Abite of China（I）

福建莆田第二十四中学 周丽红

味蕾，是情感的开始。 无论我们走到哪里，对饮食的热情都是永恒的主题。 通过饮食，我们得以更深层次地了解中国，一个全新的疆域，一部人类史诗，一个从历史创伤中脱胎换骨的国家。它从本质上决定了我们是谁。

敬中国，敬中国的人民，敬中国的菜肴，还有中国的希望和未来！

干杯！

After five weeks and more than 13，000 miles crossing China， Ken and I reunite for our final dinner in Hong Kong. It feels fitting to end our journey in the city where East meets West. This view，I think has to be one of the most beautiful views in all of Asia.

It's one of the best views in the world. I mean， Hong Kong. Look at that.

I have learnt a lot on this trip. Actually， before coming， I actually wanted to experience most of the cities， because I am a city girl at heart. But going back to the roots， the basic roots and going back to the countryside and learning from these farmers.

You know， life is tough. It's not easy and the way they live with such dignity really touched me.They put their food on the plate and it represents them. They cook for us and they share with us and they're giving a bit of themselves to us.

What is amazing is how China has changed in such a short period of time. I mean， growing up， I saw China as being very poor， and not enough to eat and that sort of thing. It's transformed to the second economic power in the world. And its food is like that too， because 25 years ago， when I went throughout China， I was disappointed in Chinese food. Nobody cared about it. There was no passion.Now every place we've been to has been a more than pleasant surprise.

Through food， we've been able to get beneath the skin of China. Unrecognisable. It's like the new frontier. We discovered a country that has emerged （摆脱出来） from the trauma （精神创伤） of the cultural revolution. It's like a human epic. He's gone through all this hardship to arrive here and I think he embodies （体现）very much what China is about， looking forward. Yeah. The food culture that was in danger of being lost has been reinvigorated （使恢复生气）. Hands down， she is dumpling master of Beijing.

China is reveling （狂欢作乐）in its new-found freedom. You have these very small families that are starting businesses like this and who knows？ Maybe in the next 30 years， they'll be a gigantic（巨大的）corporation， based on this family recipe， even in the face of sweeping modernisation...

I actually didn't expect this.

Like a mass construction site.

Ethnic minorities are preserving their traditional cultures and cuisines.

Who eats the head？ The eldest here. No， no， thank you!

There's some Chinese tradition I don't like. Across China， home cooking is alive and well. I've never done it like that before. It's just， it's beautiful. I'm learning so much. While in the megacities，Chinese cuisine is reaching new heights. This is not like sweet and sour you've ever seen anywhere. It looks like a work of art.

It's been a deeply personal journey that has helped us to understand more about our relationship with our homeland. It's all about our food. We're united by how we eat， and how our passion to eat is so important and that's a recurrent theme， I felt， throughout wherever we went. It's the essence of who we are.

To China， its people， its cuisine， to its hope and to its future.

Cheers.

Reading Check

1.What does the phrase “the city” in the first paragraph refer to？ （2 words）

2.What does the author think of the farmers' life？ （1 word）

3.How did the author feel about Chinese food when she came to China 25 years ago？（1 word）

4.What amazes the author during her trip？ （no more than 13 words）

Critical Thinking

The author in the text has witnessed great changes taking place in China. What do you think is the driving force of these changes？ Give your reasons and share them with your classmates.