⁹ for 8 minutes.

"It's my first time come to the harbor to witness the firework show, I feel pretty excited. I wish the New Year can bring me something new and better."

"Of course, I 'm happy and excited about the new year."

Fireworks also set off in Taiwan at the Taipei 101, the tallest building of the city.

24,000 fireworks were set off for 238 seconds, brightening the skies of Taipei, and bringing happiness and New Year blessings to the people.

For CRI, this is Niu Honglin.

1 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

2 congregated   

（使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The crowds congregated in the town square to hear the mayor speak. 人群聚集到市镇广场上来听市长讲话。
• People quickly congregated round the speaker. 人们迅速围拢在演说者的周围。

3 illuminated   

adj.被照明的；受启迪的

参考例句：

• Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
• the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市

4 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

5 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

6 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

9 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。