Cairo，the Cradle of Ancient Civilization
Cairo，the cradle of civilization，the Melting Pot of Ancient and Modern Egyptian Civilizations.It is the largest city in the Middle East and lies at the center of all routes leading to and from the three continents：Asia，Africa and Europe.It is the city where past and present meet.On its west side lies the Ancient Egyptian city of Memphis，and the site of the Pyramids，the only wonder surviving of the Seven Wonders of the World.Indeed，a journey through Cairo is a journey through time.
In spite of a thousand years of history，Cairo is young by Egyptian standards，because modern Cairo emerged only with the Arab conquest of Egypt.
The most famous of Cairo’s sights is the string of 60pyramids that stretches along the western border of the desert.Contrary to the common belief，only the Great Pyramid of Khufu，not all three Great Pyramids，is on the list of Wonders.The monument was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty around the year BC 2560to serve as a tomb when he died.When it was built，the Great pyramid was 145.75m high.Over the years，it lost 10m off its top.It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43centuries.Throughout their history，the pyramids have stimulated human imagination.When Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798，his pride was expressed through his famous quote：“Soldiers！From the top of these Pyramids，40centuries are looking at us.”
Cairo has been the most important arts center in the Islamic world for a thousand years.Cairo’s long history and rich heritage are revealed in its many museums.The famous sights in this area are the Entomological Society Museum，with an excellent collection of Egyptian insects and birds.Also in the area is the museum housing the mysterious Sun Boat，only discovered in 1954near the south side of the pyramid.The boat is believed to have been used to carry the body of Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried inside the pyramid.
This is Cairo—radiant with a long and glorious past；adorned with the achievements of a distinguished present.
This is Cairo—a cradle of civilization，a wellspring of culture，and a meetingplace of the Asian，African，and European World.
This is Cairo—An international center for social，economic，and political activity，which is making the noblest efforts aimed at peace among all nations and the benefits of all mankind.
开罗——古文明的摇篮
开罗，文明的摇篮，埃及古老文明和现代文明的大熔炉。作为中东地区最大的城市，它是亚洲、非洲和欧洲的交通枢纽。过去和现在在这座城市里交汇成一体。在开罗西部，坐落着埃及古城孟斐斯和世界七大奇迹中惟一幸存下来的奇迹金字塔。的的确确，穿越开罗的旅行就是一次穿越时空的旅程。
尽管已有千年历史，在埃及人眼中，开罗依然年轻，因为阿拉伯人征服埃及之后，现代开罗才开始出现。
开罗最著名的景观是沿沙漠西部边缘一溜排开的60座金字塔。和人们的普遍想法相反，并非三大金字塔而只有胡夫大金字塔才被列入七大奇迹。这座金字塔是埃及第四王朝的法老胡夫大约在公元前2560年建造的，用作死后的坟墓。大金字塔在建成时高145.75米。随着岁月的流逝，它的高度已经降低了10米。世界最高建筑物的桂冠在它头上戴了4，300年之久。金字塔在历史上曾经激发了人们无数的想像。拿破仑在1798年进军埃及时，他的骄傲之情溢于言表：“士兵们，4，000年的岁月在金字塔的顶端注视着我们啊！”
千年以来开罗一直是穆斯林国家最重要的艺术中心。开罗众多的博物馆展示着它悠久的历史和丰富的文化遗产。这里的著名景观是昆虫世界博物馆，里面收藏了埃及丰富多采的昆虫和鸟类标本。这里还有收藏着神秘太阳船的博物院，该船直到1954年才在金字塔的南面被人发现。人们认为胡夫入葬金字塔前，曾用它做最后的旅行。
这就是开罗，悠久而光荣的历史放射着迷人的光辉，现代卓越的成就更增添了这个城市的魅力。
这就是开罗，文明的摇篮，文化的源泉，亚洲、非洲以及欧洲的交融之地。
这就是开罗，一个社会、经济和政治活动的国际化大都市，正在为世界各国的和平和全人类的利益而积极不懈地努力着。
The Kingdom of Women
A unique tribe and its culture face new challenges from the outside world.
Imagine a people whose language has no word for “marriage”or “husband”.Just such a tribe lives in the remote mountains of southeastern China.LakeLugu，known as the “Country of Women”is home to the Mosuo，one of the few remaining matriarchal societies left in the world.
Mosuo culture revolves around women：the women make all the important decisions，control the family’s resources，and pass their surnames onto their children.Rather than marry，a Mosuo woman takes many lovers over her lifetime，and the resulting children will always live with her.While the Mosou language has a word for “mother”，there is no word for “father”and Mosuo children refer to all older men as “uncle”.
Getting to Lake Lugu isn’t easy，and the isolation from the outside world helped the tribe keep their customs and culture intact.A generation ago，few outsiders had ever heard of Lake Lugu or the Mosuo.
But after anthropologists first started to document the tribe’s customs，word got out about the uniqueness of their culture and the beauty of the lake.These reports attracted travelers and，at times，this onceisolated paradise seems filled with tourists who’ve come to gawk at the locals.Along with the visitors come stories of the outside world，tempting the young to leave home for the big cities in search of new opportunities.
For better or worse，the unique world of the Mosuo people is changing.Many of the older Mosuo women prefer the old days，before the outsiders came with their strange clothing and stranger ideas.But most agree that change is inevitable.And some of the younger Mosuo women are speaking openly about getting married—a concept their grandmothers still don’t understand.
女儿国
一个奇特的部落和它的文化面临外来新挑战。
想像一下某个族群，他们的语言里没有“婚姻”或“丈夫”。这样的部落居住在中国东南的偏远山区中，以“女儿国”闻名于世的泸沽湖是摩梭族的所在之地，他们是世界上仅存的少数母系社会之一。
摩梭文化以女性为中心：女性做所有重要决定，控制家族资源，并将姓氏传给她们的孩子。摩梭妇女不结婚，她们一生中有许多情人，因而出生的小孩永远和她们同住。摩梭语有“母亲”这个词，没有代表“父亲”的词，而摩梭族的孩子称所有较为年长的男性为“叔叔”。
要到泸沽湖并不容易，而与世隔绝的状况帮助这个部落原封不动地保留了自己的习俗和文化。在上一代，少有外地人听说过泸沽湖或摩梭族。
但是，在人类学家第一次开始记录这个部落的习俗后，关于他们的特殊文化和美丽湖泊的消息就传开来了。这些报导引来了游客，有时这个曾经被孤立的天堂似乎挤满了跑来呆呆地凝望本地人的观光客。外界的故事随着观光客者传了进来，吸引年轻人离开家乡到大都市去寻找新的机会。
不管怎么说，摩梭人的独特世界正在改变。许多老一辈的摩梭女性比较喜欢过去的日子，那些在奇装异服、胡思乱想的外地人到访前的日子。但她们多数人同意改变是不可避免的。而有些较年轻的摩梭女性也公开谈起结婚一事，这是一个她们的祖母依旧不了解的概念。
Famous City Barcelona
