Podcasts about Forbidden City

Brian Sampson is cycle touring the world to tick off every destination from the book 'The Thousand Places to See Before You Die'  This month's update covers the end of his time in China and his first stretch riding through England and Wales.Brian shares his experiences of:Sleeping in temples and stealth camping in multiple continentsVisiting Tiananmen Square and  the Forbidden City.Daily routines and how they change with climate and daylight hours.Welcome to My Garden vs Warmshowers A crazy experience of encountering a mountain lion on the Pacific Coast Highway Reverse culture shock going from China to cycling through England and Wales.Follow Brian via his instagram page - @Brian.Sampson4 You can also check out his blog for a breakdown of his experiences so far. Check out Old Man Mountain's new Manzanita Handlebar Cradle  Support the showBuy me a coffee!I'm an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:

With the Old Breed is widely considered one of the greatest war memoirs ever written. Penned by Eugene Sledge, a Marine who fought with the 1st Division — the old breed — in the Pacific campaigns of Peleliu and Okinawa, the book is unflinching, deeply human, and so vividly written that you can practically feel the heat, mud, exhaustion, and terror coming off the page.But Sledge wasn't a professional writer. He was a biology professor who started jotting notes on scraps of paper tucked inside the New Testament he carried in his breast pocket. He wrote the book decades later, partly to process his own trauma, partly to leave a record for his sons.One of those sons is my guest today. Henry Sledge has spent years carrying his father's legacy forward, and he's written his own book — The Old Breed: The Complete Story Revealed — that pairs his father's combat experience with previously unpublished material and his own perspective as Eugene's son. Today on the show, Henry and I talk about why his dad wrote With the Old Breed, what made fighting in the Pacific uniquely hellish, and how Eugene managed to come home and live a full, honorable life despite carrying the war with him for the rest of his days.Resources Related to the PodcastChina Marine: An Infantryman's Life After World War II by E.B. SledgeHBO series The PacificKen Burns' The WarAoM Article: Eugene B. Sledge Puts Your Problems Into PerspectiveAoM Article: Are You Missing the Forbidden City?Connect With Henry SledgeHenry on IGHenry on FBThanks to This Week's Sponsor!Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MANLINESS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/MANLINESSSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

PREVIEW for Later Today: Analyzing Xi Jinping's Petty Power Plays During Trump's Visit. Guest: Gordon Chang. Gordon Chang highlights Xi Jinping's "petty" behavior during a Forbidden City summit, including using higher chairs to appear dominant. Despite Xi's talk of a "new era," his actions suggest underlying weakness.1898

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Rekindling Ties: A Heartfelt Reunion in the Forbidden City Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-05-15-07-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在故宫的春日阳光下，金色的屋顶熠熠生辉，空气里弥漫着盛开的牡丹香。En: Under the spring sunshine of the Forbidden City, the golden roofs gleamed brilliantly, and the air was filled with the fragrance of blooming peonies.Zh: 这是端午节，游客们络绎不绝，En: It was the Dragon Boat Festival, and tourists came one after another.Zh: 欢笑声里夹杂着远处传来的龙舟竞赛鼓点声。En: Their laughter mingled with the distant sound of drumbeats from the dragon boat races.Zh: 莲站在午门前，手心里握着一张老旧的家庭照片。En: Lian stood in front of the Meridian Gate, holding an old family photo in her hands.Zh: 照片里，她、母亲芝和表妹梅的笑容仿佛凝固在旧时光中。En: In the photo, the smiles of Zhi, her mother, and cousin Mei seemed frozen in time.Zh: 这是第一次在故宫举办的家庭聚会，莲迫切地想要修复她和母亲之间的关系。En: This was the first family gathering held in the Forbidden City, and Lian was eager to mend her relationship with her mother.Zh: 自从她立志成为一名艺术家后，母亲芝便一直对她冷漠。En: Since her determination to become an artist, her mother Zhi had been distant.Zh: 这次聚会也是她想要与表妹梅澄清误会的机会。En: This gathering was also an opportunity for her to clear up misunderstandings with her cousin Mei.Zh: 随着家人们一同步入太和殿，莲的心情如鼓点般起伏不定。En: As the family members entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony together, Lian's emotions fluctuated like drumbeats.Zh: 梅始终坐在一旁，沉默地注视着她。En: Mei sat silently by her side, watching her.Zh: 莲深吸一口气，走向梅，轻声说道：“梅，我们可以谈谈吗？”En: Lian took a deep breath, walked over to Mei, and softly said, "Mei, can we talk?"Zh: 梅的眼神稍有动摇，却依然倔强地说：“那么多年前的事，你也想要个解释吗？”En: Mei's eyes showed a slight hesitation, yet she stubbornly said, "Do you want an explanation for something that happened so many years ago?"Zh: 莲摇摇头，语气诚恳：“我只想知道，为什么你对我有那么大意见？”En: Lian shook her head, her tone sincere, "I just want to know why you hold such a grudge against me."Zh: 梅低声答道：“那年家族聚会，你一声不响就走了，所有人都在找你，可你从没想过回头。”En: Mei responded softly, "That year, at the family gathering, you left without a word, everyone was looking for you, but you never thought to turn back."Zh: 这时，芝不知何故走近，听到这番对话，表情终于有了变化。En: Just then, Zhi approached, having overheard the conversation, and her expression finally changed.Zh: 她看着莲，微微叹了口气：“是我的错，那时我太严格，一直没给你解释的机会。”En: She looked at Lian and sighed softly, "It was my fault, I was too strict back then, and I never gave you a chance to explain."Zh: 忽然，梅忍不住大声说：“还是因为你只顾着自己的理想，不顾别人。”En: Suddenly, Mei couldn't help but say loudly, "It's still because you only cared about your own ideals and disregarded others."Zh: 在太和殿的宏伟而苍凉的回声中，这场对峙逐渐升温。En: In the magnificent yet desolate echo of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the confrontation gradually intensified.Zh: 而就在这时，芝站了出来，对梅说：“你不知道的事很多。En: But at this moment, Zhi stepped forward and said to Mei, "There are many things you don't know.Zh: 我也曾因为自己的固执错过了很多机会，不过未必要一直如此。”En: I, too, missed many opportunities because of my stubbornness, but it doesn't always have to be that way."Zh: 在她们三人间，沉默瞬间变得沉重。En: Among the three of them, the silence grew heavy.Zh: 然而这次，莲走到母亲身边，伸出手：“妈，我们都需要学会表达爱。”En: However, this time, Lian walked over to her mother and extended her hand: "Mom, we all need to learn to express love."Zh: 芝犹豫了一下，最终握住莲的手，眼中满是温柔：“莲，我一直以你为傲。”En: Zhi hesitated for a moment and finally took Lian's hand, her eyes full of tenderness, "Lian, I have always been proud of you."Zh: 梅静静看着这温馨的一幕，嘴角微微上扬：“或许，是时候我们能一起向前看了。”En: Mei watched the warm scene quietly, her lips slightly curling into a smile, "Maybe it's time for us to look forward together."Zh: 夕阳渐渐西下，故宫的长影笼罩在她们身上，仿佛一层温柔的守护。En: As the sun gradually dipped westward, the long shadows of the Forbidden City enveloped them, like a gentle guardian.Zh: 亲情的误解在开放的对话中被慢慢融化，新的篇章也在心中悄然开启。En: The misunderstandings of family affection slowly melted away in the open conversation, and a new chapter quietly began in their hearts.Zh: 故宫里，人们继续忙碌于庆祝，屋顶的金色光芒映照着她们重拾的和谐。En: Inside the Forbidden City, people continued to celebrate, and the golden light on the rooftops reflected the harmony they were finding again. Vocabulary Words:blooming: 盛开的peonies: 牡丹mingled: 夹杂drumbeats: 鼓点fluctuated: 起伏不定sincere: 诚恳grudge: 意见hesitation: 动摇strict: 严格stubbornness: 固执magnificent: 宏伟desolate: 苍凉confrontation: 对峙intensified: 升温tenderness: 温柔affection: 亲情misunderstandings: 误解guardian: 守护harmony: 和谐opportunity: 机会ideal: 理想disregarded: 不顾froze: 凝固resolve: 修复determination: 立志explanation: 解释extended: 伸出proud: 以...为傲embrace: 拥抱contentment: 满足

It starts with a train… going THROUGH a building

It starts with a train… going THROUGH a building

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: From Shy to Leader: A Forbidden City Cultural Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-05-04-07-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京的春天，紫禁城里充满了节日的气氛。En: In the springtime in Beijing, the Forbidden City was filled with a festive atmosphere.Zh: 五一劳动节来临，古老的宫殿被五颜六色的装饰点缀着，为来自世界各地的学生搭建了一个文化交流的平台。En: As the May Day was approaching, the ancient palace was adorned with colorful decorations, creating a platform for cultural exchange for students from around the world.Zh: 贾浩是一位勤奋内向的学生，他对不同文化充满了好奇。En: Jia Hao was a diligent and introverted student, full of curiosity about different cultures.Zh: 旁边是美琳，一位个性开朗，热情洋溢的学生，她喜欢讲述历史。En: Next to him was Mei Lin, a cheerful and enthusiastic student who loved to talk about history.Zh: 而国伟则是一位严肃而有野心的学生，他渴望与国际友人建立长久关系。En: And Guo Wei, a serious and ambitious student, was eager to build lasting relationships with international friends.Zh: 在拥挤的人群中，贾浩有些紧张。En: In the bustling crowd, Jia Hao felt a bit nervous.Zh: 他想和来自不同国家的学生交朋友，但面对这么大的团体，他却不知道如何开口。En: He wanted to make friends with students from different countries, but faced with such a large group, he didn't know how to start a conversation.Zh: 学校为了促进交流，组织了一场大规模的寻宝游戏。En: To promote communication, the school organized a large-scale treasure hunt.Zh: 贾浩下定决心参加，希望藉此机会打破自己的害羞。En: Jia Hao decided to participate, hoping this opportunity could help him overcome his shyness.Zh: 紫禁城的庭院宽广，阳光洒在红墙黄瓦上，如同一个色彩斑斓的梦境。En: The courtyards of the Forbidden City were vast, with sunlight spreading over the red walls and yellow tiles, like a colorful dream.Zh: 贾浩和一群来自世界各地的学生被分成一组，他们必须一起寻找隐藏在宫殿角落的线索。En: Jia Hao and a group of students from around the world were divided into a team, and they had to search together for clues hidden in the corners of the palace.Zh: 队伍里有来自不同国家的学生，有金发的安娜、来自墨西哥的胡安，还有热情的印度女孩阿米塔。En: The team included students from different countries, such as blond-haired Anna, Juan from Mexico, and the enthusiastic Indian girl Amita.Zh: 起初，贾浩只是在一旁默默地走着，但很快，他注意到大家需要一个领导者来组织搜索。En: Initially, Jia Hao walked silently by the side, but soon he noticed that everyone needed a leader to organize the search.Zh: 他鼓起勇气，走到最前面，说：“我们可以先去文华殿看看，那边可能有线索。En: He gathered his courage, stepped forward, and said, "We can start by checking out the Wenhua Hall; there might be clues there."Zh: ”随着时间的推移，贾浩的声音越来越自信，指挥队伍井然有序地寻找线索。En: As time went by, Jia Hao's voice grew more confident, and he led the team in an orderly search for clues.Zh: 大家开始齐心协力，不分国界，各自引用自己的文化背景，提出点子，开怀大笑。En: Everyone began to work together, transcending national boundaries, drawing from their own cultural backgrounds, suggesting ideas, and laughing openly.Zh: 当最后一块拼图在贾浩的带领下被找到时，大家都欢呼雀跃。En: When the last piece of the puzzle was found under Jia Hao's leadership, everyone cheered enthusiastically.Zh: 贾浩感受到一种从未有过的成就感，他终于迈出了自己的圈子，认识了许多新朋友。En: Jia Hao felt a sense of achievement he had never experienced before; he had finally stepped out of his comfort zone and made many new friends.Zh: 在那一天的最终时刻，贾浩站在紫禁城那巍峨的红墙下，微风吹过，他笑了。En: At the end of that day, standing under the towering red walls of the Forbidden City, a gentle breeze passed by, and he smiled.Zh: 他知道，这不仅是一次成功的寻宝，更是一场重大的自我成长。En: He realized that this was not only a successful treasure hunt but also a significant personal growth.Zh: 此后，贾浩学会了如何主动与人交流，他领悟到跨越文化差异沟通的价值。En: After this, Jia Hao learned how to initiate conversations with people, and he understood the value of overcoming cultural differences in communication.Zh: 对于他来说，这次文化交流不仅让他认识到历史的厚重，也让他理解了自信的真正意义。En: For him, this cultural exchange not only made him appreciate the weight of history but also enlightened him on the true meaning of self-confidence.Zh: 每一次踏出舒适区，都会为人生增添新的色彩。En: Every step out of the comfort zone adds new colors to life. Vocabulary Words:springtime: 春天Forbidden City: 紫禁城festive: 节日的adorned: 点缀curiosity: 好奇introverted: 内向cheerful: 开朗ambitious: 有野心bustling: 拥挤的conversation: 交谈large-scale: 大规模treasure hunt: 寻宝courtyards: 庭院clues: 线索hidden: 隐藏corners: 角落initially: 起初gathered: 鼓起confident: 自信orderly: 井然有序transcending: 跨越boundaries: 国界backgrounds: 背景achievement: 成就感comfort zone: 舒适区significant: 重大personal growth: 自我成长initiate: 主动cultural exchange: 文化交流enlightened: 领悟

En asiatisk-italiensk, martial arts, romantisk actionfilm, det er hvad The Forbidden City byder på. En vaskeægte Romeo og Julie historie, hvis altså Romeo var en talentfuld kok ved navn Marcello og Julie var den kick-ass kvinde Mei fra Kina. Marcello og Mei har intet til fælles, de taler ikke engang hinandens sprog, men de bliver alligevel rystet sammen takket være en tragedie. https://www.ikassenshow.dk/2026/05/i-kassen-1262-forbidden-city-2025.html

Join Andrew Crews and Michael Carroll as they explore their top martial arts movies, sharing insights, impact, and personal favorites. Discover hidden gems, iconic fight scenes, and the stories behind these legendary films.You Can Find Michael:Producermike975 on all social media platforms.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comicast/id1266435671https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-book-dragon-festival-author-panel-tickets-1984510987786Micheal's ListHonorable Mentions: 13 Assassins, Ong Bak: Thai Warrior, Police Story, & Flash Point. Not out yet:The Furious and The Forbidden City. The Old Woman with a Knife which came last year.1) Enter the Dragon 2) The Protector 3) Ip Man 4) The Raid: Redemption 5) The Night Comes for UsAndrews List:Black Belt Jones Black DynamiteDrunken Master Enter the DragonThe Last DragonNinja AssassinKiss of the DragonThe OneBlood and BoneBlack DynamiteTik Tok: Andrewcrews4Twitter: Nicetown finestTwitch: Twitch.tv/nicetown_finest27https://www.patreon.com/Crewsinpodcast

Mark and Nick discuss the 2025 Italian martial arts film The Forbidden City. Directed by Gabriele Mainetti and starring Enrico Borello, Yaxi Liu, Marco Giallini and a well-stocked kitchen, the Italian action film is an excellent showcase for Yaxi Liu. In this episode, they also talk about kitchen fights, restaurant photos, and Well Go USA movies. Enjoy!

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Blooming Traditions: A Quest for Ancestral Harmony Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-04-12-22-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 龙爪树花开的时候，阳光撒在紫禁城的金色屋顶上。En: When the dragon claw trees bloom, sunlight casts its glow on the golden rooftops of the Forbidden City.Zh: 春风轻轻吹过，带来一丝温暖。En: The spring breeze gently blows, bringing a touch of warmth.Zh: 游客们沿着古老的石板小路缓缓走动，交流着各自的见闻。En: Tourists stroll slowly along the ancient stone paths, exchanging stories of their own experiences.Zh: 今天是清明节，来自远方的玲和她的朋友伟正迈步进入这座历史悠久的宫殿。En: Today is Qingming Festival, and Ling, along with her friend Wei, is stepping into this historic palace.Zh: 玲一直知道，清明节是纪念祖先的日子。En: Ling has always known that Qingming Festival is a day to commemorate ancestors.Zh: 她的家庭非常重视这个传统。En: Her family places great importance on this tradition.Zh: 然而，随着岁月流逝，玲对这些习俗有了些许疏离感。En: However, as the years have passed, Ling has felt somewhat distanced from these customs.Zh: 一路上，她心里纠结着，是否严格按照传统方式来祭拜，或是寻找一种属于自己的表达方式。En: Along the way, she wrestles with the decision of whether to strictly follow traditional rituals or to find her own way of expression.Zh: 伟是个乐观的人，总是用幽默的话语鼓励玲。En: Wei is an optimistic person, always encouraging Ling with his humorous words.Zh: 他打趣道：“玲，前面有一片很安静的庭院，也许你可以在那里找到自己的节奏。”En: He jokes, “Ling, there's a very quiet courtyard ahead, maybe you can find your own rhythm there.”Zh: 他的话让玲心里稍微放松，她笑着点头。En: His words help to ease Ling's mind a little, and she nods with a smile.Zh: 他们转过一角，来到一处相对安静的院子。En: They turn a corner and arrive at a relatively quiet courtyard.Zh: 红墙静静矗立着，少了些喧闹，却多了几分宁静。En: The red walls stand silently, with less hustle and bustle, and a bit more tranquility.Zh: 玲停下脚步，看着周围的景致，心里逐渐平静下来。En: Ling pauses, taking in the scenery around her, and gradually her heart becomes calm.Zh: 她闭上眼睛，冥想着曾经祖先的形象，思绪随风而动。En: She closes her eyes, imagining the figures of her ancestors, her thoughts drifting with the wind.Zh: 玲记得母亲告诉过她，传统是连接过去与未来的桥梁。En: Ling remembers her mother telling her that tradition is a bridge connecting the past and the future.Zh: 而她需要找到这份联系中自己的一部分。En: She needs to find her part in this connection.Zh: 于是，玲轻轻取出准备好的纸钱和香火，简单地设立了自己的祭台，然后，静静站在那里，感受内心深处传来的安宁。En: So, Ling gently takes out the prepared paper money and incense, setting up her simple altar, then stands there quietly, feeling the peace from deep within her heart.Zh: 伟站在一旁，默默支持。En: Wei stands beside her, offering silent support.Zh: 虽然他性格开朗，有时也显得不以为然，但他对朋友有着深刻的理解。En: Although he is cheerful and sometimes seems indifferent, he deeply understands his friend.Zh: “很高兴看到你这样做，玲，”他低声说。En: “I'm glad to see you do this, Ling,” he says softly.Zh: 随着最后一缕烟雾升入天空，玲觉得自己终于和平了。En: As the last wisp of smoke rises into the sky, Ling feels a sense of peace.Zh: 她意识到，传统不仅是一种外在的责任，更是一种内心的选择。En: She realizes that tradition is not just an external obligation, but an inner choice.Zh: 她可以带着祖先的祝福走向未来，同时也能在这条路上找到自己。En: She can carry the blessings of her ancestors into the future and, at the same time, find herself on this journey.Zh: 此时阳光和煦，微风轻拂，玲微笑着，心中充满了慰藉。En: The sun is gentle now, and the breeze is light, as Ling smiles, her heart filled with comfort.Zh: 她牵着伟的手，两人缓步离开庭院，融入这座古老皇城的春日韵律中。En: She takes Wei's hand, and they slowly leave the courtyard, blending into the spring rhythm of the ancient imperial city.Zh: 故事的结束，犹如一首朦胧的小诗，带着爱的温度，悄然滋润着每一个生命的瞬间。En: The end of the story is like a hazy little poem, carrying the warmth of love, quietly nurturing every moment of life. Vocabulary Words:bloom: 花开rooftops: 屋顶Forbidden City: 紫禁城breeze: 春风ancestors: 祖先tradition: 传统rituals: 方式humorous: 幽默courtyard: 庭院tranquility: 宁静altar: 祭台incense: 香火obligation: 责任wisp: 缕imperial: 皇城hustle and bustle: 喧闹gestures: 冥想drift: 思绪随风rhythm: 韵律comprehend: 理解cheerful: 开朗indifferent: 不以为然tapestry: 这座宫殿haze: 朦胧nourishing: 滋润solace: 慰藉prepared: 准备claw: 爪exchange: 交流seeking: 寻找

Today, we'll talk about the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a modest courtyard in Beijing's Forbidden City that served for nearly two centuries as the living quarters and political nerve center of Qing emperors, where the rise, transformation, and eventual decline of China's last imperial dynasty quietly unfolded.

THE FORBIDDEN CITY – an award-winning, action-packed tale of two strangers seeking truth and vengeance -- debuting on Digital March 17 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD April 21 from Well Go USA Entertainment.   Get your copy today by messaging "Forbidden City Giveaway". From Gabriele Mainetti, director of They Call Me Jeeg Robot and Freaks Out, comes the action-packed tale of two strangers seeking the truth and vengeance. Mei arrives in Rome looking for her missing sister and, along the way, meets Marcello, who is desperate to find his father. Together, they will fight their way through the Roman underworld. Filled with lightning-paced martial arts,THE FORBIDDEN CITY is an action epic not to be missed.   Country of Origin:    Italy   THE FORBIDDEN CITY has a runtime of approximately 138 minutes and is not rated.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Will is suddenly into rom coms apparently.---

The Boys bring you a LOADED episode this week. Ed Travis stops by for his annual report on SXSW. Liam and Vyce shed a couple of tears for PROJECT: HAIL MARY. Meanwhile Mike and Producer Max are in the DTV Trenches to talk THE FORBIDDEN CITY and MEXICALI. All that plus Death, Heart-strings, and Podcast Pumps await in the latest episode of Action For Everyone!Find Us on these Platforms:Guest- Ed Travis: Bluesky/Letterboxd/CinapseThe Boys-Action For Everyone: Twitter/BlueSky/Twitch/InstagramMichael Scott: BlueSkyVyceVictus: Twitter/BlueSky/Instagram/LetterboxdLiam O'Donnell: Twitter/InstagramMax Deering: Twitter/Bluesky/Letterboxd/Polygon/Neonsplatter/Fangoria/DiscussingFilm, Muckrack

You'll recognize Camrus Johnson's face from his roles as Batwing on the Batwoman series or his new turn from hero to villain in season 2 of One Piece, where he plays Mr. 5. But you might not know that he's also a director – of both television and award winning animation shorts – and an accomplished musician. Camrus and Jordan talk about the power of seeing yourself in a superhero (both before and after getting to embody one!) as he brings 2000s TV superhero icon Static Shock to the Feeling Seen table. Then, Jordan has one quick thing (two quick things?) about a pair of badass action films that just came out in the states: Mexicali and The Forbidden City. Feeling Seen is hosted by Jordan Crucchiola and is a production of Maximum Fun.Need more Feeling Seen? Keep up with the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Direct experience of country's heritage now key feature of high-level diplomacy亲身感受中国历史文化正成为高层外交重要内容During a visit to the Palace Museum in Beijing in January, veteran guide Wang Xiaoxin had the opportunity to give visiting Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo a tour. Wang shared a historical anecdote about Finnish-born art historian Osvald Siren, who was invited by Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), to visit the Forbidden City in 1922. This story immediately captured Orpo's attention.今年1月，资深导游王晓新（音译）有机会为来北京访问的芬兰总理彼得里·奥尔波提供故宫博物院的讲解服务。王晓新分享了一个历史轶闻：1922年，出生于芬兰的艺术史学家喜龙仁曾受清朝末代皇帝溥仪的邀请参观紫禁城。这个故事立即引起了奥尔波的兴趣。Over the next hour, Wang guided Orpo along the palace's central axis, introducing him to the architecture, imperial rituals and folk customs of ancient China. Orpo showed particular interest in the imperial examination system, and was surprised to learn that candidates once spent three consecutive days completing the demanding tests used to select government officials, according to Wang.在接下来的一小时里，王晓新带领奥尔波沿着故宫中轴线参观，向他介绍中国古代的建筑、宫廷礼仪和民俗风情。据王晓新观察，奥尔波对科举制度表现出浓厚兴趣，当得知考生曾需要连续三天完成选拔官员的严格考试时，他感到惊讶。After the visit, Orpo expressed his excitement on social media, describing it as "an amazing experience". He praised the guide and the tour, noting the remarkable juxtaposition of the centuries-old historical site in the middle of an enormous modern city filled with skyscrapers.参观结束后，奥尔波在社交媒体上表达了他的兴奋之情，称这是一次"奇妙的经历"。他称赞了这次导览，并特别提到这座拥有数百年历史的文化遗址与现代摩天大楼林立的都市景象交相辉映，令人赞叹。According to Wang, the Palace Museum provides one of the best windows for visitors to understand China. Within its walls are over a thousand years of cultural heritage, offering insights into the core ideas that have shaped Chinese culture.王晓新认为，故宫是外国友人了解中国的最佳窗口之一。故宫承载了上千年的文化遗产，展现了塑造中华文化的核心理念。"In recent years, there has been talk of a so-called 'China threat' in some Western societies," he noted. "However, when people visit the Palace Museum and learn about China's traditional culture, they often discover that Chinese philosophy has long emphasized harmony and balance."他说："近年来，西方社会出现了一些所谓'中国威胁论'的论调。但当人们参观故宫，了解中国传统文化后，常常会发现中国哲学历来强调和谐与平衡。"During his guided tours, Wang frequently introduces the Taoist concept of wuwei, which advocates governance through respect for the intrinsic nature of people and society, rather than excessive interference or imposition. This ancient wisdom has influenced the country's governance for centuries.在讲解中，王晓新经常介绍道家的"无为"思想，主张通过尊重人民和社会的本性来进行治理，而不是过度干预或强行施压。这一古老智慧影响了中国数千年来的治国理政。Wang said that as Western countries increasingly view China in a more equal and objective manner, understanding Chinese culture and gaining insight into how Chinese people think and live can foster engagement based on mutual understanding.他表示，随着西方国家越来越平等、客观地看待中国，理解中国文化并深入了解中国人的思维和生活方式，有助于在相互理解的基础上促进交流。Several other foreign leaders, such as Irish Taoiseach, or prime minister, Micheal Martin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President of Uruguay Yamandu Orsi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have all incorporated cultural experiences into their visits to China in recent months.近几个月来，爱尔兰总理米歇尔·马丁、德国总理弗里德里希·默茨、乌拉圭总统亚曼杜·奥尔西以及英国首相基尔·斯塔默等多位外国领导人在访华期间，也都安排了文化体验行程。Starmer began his China visit at a Yunnan cuisine restaurant in Beijing. His cultural itinerary included visits to the Palace Museum as well as Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, which embodies the essence of classical Chinese landscaping.斯塔默的访华行程始于北京一家云南风味餐厅。他的文化之旅还包括参观故宫博物院和体现中国古典园林精华的上海豫园。Dom Hastings, culture counsellor at the British embassy in China, said the arrangements reflected the full breadth of the relationship between the United Kingdom and China.英国驻华大使馆文化参赞韩苏表示，这些安排体现了英中关系的广度。"This is not only a political and trading relationship. It is also a long-standing cultural one," he said.他说："这不仅是政治和贸易关系，也是长期的文化关系。""When planning the visit, we wanted to give the prime minister a rounded view of China, acknowledging its ancient heritage while also presenting a contemporary picture of the country today," Hastings added."在策划行程时，我们希望让首相对中国有一个全面的了解，既要了解其古老的文化遗产，也要展现其当代面貌。"Dominic Stanton, communications counsellor at the British embassy, said planners were also mindful of the long history of bilateral cultural exchanges, including the state visit to China by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.英国驻华大使馆通讯公关参赞沈栋明表示，策划者也考虑到了两国长期文化交流的历史，包括1986年英国女王伊丽莎白二世对中国的国事访问。During Starmer's visit, the prime minister sat at the same table at Yuyuan Garden that the queen did 40 years ago. By referencing that legacy, the visit sought to highlight the enduring value of cultural connections, Stanton said.斯塔默访问期间，在豫园就坐于40年前女王曾使用过的同一张桌子旁。沈栋明说，通过借鉴这一历史遗产，此次访问旨在强调文化连接的持久价值。Zhao Hongyan, a professor of international relations at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said cultural activities have long been part of the diplomatic agenda, but are now more systematically integrated into leaders' itineraries, becoming an important feature of high-level diplomacy.对外经济贸易大学国际关系学院教授赵鸿燕表示，文化活动长期以来一直是外交议程的一部分，但现在更系统地融入到领导人的行程中，成为高层外交的一个重要特色。This shift reflects the growing role of soft communication and public diplomacy in international engagement, she said.她认为，这一转变反映了软沟通和公共外交在国际交往中日益重要的作用。"By stepping outside formal meeting rooms and engaging with local communities, food, history and daily life, they encounter the diversity of Chinese society and civilization," Zhao added.她说："通过走出正式会议室，接触当地社区、美食、历史和日常生活，他们得以接触到中国社会和文明的多样性。"Images of leaders interacting with local residents or participating in cultural activities often signal openness toward China and a willingness to improve bilateral relations, she said.赵鸿燕还指出，领导人接触当地居民或参与文化活动的形象，往往传递出对中国持开放态度以及愿意改善双边关系的信号。More important, by sending positive signals and fostering goodwill, cultural exchanges can help build the trust needed for subsequent negotiations, Zhao noted.更重要的是，通过传递积极信号和培养善意，文化交流有助于建立后续谈判所需的信任。The essence of cultural experience and communication lies in enabling face-to-face and person-to-person interaction, Zhao said, adding that such direct exchanges allow people to break stereotypes and understand each other in a more authentic way.文化体验和交流的本质在于实现面对面的互动。这种直接的交流能够让彼此打破成见，更真实地相互理解。While traditional cultural symbols such as the Palace Museum, classical gardens and Chinese cuisine have become a "must-see" on diplomatic visits, Zhao said she believes that these experiences could be expanded further.赵鸿燕认为，尽管故宫、古典园林和中国美食等传统文化符号已成为外交访问的"必选项"，但这些体验还可以进一步拓展。Stories of ordinary people and community life can reveal the warmth and vitality of Chinese society, while showcasing advances in China's technology, green development and new energy can address issues of global concern.普通人的故事和社区生活可以展现中国社会的温情与活力，而展示中国在科技、绿色发展和新能源方面的进步，则可以回应全球共同关注的议题。During his China visit, German Chancellor Merz toured the humanoid robotics company Unitree Robotics in Hangzhou, Zhe­jiang province, and watched robots perform boxing and martial arts.德国总理默茨在访华期间参观了位于浙江杭州的人形机器人公司宇树科技，观看了机器人表演拳击和武术。The visit signaled growing international recognition of China's robotics and artificial intelligence technologies, and also offered a glimpse into the future of bilateral industrial cooperation, said Michael Schumann, chairman of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade.德国联邦经济发展和对外贸易协会主席米夏埃尔·舒曼表示，这次访问标志着国际社会对中国机器人技术和人工智能技术的日益认可，也为两国未来的工业合作提供了前景。imperial ritual /ɪmˈpɪəriəl ˈrɪtʃuəl/宫廷礼仪juxtaposition /ˌdʒʌkstəpəˈzɪʃn/并置；并列excessive interference /ɪkˈsesɪv ˌɪntəˈfɪərəns/过度干预taoiseach /ˈtiːʃəx/爱尔兰总理itinerary /aɪˈtɪnərəri/行程；路线humanoid robotic /ˈhjuːmənɔɪd rəʊˈbɒtɪk/人形机器人martial arts /ˈmɑːʃl ɑːts/武术

Boomer & Brandon discuss a sampling of espionage thrillers Alfred Hitchcock directed in his early British period, starting with The 39 Steps (1935) https://swampflix.com/ 00:00 Welcome 01:03 By Design (2026) 08:01 Videoheaven (2026) 11:03 The Forbidden City (2026) 16:06 Flesh Eating Mothers (1988) 23:41 Self-Service Pumps (2025) 26:55 Hitchcock Quiz 42:30 The 39 Steps (1935) 1:23:03 Sabotage (1936) 1:50:11 Secret Agent (1936)

March Martial Arts Movie Madness.  Master MARC ZIROGIANNIS gives a preview of four great martial arts movies released in the month of Marc.  These are terrific films and you should see them all.   Mexicali- released March 13, 2026   Lone Samurai- released March 17, 2026   The Forbidden City- released March 17, 2026   Blazing Fists -released March 31, 2026 Check out all the reviews, trailers, links at our website.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join us to hear from renowned historian Frank Dikötter, who offers a commanding history recasting how communists seized power in China. In April 1927, soldiers and detectives descended upon the Russian Embassy in Beijing, revolvers drawn. An hour later, they emerged with a trove of documents, some of them partly damaged by Russians who had tried quickly to destroy them. In these singed and soggy papers was proof that Moscow, despite agreeing three years earlier not to “propagate communistic doctrines,” had, in fact, sent what amounts to millions in today's dollars—along with shiploads of arms and advisors—to support nothing less than a revolution in China.  These findings are hardly ever mentioned by historians—until now. Dikötter says the history of modern China has long been framed as an organic enterprise, wherein Communists mobilized the “peasants,” took land from the rich and redistributed it to the poor. Drawing on the Beijing raid as well as several other overlooked archives, Dikötter's new book Red Dawn Over China reveals how unlikely a communist victory actually was, had it not been for massive financial and military support from the Soviet Union; a brutal war of occupation by Japan; severe miscalculations by the United States; and—most of all—the Communist Party's unflinching will to conquer at all costs. Dikötter reveals how what began in 1921 with 13 delegates in a dusty room led to a red flag being raised over the Forbidden City in 1949, forever altering the course of history for a quarter of humanity and shaping the global balance of power as we know it today.  About the Speaker: Frank Dikötter is the Milias Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also Chair Professor of Humanities at the University of Hong Kong. His books have changed the way historians view China, from the classic The Discourse of Race in Modern China to his award-winning People's Trilogy, a series of books that document the lives of ordinary people under Mao: Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe; The Tragedy of Liberation: A History of the Chinese Revolution, 1945-1957; and The Cultural Revolution: A People's History, 1962-1976. An Asia-Pacific Affairs Member-led Forum program. Forums and chapters at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Organizer: Lillian K NakagawaNotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this soft-spoken bedtime story about China, I take you to the discovery of the Forbidden City. We explore this extraordinary complex and follow the history of Imperial China from the rise of the Ming Dynasty and the construction of the Forbidden City in the 15th Century, to the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty, until the fall of the Empire in 1911.This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad breaks are turned off so that you can relax without interruption.   #sleep #bedtimestory #asmr #sleepstory #history #china Welcome to Lights Out Library Join me for a sleepy adventure tonight. Sit back, relax, and fall asleep to documentary-style bedtime stories read in a calming ASMR voice. Learn something new while you enjoy a restful night of sleep. Listen ad free and get access to bonus content on our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/LightsOutLibrary621⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enjoy my audiobook on Ancient Egyptian History, Myths & Mysteries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6mCqX5FoO6uCilrWCS8mB9?si=e1ecb983d2534d69⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@LightsOutLibraryov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ¿Quieres escuchar en Español? Echa un vistazo a La Biblioteca de los Sueños! En Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1t522alsv5RxFsAf9AmYfg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ En Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/la-biblioteca-de-los-sue%C3%B1os-documentarios-para-dormir/id1715193755⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ En Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@LaBibliotecadelosSuenosov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the heart of Beijing sits the Forbidden City, one of the greatest architectural achievements in human history. It's the largest palace complex on Earth. Constructed in the early 15th century as the hidden heart of imperial power, it was a city within a city — sealed off from the world, governed by rigid ritual, political intrigue, and absolute authority.How did a daring coup bring this colossal complex into existence? What was daily life really like behind its towering walls? And, how did it endure revolution, the rise and fall of dynasties, and catastrophe to become a symbol of China itself? Dan travels to the heart of Beijing to reveal its extraordinary story. You can learn more in Dan's History Hit TV documentary 'Beijing Central Axis: China's Medieval Wonder'. Sign up to watch at:  https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal PatmoreYou can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that the more volatile and turbulent the international situation becomes, the greater the need for China and Germany to strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual trust and promote the continuous new development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.Xi made the remarks when receiving German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as the first foreign leader in the Year of the Horse at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Merz arrived on Wednesday morning for his inaugural visit to China since taking office in May last year."The Chinese New Year celebrations continue until the Lantern Festival. Your visit during the Chinese New Year is just like friends and relatives visiting each other," Xi told the German guest, saying that it fully reflects the closeness and high level of China-Germany relations.Xi called on the two sides to use the stability and vitality of China-Germany ties to promote cooperation in China-European Union relations and contribute to harmony and common good in a turbulent world.Speaking about the future development of China-Germany relations, Xi said the two countries should strive to be reliable partners that support each other, partners for innovation committed to openness and mutual benefit, and partners in cultural exchanges that understand and respect one another.Xi stressed that China remains committed to the path of peaceful development and has both the confidence and capability to advance Chinese modernization. China will continue to share development opportunities with countries around the world, including Germany, he said. It is hoped that Germany will view China's development in an objective and rational way, uphold a positive China policy and meet China halfway to work for sustained and steady progress in growing China-Germany relations, Xi said.The two sides should strengthen the alignment of their development strategies, promote the two-way flow of talent, knowledge and technology, and enhance dialogue and cooperation in frontier fields such as artificial intelligence, he said.Xi said that China and Germany should properly handle the relationship between competition and cooperation, explore mutually beneficial and win-win pathways of cooperation, and jointly keep industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded.Noting that both China and Germany are major countries with profound cultural heritage, Xi called on the two sides to deepen mutual learning between civilizations, expand people-to-people exchanges and consolidate the public foundation of friendship between the two nations.Xi also noted the importance of China and Germany upholding the central role of the United Nations and reinvigorating its leading role.Beijing and Berlin should take the lead in being upholders of multilateralism, practitioners of international rule of law, defenders of free trade and advocates of solidarity and coordination, he said.Xi said China supports Europe's efforts to strengthen its strategic autonomy and hopes the EU will work with China in the same direction, uphold the positioning of their strategic partnership, adhere to openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, and promote greater development of China-EU relations in order to make a larger contribution to world peace and development.Merz said the German side attaches great importance to its relations with China and remains firmly committed to the one-China policy. Germany stands ready to work with China to carry forward the tradition of friendship, uphold mutual respect, openness and cooperation, and continuously deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, he said.Merz, who is accompanied by a high-level trade delegation with senior executives from around 30 leading German companies, said the German business community places high importance on the Chinese market and hopes to further expand cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and shared development.Xi and Merz also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi outlined China's principled position on the crisis, saying that seeking solutions through dialogue and negotiation is key to the issue.Xi noted the necessity of ensuring the equal participation of all parties to lay a solid foundation for peace, addressing the legitimate concerns of all sides to strengthen the will for peace, and achieving common security to build a lasting framework for peace.The two sides issued a joint press statement, in which they expressed their willingness to properly address each other's concerns through candid and open dialogue, so as to ensure a long-term, balanced, reliable and sustainable economic and trade relationship.As part of his two-day visit, Merz is scheduled to tour Beijing's Forbidden City and the Mercedes-Benz production facility, before traveling to Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, to visit Chinese robotics company Unitree and German turbine manufacturer Siemens Energy.Jin Ling, director of the Department for Global Governance and International Organizations at the China Institute of International Studies, said Merz's visit itself carries significance against the backdrop of debate within Europe over how to approach China.By emphasizing partnership and a cooperative tone, Merz has sent a signal aimed at filtering out "noise" and external interference, and at anchoring China-Germany and China-EU relations in pragmatic cooperation, she said.Merz is the latest in a string of Western leaders to visit Beijing in close succession within just a few weeks after French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer."These visits reflect recognition of China's global role and the opportunities presented by its market. Missing out on the Chinese market would mean missing out on opportunities, is a view that appears to be gaining wider consensus," Jin added.

Curious about the haunted history of China's Forbidden City?

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unveiling the Forbidden City's Long-Lost Secrets Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-16-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬天的北京，紫禁城被一层薄薄的雪覆盖着。En: In the winter of Beijing, the Forbidden City was covered with a thin layer of snow.Zh: 鲜红的灯笼悬挂在宫墙间，点亮了冬日的夜空，增添了节日的气氛。En: Bright red lanterns hung between the palace walls, lighting up the winter night sky and adding to the festive atmosphere.Zh: 李伟是个专注的历史学家，他在城里走动，总是带着对历史深厚的敬意。En: Li Wei is a dedicated historian who walks through the city always carrying a deep respect for history.Zh: 有一天，李伟在一处石雕间发现了一张古老而神秘的纸条。En: One day, Li Wei discovered an ancient and mysterious note among some stone carvings.Zh: 纸条上的字迹潦草而古老，他感到心中泛起一阵好奇与激动。En: The handwriting on the paper was sloppy and old, stirring a sense of curiosity and excitement in him.Zh: 他坚信，这张纸条蕴藏着关于紫禁城的重要秘密。En: He believed firmly that this note concealed an important secret about the Forbidden City.Zh: 新年临近，他的朋友明与佳正忙于准备春节的庆祝活动。En: As the New Year approached, his friends Ming and Jia were busy preparing for the Spring Festival celebrations.Zh: 李伟知道，春节时节是合家团圆的日子，人人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中，但他始终惦记着那个纸条上的秘密。En: Li Wei knew that the Spring Festival is a time for family reunions and everyone is immersed in the festive cheer, yet he couldn't stop thinking about the secret on that note.Zh: 李伟试图解读那些古文字，但总是徒劳无功。En: Li Wei attempted to decipher those ancient characters, but his efforts were always in vain.Zh: 他请求明和佳的帮助，但他们对此表示怀疑：“这个可能只是个玩笑吧，过来一起庆祝新年嘛！En: He asked for help from Ming and Jia, but they were skeptical: "This might just be a joke, come join us to celebrate the New Year!"Zh: ”节日的喧嚣使李伟难以专注。En: The hustle and bustle of the festival made it hard for Li Wei to focus.Zh: 终于，李伟决定求助于一些熟悉古文字的老人。En: Finally, Li Wei decided to seek help from some elderly people familiar with ancient scripts.Zh: 他们耐心地向他解释这些字迹的可能含义。En: They patiently explained the possible meanings of the handwriting to him.Zh: 在长辈们的指导下，李伟终于在除夕夜的午夜掌握了些许线索。En: With the guidance of these elders, Li Wei finally grasped some clues at midnight on New Year's Eve.Zh: 钟声敲响十二点，新年到来，烟花升空。En: As the clock struck twelve and the New Year arrived, fireworks lit up the sky.Zh: 就在这时，李伟终于解读出纸条的意义。En: At that moment, Li Wei finally deciphered the meaning of the note.Zh: 它详细描述了一种失传已久的仪式，曾在紫禁城隆重举行，是古老的传统之一。En: It detailed a long-lost ritual that was once grandly performed in the Forbidden City, one of the ancient traditions.Zh: 这个发现顿时引起了历史学界的注意。En: This discovery immediately caught the attention of the historical community.Zh: 人们对于这个被遗忘的仪式产生了浓厚的兴趣。En: People developed a keen interest in this forgotten ritual.Zh: 李伟的努力不但得到了认可，也给大家带来了一种新的节日传统。En: Li Wei's efforts not only gained recognition but also brought a new tradition to the festivities.Zh: 通过这次经历，李伟明白了集思广益的重要性。En: Through this experience, Li Wei realized the importance of collective wisdom.Zh: 他学会了更加开放地接纳他人的意见，意识到解决历史之谜常常需要大家的共同努力。En: He learned to be more open to accepting others' opinions and understood that solving historical mysteries often requires everyone's joint efforts.Zh: 在节日欢乐的背景下，李伟不仅获得了成功，也更多了一份对团结合作的理解。En: Against the backdrop of holiday cheer, Li Wei not only achieved success but also gained a deeper understanding of the value of unity and cooperation. Vocabulary Words:thin layer: 薄薄的dedicated: 专注的historian: 历史学家handwriting: 字迹sloppy: 潦草ancient: 古老concealed: 蕴藏approached: 临近reunions: 团圆decipher: 解读vain: 徒劳skeptical: 怀疑hustle and bustle: 喧嚣patiently: 耐心地guidance: 指导grasped: 掌握ritual: 仪式grandly: 隆重keen interest: 浓厚的兴趣collective wisdom: 集思广益accepting: 接纳joint efforts: 共同努力unity: 团结cooperation: 合作recognized: 认可mysterious: 神秘curiosity: 好奇excitement: 激动festival: 节日immersed: 沉浸

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Tea of Tradition: A Forbidden City Encounter Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-11-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 北京的冬天，紫禁城被白雪覆盖，安静而美丽。En: In Beijing, the winter envelops the Forbidden City in a blanket of white snow, quiet and beautiful.Zh: 红色的灯笼在寒冷的空气中轻轻摇曳，迎接农历新年。En: Red lanterns sway gently in the cold air, welcoming the Lunar New Year.Zh: 庭院里，两个截然不同的人坐着。En: In a courtyard, two very different individuals are seated.Zh: 一个是年轻的历史学者李娟，另一个是经验丰富的茶艺大师，郑。En: One is a young historian named Li Juan, and the other is an experienced tea ceremony master, Zheng.Zh: 李娟热爱中国古代文化，她来到紫禁城学习真正的茶道。En: Li Juan loves ancient Chinese culture, and she has come to the Forbidden City to learn the true way of tea.Zh: 她的梦想是通过学习来提升自己，赢得导师的认可。En: Her dream is to improve herself through study and earn the recognition of her mentor.Zh: 然而，她知道郑大师是一个要求严格的人，对传统十分看重。En: However, she knows that Master Zheng is a demanding person who places great value on tradition.Zh: 那天，李娟带着一些紧张和期待，走进这片庄严的古老庭院。En: That day, with a mix of nervousness and anticipation, Li Juan walked into this solemn ancient courtyard.Zh: 郑大师坐在茶桌边，微微点头示意她坐下。En: Master Zheng sat by the tea table and nodded slightly, indicating for her to sit down.Zh: “你为什么来学习茶道？”郑问道，语气不冷不热。En: “Why do you want to learn the way of tea?” Zheng asked, in a voice that was neither warm nor cold.Zh: “我想了解更深的中华传统。”李娟答道，语气真诚。En: “I want to understand the deeper Chinese traditions,” Li Juan replied sincerely.Zh: 郑大师点头，但看得出他对李娟的能力仍有怀疑。En: Master Zheng nodded but it was clear that he still doubted Li Juan's abilities.Zh: 于是，茶道仪式开始了。En: Thus, the tea ceremony began.Zh: 李娟跟随郑大师的动作，小心翼翼。En: Li Juan carefully followed Master Zheng's movements.Zh: 然而，在倒茶的过程中，李娟不小心溢出了一点茶水。En: However, during the pouring of the tea, Li Juan accidentally spilled a bit of tea.Zh: 紧张的气氛在空气中悬挂着，李娟心如鹿撞，但她镇定地擦拭，继续专注于流程。En: The tense atmosphere hung in the air, her heart pounding, but she calmly wiped it up and continued to focus on the process.Zh: 她用心制作了一杯充满敬意的茶，递给郑大师。En: She wholeheartedly prepared a cup of tea filled with respect and handed it to Master Zheng.Zh: 郑大师品尝后，点点头，说：“你有心，很不错。”En: After tasting it, Master Zheng nodded and said, “You have put your heart into it, very good.”Zh: 这个简单的认可让李娟心中一暖，她终于放下紧绷的神经。En: This simple acknowledgment warmed Li Juan's heart, and she finally relaxed.Zh: 郑大师继续说道：“传统固然重要，但对文化的热爱更为珍贵。En: Master Zheng continued, “Tradition is important, but a love for culture is even more precious.Zh: 以后若有什么想学，可以来问我。”En: If you wish to learn anything in the future, you can come to ask me.”Zh: 李娟感激地点点头。En: Gratefully, Li Juan nodded.Zh: 她知道，她的努力和真诚终于赢得了郑大师的认可。En: She knew that her effort and sincerity had finally earned Master Zheng's recognition.Zh: 通过这次学习，她不仅获得了自信，也学会了如何在尊重传统的同时，保持开放的心态。En: Through this learning experience, she gained not only confidence but also learned how to maintain an open mind while respecting tradition.Zh: 紫禁城的钟声在冬日的空气中响起，李娟看着洒满白雪的宫殿，心中充满了对未来的希望。En: The chimes of the Forbidden City rang out in the winter air, as Li Juan gazed at the snow-covered palace, her heart filled with hope for the future.Zh: 随着农历新年的到来，她知道新的篇章已经开启。En: With the arrival of the Lunar New Year, she knew a new chapter had begun. Vocabulary Words:envelops: 覆盖lanterns: 灯笼courtyard: 庭院historian: 历史学者master: 大师tradition: 传统mentor: 导师demanding: 要求严格solemn: 庄严nodded: 点头sincerely: 真诚pouring: 倒茶spilled: 溢出atmosphere: 气氛pounding: 心如鹿撞calmly: 镇定acknowledgment: 认可relaxed: 放下紧绷的神经confidence: 自信love: 热爱precious: 珍贵effort: 努力sincerity: 真诚recognition: 认可open mind: 开放的心态chimes: 钟声gazed: 看着covered: 洒满hope: 希望chapter: 篇章

On the eighth day of the 12th month on the Chinese calendar, which falls on Monday this year, the aroma of laba porridge will drift across Beijing and the rest of the country, signaling the arrival of the Chinese New Year season.农历十二月八日，今年恰逢周一，腊八粥的香气将飘荡在北京及全国各地，宣告春节时节的到来。The character "la" refers to the 12th month on the Chinese calendar, while "ba" means the number eight. For most people, savoring labaporridge— which is typically made of at least eight ingredients including glutinous rice and red beans — is more than a traditional ritual, because it marks the moment when the year-end countdown starts and serves as the prelude to new beginnings.“腊”字指农历十二月，”八”则代表数字八。对多数人而言，品尝腊八粥——这种通常由糯米、红豆等至少八种食材熬制的粥品——不仅是传统习俗，更标志着岁末倒计时的开始，为新年的启程奏响序曲。Despite the cold spell in the Chinese capital, warmth will fill the halls of its historical temples on Monday. Yonghegong, also known as Lama Temple, a magnificent testament to Beijing's rich culture and spiritual heritage, will launch its annual laba porridge distribution, as will Guanghua, Tanzhe and other temples, drawing large crowds of visitors.尽管北京正值寒潮，在周一，这座历史名城的寺庙殿堂里却将充满暖意。作为北京丰富文化与精神遗产的壮丽见证，雍和宫（又称喇嘛寺）将启动年度腊八粥发放活动，广化寺、潭柘寺等寺庙也将同步开展，吸引大批游客前来。Temple-based porridge distribution remains central to the laba tradition in Beijing, with Yonghegong being the most anticipated site. Bowl after bowl of steaming hot porridge there is not only expected to help buffer the winter chill, but also provides people with a shared sense of hope.寺庙供粥仍是北京腊八传统的核心环节，其中雍和宫是最受期待的地点。一碗碗热气腾腾的粥不仅能驱散冬日的寒意，更传递着人们共同的希望。Since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), laba porridge prepared at the temple has been one of the city's most significant seasonal events. From emperors to ordinary residents, everyone believed — and still believes — that partaking of a bowl of the temple's porridge brings good fortune and peace in the year ahead.自清朝（1644-1911）以来，寺庙里熬制的腊八粥便成为这座城市最重要的季节性盛事之一。从帝王到百姓，人人都相信，时至今日也依然如此——品尝一碗寺庙的腊八粥，便能为来年带来好运与平安。Historical records show that Emperor Yongzheng attached particular importance to the laba ceremony, elevating it to a rigorously regulated imperial ritual. Preparations began as early as the first day of the 12th month of the Chinese calendar and continued for eight days.史料记载，雍正帝格外重视腊八节庆典，将其提升为规制严谨的皇家仪式。筹备工作早在农历十二月初一便已启动，持续八日之久。According to Qing Dynasty archives, a single ceremony required more than 720 kilograms of primary ingredients, with the total weight of all ingredients reaching 1,000 kg. About 5,000 kg of firewood was used to prepare laba porridge, reflecting the scale and solemnity of the event.据清代档案记载，单次仪式需耗费720余公斤主料，所有食材总重达千斤。烹制腊八粥约需五千斤柴火，足见其规模之宏大、仪式之隆重。Visitors to Lama Temple today can still see the massive copper cauldron once used exclusively for making laba porridge. Crafted by the erstwhile imperial workshop, the vessel measures about two meters in diameter and 1.5 meters in depth, and weighs around 8 metric tons.今日造访雍和宫的游客，仍可见到那口专用于熬制腊八粥的巨型铜锅。这口由昔日皇家工坊打造的巨器，直径约两米，深约一米五，重达八吨。Originally placed near the temple's eastern gate, the cauldron stood over a deep earthen stove supported by iron pillars to ensure steady heat, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of past ceremonies.这口铜鼎原置于寺庙东门附近，架设在由铁柱支撑的深土灶上以保持恒温，让人得以窥见昔日仪式的恢弘盛况。Traditionally, laba porridge at Lama Temple was made in the same pot six times, with each preparation serving a distinct purpose. The first pot was offered to the statues of Buddha, including those in the Forbidden City and imperial gardens. The second was presented to the imperial family, enriched with cream and preserved fruit to reflect royal refinement.传统上，雍和宫的腊八粥需在同一口锅中煮制六次，每次熬煮皆有特定用途。首锅粥供奉于佛像，包括紫禁城及皇家园林中的佛像；第二锅则呈献给皇室，特意加入奶油与蜜饯，彰显皇室的精致品味。Subsequent pots were distributed among senior officials and monks, while the sixth one was shared with members of the public, embodying the ideal of celebrating together with the people.后续的锅次则分于高级官员和僧侣，而第六锅则与民众共享，体现了与百姓同庆的理想。The ingredients reflected imperial standards. For example, during Emperor Qianlong's reign, laba porridge was made of 13 ingredients, including millet, rice, beans, red dates, chestnuts, almonds and brown sugar.在腊八粥的食材中也体现着皇室标准。例如乾隆年间，腊八粥由小米、大米、豆类、红枣、栗子、杏仁和红糖等十三种食材熬制而成。Other ancient shrines in Beijing have their own laba rituals. The Guangji and Guanghua temples begin distributing the porridge before dawn, with residents lining up in the dark to be among the first to receive a bowl. Tanzhe Temple, which boasts a history of more than 1,700 years, offers what many longtime Beijing residents regard as "a symbol of peace and good health".北京其他古刹也有各自的腊八节仪式。广济寺和广化寺在黎明前就开始分发粥，居民们在黑暗中排队，争相成为最早领到一碗粥的人。拥有1700多年历史的槐树寺所供奉的粥，被许多老北京人视为“平安健康之象征”。Beyond temples, the laba tradition also finds expression in everyday urban life. Huguosi Snack, a well-known eatery in the Chinese capital, recently launched a laba porridge variety on its menu, featuring more than 20 ingredients.除了寺庙，腊八传统也在都市日常生活中得到体现。北京知名护国寺小吃街近日推出腊八粥新品，内含二十余种食材。Aoliao Jiaxin, a user on social media platform Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, said she tried the porridge at Huguosi on the first day and found it "packed with real ingredients and very satisfying".社交媒体平台小红书用户阿寮佳欣（音译）表示，她在开市首日品尝了护国寺的粥品，表示“食材真实饱满，非常满足”。Across China, regional variations lend laba porridge distinct local character. Northern versions tend to be thick and hearty, often paired with pickled laba garlic. The porridge in Jiangnan, or the southern region in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, is lighter and delicately sweet, with some prepared in savory form. In the northwest, lamb is a key ingredient for extra warmth.在中国各地，地域差异赋予腊八粥独特的本土风味。北方版本通常浓稠饱满，常佐以腌制腊八蒜。江南地区（长江下游的南方区域）的粥品则清淡甘美，有些还会制作咸味版本。在西北地区，羊肉作为重要食材，为粥品增添额外的暖意。Yet everywhere, laba porridge emphasizes harmony, with the blend of grains symbolizing abundance and envisaging a prosperous year ahead.然而无论何处，腊八粥都强调和谐，杂粮的融合象征着丰饶，预示着来年繁荣昌盛。ritual/ˈrɪtʃuəl/n.仪式；例行公事prelude/ˈpreljuːd/n.序曲；开端cauldron/ˈkɔːldrən/n.大锅；鼎hearty/ˈhɑːti/adj.丰盛的；浓郁的

After ten years of "Do Not Disturb" signs, the most powerful room in the Forbidden City is back in business. Want to see where the Qing emperors actually lived, worked, and… gossiped? The Hall of Mental Cultivation is finally open. / Why do we doom-scroll our partner's ex (14:49)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Mystery in the Forbidden City's Snowy Splendor Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-02-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 故宫的冬天，一片银装素裹，雪花轻轻飘落，给这座宏伟的皇宫添上了一层神秘的面纱。En: In the winter, the Forbidden City is a scene of silver attire; snowflakes gently fall, adding a mysterious veil to the grand imperial palace.Zh: 春节将至，故宫的工作人员忙得不可开交，准备新春展览。En: As the Spring Festival approaches, the staff at the Forbidden City are incredibly busy preparing for the new year exhibition.Zh: 然而一件意外事件却给大家带来了巨大的压力。En: However, an unexpected incident brings immense pressure to everyone.Zh: 丽华是一位历史学家，专注于研究古代文物。En: Lihua is a historian specializing in the study of ancient artifacts.Zh: 她今天发现一件重要的文物失踪，这让她担心不已。En: Today, she discovered that an important artifact has gone missing, which worries her greatly.Zh: 这件文物代表着朝代的辉煌历史，对故宫和即将到来的春节庆典都意义重大。En: This artifact represents the glorious history of a dynasty and holds significant meaning for the Forbidden City and the upcoming Spring Festival celebration.Zh: 她觉得自己有责任找到它。En: She feels responsible for finding it.Zh: 海是故宫的保安。En: Hai is a security officer at the Forbidden City.Zh: 他每天都尽职尽责，保护着这里的历史宝藏。En: He diligently protects the historical treasures there every day.Zh: 然而那天晚上，他却心事重重，因为他对文物失踪的事情隐瞒了一些真相。En: However, that night, he was troubled because he was hiding some truth about the missing artifact.Zh: 梅是一位精细的策展人，此时倍感压力，因为新年展览迫在眉睫，而一切都要万无一失。En: Mei is a meticulous curator who feels immense pressure, as the new year exhibition is imminent and everything must be perfect.Zh: 丽华决定不再依靠官方程序，她要自己开始调查。En: Lihua decided not to rely on official procedures; she wanted to start her own investigation.Zh: 她说服海和梅加入调查。En: She persuaded Hai and Mei to join the investigation.Zh: 虽然两人都心存疑虑，但最终接受了她的提议。En: Although both had doubts, they eventually accepted her proposal.Zh: 他们三人小心翼翼地寻找线索，迎着冬日的寒冷，在故宫的每一个角落探索。En: The three of them carefully searched for clues, braving the winter cold and exploring every corner of the Forbidden City.Zh: 经过几天的努力，终于，他们找到了有关当晚情况的线索。En: After several days of effort, they finally found clues about what happened that night.Zh: 原来海为了保护这件珍贵的文物，在发现展示的柜子有结构裂缝后，悄悄地将其移到一个安全的地方。En: It turned out that Hai, wanting to protect this precious artifact, had discreetly moved it to a safe place after discovering a structural crack in the display case.Zh: 他怕引起恐慌，所以没来得及告诉其他人。En: He was afraid to cause panic, so he didn't have the chance to inform others.Zh: 丽华理解了海的良苦用心，同时也意识到自己需要更加信任和沟通团队。En: Lihua understood Hai's good intentions and realized that she needed to trust and communicate with her team more.Zh: 最终，三个人齐心协力，迅速修复了展示柜，并将文物重新放置于其中。En: In the end, the three of them worked together to quickly repair the display case and place the artifact back in it.Zh: 就在春节前夜，这件文物重回展览，仿佛一切都没发生过。En: On the eve of the Spring Festival, the artifact returned to the exhibition, as if nothing had happened.Zh: 春节庆典如期举行。En: The Spring Festival celebration was held as scheduled.Zh: 故宫里张灯结彩，欢声笑语不断。En: The Forbidden City was adorned with lanterns, and filled with continuous laughter and joy.Zh: 丽华看着重新展出的文物，心中感慨万千。En: Lihua looked at the artifact on display, filled with deep emotions.Zh: 经过这次风波，她深刻体会到了团队合作和交流的重要性。En: Through this ordeal, she profoundly understood the importance of teamwork and communication.Zh: 海的诚实和梅的细致也让她更加尊重和信任同事。En: Hai's honesty and Mei's meticulousness also earned her greater respect and trust for her colleagues.Zh: 故宫再次恢复了往日的平静与华丽。En: The Forbidden City returned to its usual tranquility and splendor.Zh: 雪花的轻舞仿佛在为成功解决难题的人们送上美好的祝福。En: The gentle dance of the snowflakes seemed to bless those who successfully solved the problem.Zh: 丽华、海和梅在这个新年中收获了珍贵的友情和信赖，在庆典的美好氛围中，共同迎接充满希望的新年。En: Lihua, Hai, and Mei gained precious friendships and trust in this new year, welcoming the hopeful new year in the delightful ambiance of the celebration. Vocabulary Words:scene: 一片imperial: 皇宫veil: 面纱exhibition: 展览immense: 巨大的artifact: 文物glorious: 辉煌dynasty: 朝代diligently: 尽职尽责troubled: 心事重重meticulous: 精细的imminent: 迫在眉睫persuaded: 说服braving: 迎着exploring: 探索clues: 线索discreetly: 悄悄地structural: 结构crack: 裂缝panicked: 恐慌intentions: 良苦用心communicate: 沟通curator: 策展人trust: 信任profoundly: 深刻splendor: 华丽ordeal: 风波adorned: 张灯结彩tranquility: 平静ambiance: 氛围

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tradition Meets Modernity: Ming's New Year Transformation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-30-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 明静静地走在故宫的雪地上，心中是一片复杂的情感。En: Ming walked quietly on the snowy ground of the Forbidden City, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.Zh: 她刚从海外留学归来，第一次在冬天回到家中。En: She had just returned from studying abroad, visiting home for the first time in winter.Zh: 故宫在冬日的天空下显得更加宏伟，红色的墙壁与白色的雪交相辉映。En: The Forbidden City appeared even more majestic under the winter sky, with the red walls contrasting against the white snow.Zh: 她呼吸着北京冷冽的新鲜空气，心中既兴奋又紧张。En: She breathed in the crisp, cold air of Beijing, feeling both excited and nervous.Zh: 明要回家与家人团圆，迎接即将到来的春节。En: Ming was returning home to reunite with her family and prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival.Zh: 李华奶奶是明最敬佩的人。En: Li Hua Grandma was the person Ming respected the most.Zh: 奶奶喜欢和孙辈们讲述家族的传统和故事。En: Grandma loved to share family traditions and stories with her grandchildren.Zh: 明知道，奶奶希望她能够传承这些珍贵的家族文化。En: Ming knew that Grandma hoped she could carry on these precious family cultures.Zh: 但明内心深处，还有对未来生活的向往，她渴望自由，希望用自己的方式生活。En: However, deep inside, Ming also longed for her future life; she yearned for freedom and wanted to live in her way.Zh: 弟弟金也已经在家等她，他是个不安分的年轻人，总是想要新鲜的冒险。En: Her brother Jin was already waiting for her at home, a restless young man always seeking new adventures.Zh: “明，你回来了！”当明走进家门时，奶奶的脸上绽放出微笑。En: "Ming, you're back!" Grandma's face broke into a smile as Ming walked through the door.Zh: 火炉的温暖驱散了寒冷，屋内挂满了红色的灯笼和对联，春节的气氛浓厚。En: The warmth of the stove dispelled the cold, and the house was filled with red lanterns and couplets, creating a festive atmosphere.Zh: “奶奶，我回来啦！”明笑着回答，但又感到微微紧张。En: "Grandma, I'm back!" Ming replied with a smile, though she felt a bit nervous.Zh: 家人聚在一起享用年夜饭。En: The family gathered for the New Year's Eve dinner.Zh: 奶奶提议明主持今年的拜年仪式。En: Grandma suggested Ming host this year's New Year ceremony.Zh: 明知道这个责任重大，她不想让奶奶失望。En: Ming knew this was a significant responsibility; she didn't want to disappoint Grandma.Zh: 她决定：既然要做，那就大胆创新，加入一些自己在国外学到的元素。En: She decided: if she was going to do it, she would innovate boldly and incorporate some elements she had learned abroad.Zh: “今年我们来试试新的方式。”明说。En: "This year, let's try something new," Ming said.Zh: 全家人都愣住了。En: The entire family was stunned.Zh: 只见明依然尊重着传统的流程，但在每个环节，她加上了自己的解释，以及在国外学习到的文化元素。En: Ming remained respectful of the traditional process, but at each step, she added her explanations and cultural elements she'd learned overseas.Zh: “这很有意思！”金第一个开始鼓掌，打破了寂静。En: "This is interesting!" Jin was the first to start clapping, breaking the silence.Zh: “明，这很独特。”奶奶微笑着，眼神中透出欣赏。En: "Ming, this is very unique," Grandma smiled, her eyes showing admiration.Zh: 就在这一夜，传统和新意碰撞，产生出和谐的火花。En: On this night, tradition and innovation collided, creating harmonious sparks.Zh: 明发现，通过自己的方式，她不仅与家人更加亲近，也使她的家人更了解她在外经历的生活。En: Ming found that by doing things her way, she not only became closer to her family but also helped them understand her experiences abroad.Zh: 随着烟花在夜空中绽放，明在心中决定：她会继续寻找自己在传统和现代之间的平衡。En: As fireworks burst in the night sky, Ming decided in her heart: she would continue to find her balance between tradition and modernity.Zh: 家人因为她的改变而走得更近，她也更加自信地迈向未来。En: Her family came closer together because of her changes, and she moved more confidently toward the future.Zh: 热闹的春节夜渐渐归于宁静，但这个冬天的聚会，给了明和家人永存于心的温暖。En: The lively Spring Festival night gradually returned to tranquility, but this winter gathering gave Ming and her family warmth that would last in their hearts forever.Zh: 明在古老的故宫中，找到了自己的位置，连接了过去与未来的道路。En: In the ancient Forbidden City, Ming found her place and connected the road between past and future. Vocabulary Words:quietly: 静静地emotions: 情感majestic: 宏伟crisp: 冷冽excited: 兴奋reunite: 团圆upcoming: 即将到来的respected: 敬佩share: 讲述precious: 珍贵traditions: 传统yearned: 渴望restless: 不安分stove: 火炉dispelled: 驱散lanterns: 灯笼couplets: 对联significant: 重大innovate: 创新incorporate: 加入stunned: 愣住harmonious: 和谐fireworks: 烟花tranquility: 宁静lively: 热闹warmth: 温暖ancient: 古老connected: 连接balance: 平衡confidence: 自信

When his elders named him Bindi, David Hudson had no idea his future would involve performing with his didgeridoo at the Taj Mahal, or a role in a film starring Marlin Brando  Western Yalanji and Ewamian man David Bindi Hudson is a performing artist and musician.His parents were born on Mona Mona mission, near Cairns.David's mother didn't like being told what to do, and so in 1956 she walked off the mission with her three children, and made it 18km away to look for work at a local pub.Her ingenuity led the family to Spring Creek Station, where David's elders taught him traditional dance and named him Bindi, which means "always looking forward".Since then, David has toured the world with his didgeridoo, playing to huge audiences in the Acropolis, the Taj Mahal and China's Forbidden City.He also played a part in a disastrous Hollywood movie, which gave him the chance to bring Marlon Brando home to have dinner with his Mum.Content warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners: this episode contains the name of someone who has died.This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan and the executive producer was Carmel Rooney.It covers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, didgerodoos, the Taj Mahal, Spring Creek Station, Marlon Brando, Hollywood, Mona Mona mission, Cairns, family history, Aboriginal elders, traditional dance and music.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

How does a teenage girl from Beijing's hutongs end up ruling the world's largest empire—without ever technically sitting on the throne? In this episode, Jeremiah traces the improbable ascent of Empress Dowager Cixi, who entered the Forbidden City as a minor concubine and departed as the most powerful woman in Chinese history. The story begins in imperial catastrophe: the Xianfeng Emperor dies in the wake of the humiliating looting of the Summer Palace, leaving behind a four-year-old son and a power vacuum waiting to be filled. Cixi, her fellow empress dowager Ci'an, and Prince Gong move quickly to take control, using the child emperor as both symbol and shield. Jeremiah explains the peculiar constitutional fiction known as “ruling from behind the curtain” (垂帘听政), a political maneuver that allowed Cixi and Ci'an to steer the empire while officially remaining in the shadows. When Cixi's own son, the Tongzhi Emperor, dies at eighteen, she executes another audacious maneuver—installing her young nephew, the Guangxu Emperor, ensuring that the throne remains occupied by someone conveniently underage. For a brief period—one hundred days, to be exact—Guangxu confers with intellectuals like Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, planning an ambitious series of bureaucratic and military reforms. Cixi, unconvinced that constitutional monarchy and radical modernization were viable at the time, pulls the plug. Jeremiah and David examine the mystery surrounding the death of Zhenfei, the Pearl Concubine, as well as the lingering question of whether the Guangxu Emperor was poisoned by his aunt. Finally, we weigh the verdict of history: was Cixi a ruthless “Dragon Lady” who strangled China's chances at modernity—or a pragmatic, formidable ruler judged by a double standard?

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Secrets of the Forbidden City Revealed by Young Adventurers Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-01-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 紫禁城的秋风轻轻吹拂，金黄的屋顶在阳光下闪烁着耀眼的光芒。En: The autumn breeze softly brushed through the Zijin Cheng, the Forbidden City, as the golden roofs shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.Zh: 紫涵和美玲，两个好朋友，跟随学校旅游团，一起踏入了这个宏伟的古老皇宫。En: Zihan and Meiling, two good friends, followed the school tour group and stepped into this magnificent ancient palace together.Zh: 紫涵充满期待地四下张望，他对历史充满浓厚的兴趣，总想找到一些不为人知的秘密来惊艳他的历史老师和同学。En: Zihan looked around full of expectation; he had a deep interest in history and always wanted to find some unknown secrets to impress his history teacher and classmates.Zh: 相比之下，美玲更享受与朋友们的嬉笑玩耍。En: In contrast, Meiling enjoyed laughing and playing with friends more.Zh: 她走在紫涵身边，手握相机，不时停下来与同学合影。En: She walked beside Zihan, holding a camera, and frequently stopped to take photos with classmates.Zh: "紫涵，你看，前面有一家很特别的纪念品店！"美玲兴奋地指着前方，她拉着紫涵的手，想要过去看看。En: "Zihan, look, there's a very special souvenir shop ahead!" Meiling excitedly pointed forward, pulling Zihan's hand, eager to go and see.Zh: 紫涵却显得有些犹豫，他心中依然惦记着他的历史探险计划。En: However, Zihan appeared a bit hesitant, his mind still preoccupied with his historical exploration plan.Zh: "美玲，我想去那边的安静角落看看。或许能发现什么特别的东西呢。”紫涵指了指一处鲜有人至的角落。En: "Meiling, I want to check out that quiet corner over there. Maybe I'll discover something special." Zihan pointed to a scarcely visited corner.Zh: 美玲噘了噘嘴，但还是理解地点了点头，“好吧，不过你可要快点，我还想去那边的凉亭小歇一会儿呢。”En: Meiling pouted but understandingly nodded, "Alright, but hurry up, I still want to rest for a while at the pavilion over there."Zh: 紫涵走向那片静谧之地，他仔细观察着屋檐上的雕刻和墙上的图案。En: Zihan headed towards the tranquil area, carefully observing the carvings on the eaves and the patterns on the walls.Zh: 他突然注意到一位坐在角落里的老先生，手中捧着一本泛黄的书。En: He suddenly noticed an elderly gentleman sitting in the corner, holding a yellowed book.Zh: "您好，您在看什么？"紫涵好奇地问。En: "Hello, what are you reading?" Zihan asked curiously.Zh: 老先生抬起头来，微微一笑，“孩子，你对这里感兴趣吗？让我来告诉你一个秘密。En: The old gentleman looked up, smiling slightly, "Child, are you interested in this place? Let me tell you a secret.Zh: 在这片宫墙后，其实有一个隐藏的密室，曾经是皇帝秘密会面的地方。”En: Behind these palace walls, there's actually a hidden chamber which used to be where the emperor held secret meetings."Zh: 紫涵听得目瞪口呆，这个信息正是他想要的。En: Zihan listened, dumbfounded—this information was exactly what he was looking for.Zh: 他飞快地将这一消息记录下来，然后兴冲冲地跑回到美玲和大家身边。En: He quickly jotted down the news and then eagerly ran back to Meiling and everyone else.Zh: “大家，我有一个惊人的发现！”紫涵大声说道，随后把关于密室的故事讲给大家听。En: "Everyone, I have an amazing discovery!" Zihan exclaimed loudly, and then told the story about the secret chamber.Zh: 朋友们听得入神，连老师都对紫涵刮目相看。En: His friends listened intently, and even the teacher looked at Zihan with new respect.Zh: “紫涵，你真厉害！”美玲对紫涵竖起大拇指，表示赞许。En: "Zihan, you're amazing!" Meiling gave him a thumbs-up to show her praise.Zh: 虽然她更喜欢拍照玩耍，但她也知道紫涵的发现有多么难得。En: Although she preferred taking photos and playing, she also recognized how rare Zihan's find was.Zh: 经过这次经历，紫涵对自己的兴趣更加充满信心，并学会了如何在追求历史知识与享受友谊之间找到平衡。En: After this experience, Zihan felt more confident about his interests and learned how to balance the pursuit of historical knowledge with enjoying friendships.Zh: 而美玲呢，也开始对这些古迹产生浓厚的兴趣，理解了教育体验的真正价值。En: As for Meiling, she also began to develop a strong interest in these ancient sites, understanding the true value of educational experiences.Zh: 在夕阳的余晖下，他们逐渐离开紫禁城，那金色的宫墙悄悄地陪伴着两个年轻人的成长与领悟。En: Under the afterglow of the sunset, they gradually left the Forbidden City, with the golden palace walls quietly accompanying the growth and understanding of these two young individuals. Vocabulary Words:breeze: 秋风shimmered: 闪烁magnificent: 宏伟expectation: 期待unknown: 不为人知impress: 惊艳contrast: 相比之下souvenir: 纪念品preoccupied: 惦记tranquil: 静谧carvings: 雕刻eaves: 屋檐elderly: 老yellowed: 泛黄secret: 秘密dumbfounded: 目瞪口呆discovery: 发现thumbs-up: 竖起大拇指balance: 平衡pursuit: 追求value: 价值afterglow: 余晖accompanying: 陪伴growth: 成长understanding: 领悟palace: 皇宫ancient: 古老frequently: 不时curious: 好奇jotted: 记录

All aboard, Culture Kids! In this week's magical adventure, Mom and Asher hop on the Culture Train and travel to Beijing, China, a city filled with history, color, and stories that stretch back thousands of years. Together with special guest Ms. Dan Song, author of the My City Adventures series, they step through the mighty red gates of the Forbidden City, where emperors once ruled and legends were born. You'll hear the echoes of ancient footsteps, learn what the color red means in Chinese culture, and even discover why the Forbidden City was once “forbidden.” From dragons and phoenixes to royal bedrooms and bronze cranes, this episode brings China's past to life in a way kids can see, hear, and imagine. And of course, no Culture Kids adventure would be complete without food!

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Journey Through Time: Finding Inspiration in the Forbidden City Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-09-23-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 秋天的阳光洒在北京的紫禁城，金灿灿的光辉笼罩着整个皇家宫殿。En: The autumn sunshine bathed Beijing's Forbidden City, casting a golden glow over the entire royal palace.Zh: 今天，学校组织了一次特别的秋季郊游，带领学生们走进这座饱含历史的古建筑。En: Today, the school organized a special autumn outing, leading students into this historical ancient structure.Zh: 莲、凯和美也是这次郊游的成员，他们三人行走在宫殿宽敞而古老的道路上。En: Lian, Kai, and Mei were also part of this outing, walking along the spacious and ancient paths of the palace.Zh: 莲是一个沉默寡言的学生。En: Lian is a quiet and reserved student.Zh: 他对中国古代历史有着浓厚的兴趣，特别着迷于紫禁城的故事。En: He has a deep interest in ancient Chinese history, particularly fascinated by the stories of the Forbidden City.Zh: 他有一个秘密的愿望：为学校的艺术比赛创作一幅画，完美呈现中华古文化的精髓。En: He has a secret wish: to create a painting for the school's art competition that perfectly captures the essence of traditional Chinese culture.Zh: 这幅画将是他表达故宫魅力的方式。En: This painting will be his way of expressing the charm of the Forbidden City.Zh: 然而，莲的朋友凯和美对此并没有太多兴趣。En: However, Lian's friends Kai and Mei are not as interested.Zh: 他们的手机不时闪烁，拍下每一个有趣的角落，更多的是为了关心社交媒体上的点赞数。En: Their phones frequently flash, capturing every interesting corner, mostly concerned with the number of likes on social media.Zh: 莲感到有些失落，他担心自己能否抓住他所钟爱的文化的神韵。En: Lian felt somewhat disappointed and worried about whether he could capture the spirit of the culture he loves.Zh: “我想一个人到处看看，可以吗？”莲对凯和美说。En: "I'd like to look around by myself, is that okay?" Lian asked Kai and Mei.Zh: 两位朋友点了点头，自顾自忙着拍照。En: The two friends nodded, busily taking photos on their own.Zh: 莲孤身走在阴影斑驳的墙边，呼吸着充满历史气息的空气。En: Lian walked alone along the shadowed, mottled walls, breathing in the air filled with historical ambiance.Zh: 阳光穿过宫殿的雕花窗棂，在青石地上投下了复杂的光影。En: Sunlight streamed through the palace's carved windows, casting complex shadows on the bluestone ground.Zh: 独自走着，莲在一个安静的院落前停下。En: Walking by himself, Lian stopped in front of a quiet courtyard.Zh: 他透过半开的门，看到一群舞者正在排练。En: Through a half-opened door, he saw a group of dancers rehearsing.Zh: 他们着传统的服饰，动作轻盈而优雅，似乎在为即将到来的中秋节演出做准备。En: They wore traditional costumes, moving gracefully and elegantly, seemingly preparing for an upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival performance.Zh: 莲站在那里，静静地观看。他感到无比的震撼与启发，仿佛某种灵感在心中涌动。En: Lian stood there, quietly watching, feeling incredibly moved and inspired, as if a surge of inspiration was welling up inside him.Zh: 满怀激动，莲赶回凯和美身边。En: Filled with excitement, Lian hurried back to Kai and Mei.Zh: 他将自己所见的告诉他们，脸上洋溢着从未有过的自信。En: He shared what he had seen with them, his face radiating a newfound confidence.Zh: 三人一起回到那个小院，看到舞者继续练习。En: The three of them returned to that small courtyard, watching the dancers continue their practice.Zh: 一时间，凯和美也被那古老的文化之美吸引住了。En: For a moment, Kai and Mei were also captivated by the beauty of the ancient culture.Zh: 当他们离开紫禁城时，夕阳已经染红了整个天空。En: As they left the Forbidden City, the sunset had already turned the entire sky red.Zh: 莲知道他终于抓住了自己想要的灵感。En: Lian knew he had finally captured the inspiration he sought.Zh: 他不再犹豫，迫不及待地想要在画布上展现自己心中的紫禁城。En: He no longer hesitated and couldn't wait to portray the Forbidden City in his heart on canvas.Zh: 而凯和美，也开始欣赏他们共同的遗产，感受到那悠久历史的魅力。En: And Kai and Mei, too, began to appreciate their shared heritage, feeling the allure of the long-standing history.Zh: 正是在这次旅行中，他们发现，紫禁城不仅是一个建筑，更是一段故事，是历史长河中的珍贵一页。En: It was during this trip that they realized the Forbidden City was not just a building but a story, a precious page in the river of history.Zh: 而莲，终于找到了将这份历史与文化之美用画笔表现出来的勇气和信心。En: And Lian, at last, found the courage and confidence to express this beauty of history and culture with his paintbrush. Vocabulary Words:bathed: 洒casting: 笼罩reserved: 沉默寡言fascinated: 着迷charm: 魅力capturing: 抓住spirit: 神韵shadowed: 阴影斑驳mottled: 斑驳ambiance: 气息carved: 雕花complex: 复杂courtyard: 院落gracefully: 轻盈elegantly: 优雅surge: 涌动inspiration: 灵感newfound: 从未有过captivated: 吸引allure: 吸引力heritage: 遗产portray: 展现hesitated: 犹豫precious: 珍贵page: 一页river: 长河courage: 勇气confidence: 信心express: 表现sunshine: 阳光

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Journey to Rediscover Hope in the Forbidden City's Heart Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-08-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 紫禁城的秋天被一层薄暮笼罩。En: The Zǐjìnchéng, known as the Forbidden City, was shrouded in a layer of twilight during autumn.Zh: 枯黄的落叶在古老的石径上窃窃私语。En: Withered yellow leaves whispered on the ancient stone paths.Zh: 恢弘的宫墙虽已残破，却仍然散发出昔日的庄严。En: Although the magnificent palace walls were broken, they still exuded the majesty of the past.Zh: 血红的天空为这片废墟增添了几分神秘与凄凉。En: The blood-red sky added an air of mystery and desolation to these ruins.Zh: 贾浩、梅玲和贞三人站在紫禁城的入口前。En: Jia Hao, Mei Ling, and Zhen stood in front of the entrance to the Zǐjìnchéng.Zh: 贾浩曾是个充满希望的领袖，但他对自己过去的失败一直心存愧疚。En: Jia Hao was once a hopeful leader, but he always felt guilty about his past failures.Zh: 这次，他希望找到传说中的神器，为自己的族群带来新生的希望。En: This time, he hoped to find the legendary artifact and bring new hope to his people.Zh: 他知道这不仅是寻找一件物品，而是在找回信心。En: He knew it was not just about finding an object but about regaining confidence.Zh: 梅玲则凭借自己的坚毅和聪慧，总能在废墟中找出路。En: Mei Ling, with her determination and wisdom, could always find a way through the ruins.Zh: 这次，她渴望证明自己能为族群做些什么，寻求内心的救赎。En: This time, she longed to prove she could do something for her people, seeking redemption for herself.Zh: 贞跟随他们，不太相信那个神器真的存在，但他追随的是对朋友们的忠诚。En: Zhen followed them, not really believing the artifact truly existed, but he was loyal to his friends.Zh: 三人面前有两条路。En: In front of them were two paths.Zh: 贾浩犹豫不决：一条是危险的宫殿，废墟随时可能坍塌；另一条则是长满碎石的庭院，看似安全但需绕远。En: Jia Hao hesitated: one was the perilous palace, with ruins that could collapse at any moment; the other was a courtyard full of rubble, seemingly safe but a longer route.Zh: 梅玲紧握他的手，轻声：“我们有时间，绕路吧。”En: Mei Ling held his hand tightly and softly said, "We have time; let's take the detour."Zh: 就在他们决定绕行时，废墟中传来低声的窃窃私语。En: Just as they decided to go around, low whispers came from the ruins.Zh: 那是觅食的掠夺者。他们逼近了。En: They were scavengers searching for food, closing in.Zh: 贾浩的心跳加快，他必须要在战斗和谈判之间做出选择。En: Jia Hao's heart raced; he had to choose between fighting and negotiating.Zh: 最终，他决定和对方交谈，寻找和平的出口。En: Finally, he decided to talk to the other party and seek a peaceful solution.Zh: 对方的首领让步，他同意让贾浩等人继续他们的旅程，只要他们能分享神器的秘密。En: The leader of the other group relented, agreeing to let Jia Hao and his companions continue their journey as long as they shared the secret of the artifact.Zh: 贾浩松了一口气，珍惜每一个能够避免战斗的机会。En: Jia Hao breathed a sigh of relief, cherishing every opportunity to avoid conflict.Zh: 三人穿过最后一堵残墙，终于来到了紫禁城的核心地带。En: The three passed through the last crumbling wall and finally reached the heart of the Zǐjìnchéng.Zh: 那里隐藏着一个暗室，微弱的光芒从里面透出，是神器的光辉。En: There, a hidden dark room emanated a faint glow—the artifact's light.Zh: 贾浩走近，凝视着那个物品。En: Jia Hao approached and gazed at the object.Zh: 他的内心涌出一种久违的平静。En: A long-lost sense of peace surged within him.Zh: 他明白，领导不仅仅是成功，而是一起走过分享的旅程。En: He understood that leadership was not just about success, but about sharing the journey together.Zh: 他微笑着，决定不再苛责自己，珍惜现在拥有的。En: He smiled, deciding to stop being harsh on himself and to cherish what he had now.Zh: 在器物前，三人止步，秋风轻吹，卷起地上的叶子。En: In front of the artifact, the three paused, the autumn wind softly blowing, swirling the leaves on the ground.Zh: 他们都感受到了一种新生的力量，或许，这便是希望的开始。En: They all felt a sense of rebirth, perhaps signaling the beginning of hope. Vocabulary Words:shrouded: 笼罩twilight: 薄暮withered: 枯黄exuded: 散发majesty: 庄严desolation: 凄凉artifact: 神器scavengers: 掠夺者relented: 让步emanated: 透出faint: 微弱hesitated: 犹豫不决perilous: 危险rubble: 碎石detour: 绕路whispers: 窃窃私语negotiating: 谈判relinquish: 放弃collapse: 坍塌courtyard: 庭院cherishing: 珍惜confidence: 信心determination: 坚毅redemption: 救赎loyal: 忠诚crumbling: 残破surged: 涌出harsh: 苛责rebirth: 新生seeking: 寻找

Almost 200 weeks ago we explored Thirty Seconds To Mars' 2017 record America and... let's just say it didn't go well. For the Year Of Redemption, we decided the band needed a second chance so we're back to talk about A Beautiful Lie, the band's sophomore record that really solidified their arena rock sound. Jared Leto sings and screams his way through some of the band's all-time classics like Attack, The Kill, and From Yesterday. Their lyrics pull back from cosmic generality and hone in on the angsty, intimate side of the human experience. Bartholomew Cubbins is also back in the picture and we'll talk about some of his directorial feats, including a climate change documentary and a music video from the Forbidden City!James & Connor reminisce on Episode 33, talk about cotton candy grapes (and yes, the ear), and then learn more about 30STM's early days before The Mixtaper enters the scene with Beautiful (Potential) Lies about pyramid schemes, cult islands, and ambitious zero-G promotion in Fact Or Spin! Then we'll take a look at this top-heavy rock record and decide whether it reigns supreme. Will Thirty Seconds To Mars blast off to redemption, or are they doomed to be one of our lowest-scoring bands of all time? Did our 30STM takes get a little too hot? Too cold?? Is there an even better record we could have chosen for redemption? And... do you like cotton candy grapes as much as Connor does? Okay.. the answer to the last question is "no," but check in with us in the comments or on socials about the rest! Follow us for more album reviews and rankings every week!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro0:48 Last Time: America3:18 Past 30STM Experience6:58 About Thirty Seconds To Mars11:10 About A Beautiful Lie20:18 Awards & Accolades21:26 Fact Or Spin24:05 The Band's Desert Pyramid Extravaganza28:13 The Tale Of Mars Island35:45 They're Pioneers Of Space Rock Marketing39:16 The Band Wanted To Record On The International Space Station47:39 Album Art49:19 Attack52:54 A Beautiful Lie57:16 The Kill1:03:16 Was It A Dream?1:04:52 The Fantasy1:05:59 Savior1:07:00 From Yesterday1:09:28 The Story1:10:56 R-Evolve1:12:34 A Modern Myth1:13:06 Battle Of One1:14:13 Hunter1:15:26 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Snoop and Sniffy are back for their biggest international case yet in the Forbidden City of Beijing, China. Mysteries lurk around every corner as the dynamic duo races through the ancient city, uncovering secrets from hidden temples all the way to the iconic Great Wall of China. With danger at every turn, will Snoop and Sniffy crack the case before time runs out?

In the heart of Beijing lies a palace complex so vast and mysterious that it was once known simply as the Forbidden City. For nearly five centuries, its crimson walls and golden rooftops concealed the lives of emperors, concubines, and eunuchs, hidden from the eyes of ordinary people.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Secrets of the Forbidden City: A Mid-Autumn Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-10-27-07-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 明秋的京都，空气凉爽中夹带着桂花的幽香。En: In the autumn of jingdu, the air is cool, mixed with the faint fragrance of osmanthus flowers.Zh: 紫禁城，金瓦红墙，在秋日的阳光下熠熠生辉。En: The Forbidden City, with its golden tiles and red walls, glows brilliantly under the autumn sunshine.Zh: 明宇和丽玲跟随预备学校的同学，一边听老师讲解，一边游览着这座古老而神秘的皇城。En: Mingyu and Liling followed their preparatory school's classmates, listening to the teacher's explanation while touring this ancient and mysterious imperial city.Zh: 这一天正值中秋，四处悬挂着大小不一的灯笼。En: This day was the Mid-Autumn Festival, with lanterns of various sizes hanging everywhere.Zh: 不远处，宫墙外传来低吟的古筝声，仿佛在诉说千百年来的故事。En: Not far away, beyond the palace walls, came the soft, lingering sound of a guzheng, as if telling stories from hundreds of years ago.Zh: 明宇看着周围，人群中藏不住的好奇心让他兴奋不已。En: Mingyu looked around, his curiosity among the crowd left him thrilled.Zh: 他偷偷靠近丽玲，轻声道：“我听说这里有一个隐藏的秘室，据说里面藏着没被发现的宝藏。En: He quietly leaned towards Liling, saying softly, "I've heard there's a hidden secret chamber here, rumored to contain undiscovered treasure.Zh: 我们去找找看吧！”En: Let's go and find it!"Zh: 丽玲心中掠过一丝不安，En: A trace of unease crossed Liling's mind.Zh: 她回望身后的老师，又看着明宇充满期待的眼睛，内心充满挣扎。En: She looked back at their teacher, then at Mingyu's eyes filled with anticipation, her heart struggling.Zh: 规则明确禁止学生独自行动，但对未知的探索与好奇心使得她心动不已。En: The rules clearly forbade students from acting alone, but the lure of exploration and curiosity won her over.Zh: 最终，她点了点头。En: Eventually, she nodded.Zh: 趁着老师和其他同学正专注于一个导览标识，他们悄悄从队伍中抽身，穿行在宫殿楼阁间。En: Seizing the moment when the teacher and other classmates were focused on a guide sign, they quietly slipped away from the group, weaving through the palace pavilions.Zh: 两人来到一个破旧的拱门前，墙面上藤蔓环绕，显露出些许神秘。En: They arrived at a dilapidated archway, vines entwined around the walls, exuding a hint of mystery.Zh: 他们凑近墙壁，果然发现一处隐秘的小门。En: They approached the wall and indeed found a concealed small door.Zh: 然而，小门紧锁，无法进入。En: However, the door was locked, preventing entry.Zh: 就在这时，远处传来其他学生的嬉闹声和老师的呼唤，他们被发现缺席了。En: At that moment, sounds of laughter from other students and the teacher's calls came from afar—they had been found missing.Zh: 明宇的心情一紧，丽玲拉了拉他的手，小声说：“我们该回去了，再不走就来不及了。”En: Mingyu's heart tightened as Liling tugged on his hand, whispering, "We should go back now, or we'll be too late."Zh: 两人迅速离开那个位置，小心翼翼地穿过广场，努力不引起任何人的注意。En: They quickly left the spot, carefully crossing the courtyard, making every effort not to draw anyone's attention.Zh: 回到队伍时，他们融入了同学中，仍心跳不已，但脸上已露出安心的微笑。En: As they returned to the group, they blended in with their classmates, hearts still racing, but their faces wore relieved smiles.Zh: 黄昏的阳光洒在他们的脸上，丽玲开心地笑了，“我从没想过自己会做这样的事情，原来冒险也可以很有趣。”En: The sunset cast its glow on their faces as Liling laughed happily, "I never thought I would do something like this; turns out, adventures can be fun."Zh: 明宇也笑了，轻拍丽玲的肩膀，“有你这样的朋友，真是太好了。En: Mingyu also laughed, giving Liling a gentle pat on the shoulder, "Having a friend like you is really great.Zh: 以后我会更小心，更珍惜我们一起经历的时刻。”En: In the future, I'll be more cautious and cherish the moments we experience together."Zh: 在这个中秋的日子里，紫禁城的灯火依旧明亮，En: On this Mid-Autumn day, the lights of the Forbidden City remained bright.Zh: 明宇和丽玲的友情愈发牢固，En: The friendship between Mingyu and Liling had grown stronger.Zh: 他们在这次小小的冒险中找到了新的勇气和理解，更珍惜彼此之间的友谊。En: In this small adventure, they found new courage and understanding, and they cherished their friendship more deeply. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 秋faint: 幽fragrance: 香imperial: 皇lingering: 低吟curiosity: 好奇心lure: 吸引dilapidated: 破旧entwined: 环绕concealed: 隐秘unease: 不安preparatory: 预备adventure: 冒险forbade: 禁止slipped: 抽身exploration: 探索antique: 古老comprehension: 理解growing: 愈发moment: 时刻happily: 开心guidelines: 规则obstruct: 阻碍delicately: 小心翼翼whispering: 轻声treasure: 宝藏assimilate: 融入crescendo: 递增cherish: 珍惜glow: 熠熠

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Rekindling Friendship in the Forbidden City: A Mid-Autumn Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-10-25-07-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 紫禁城的秋天，总是带着一种独特的魅力。En: Autumn in the Zijincheng, the Forbidden City, always carries a unique charm.Zh: 金黄的树叶在风中轻轻摇曳，红色的灯笼点缀着古老的建筑，空气中弥漫着甜蜜的月饼香和香烛味。En: Golden leaves gently sway in the wind, red lanterns adorn the ancient buildings, and the air is filled with the sweet fragrance of yuebing and incense.Zh: 明亮的圆月挂在天上，为宽阔的庭院披上银色的光辉。En: A bright full moon hangs in the sky, draping the vast courtyard in a silver glow.Zh: 今天是中秋节，En: Today is the Zhongqiujie, the Mid-Autumn Festival.Zh: 莲站在紫禁城的一角，心里却难以平静。En: Lian stands in a corner of the Forbidden City, yet her heart is far from calm.Zh: 她手里捧着一封沉甸甸的邀请，邀请她在这里与明见面。En: She holds a heavy invitation in her hands, inviting her to meet Ming there.Zh: 多年前的误会让两人渐行渐远，心中的伤痛与不信任像是无形的墙，将她们隔离开来。En: Years of misunderstandings had caused the two to drift apart, with the pain and distrust within their hearts becoming an invisible wall separating them.Zh: 但今晚，她决定面对过去。En: But tonight, she has decided to confront the past.Zh: 莲和明曾是亲密的朋友，她热爱艺术保护，他专注历史研究。En: Lian and Ming were once close friends; she had a passion for art preservation, and he was focused on historical research.Zh: 本该是志同道合的伙伴，但一场误会却将两人拉开了距离。En: They should have been kindred spirits, but a misunderstanding pulled them apart.Zh: 莲一直想知道真相，想要对过往释怀。En: Lian always wanted to know the truth, to make peace with the past.Zh: 而明，他想修复他们的关系，期盼能弥补自己曾犯的错。En: As for Ming, he wished to repair their relationship, hoping to make amends for the mistakes he made.Zh: 月光倾洒在庭院时，明走近了暮光中的莲。En: As the moonlight poured over the courtyard, Ming approached Lian in the twilight.Zh: 他微微一笑，声音中透着一丝紧张：“莲，好久不见。”En: He gave a slight smile, his voice tinged with a bit of nervousness: " Lian, long time no see."Zh: 莲点点头，努力让自己冷静：“是啊，太久了。”En: Lian nodded, trying to stay calm: "Yes, it's been too long."Zh: 两人漫步在灯笼下，沉默了一会儿，终究是明先开口：“当初的事，是个误会。En: They strolled under the lanterns in silence for a while, until Ming finally spoke: "What happened back then was a misunderstanding.Zh: 我从未想过会那样发展。我对不起你。”En: I never intended things to turn out that way. I'm sorry."Zh: 莲心里柔软的地方被触及，眼泪险些夺眶而出。En: The soft spot in Lian's heart was touched, tears almost welling in her eyes.Zh: “我一直想知道是什么让我们变成这样。”她低语着，抬头看着明。En: "I've always wanted to know what turned us into this." She whispered, looking up at Ming.Zh: 明回忆起过去，解释了当初的种种。En: Ming recalled the past and explained the events as they unfolded.Zh: 他的坦诚让莲心中的绳结慢慢松开。En: His honesty slowly untied the knot in Lian's heart.Zh: 她望着他，终于明白误会是如何发生的，而他们都曾是误会的受害者。En: She looked at him and finally understood how the misunderstanding occurred and that they had both been victims of it.Zh: 灯光下，他们谈了很久。En: Under the lanterns, they talked for a long time.Zh: 风中夹着月饼的甜香，明亮的灯笼像是给他们点亮了全新的未来。En: The wind carried the sweet scent of yuebing, and the bright lanterns seemed to illuminate a whole new future for them.Zh: 莲感受到心中逐渐涌起的温暖和和解的力量。En: Lian felt a warmth rising within her, a power of reconciliation.Zh: 她终于微笑起来：“或许，我们可以重新开始。”En: She finally smiled: "Perhaps we can start anew."Zh: 明笑了，灯笼的光映在他的脸上，带来无尽的温情。En: Ming smiled, with the light of the lantern reflecting on his face, bringing endless warmth.Zh: 两人决定将过去抛在脑后，共同庆祝这美好的节日。En: The two decided to leave the past behind and celebrate this beautiful festival together.Zh: 中秋的夜空下，他们找到了新的开始，新的友谊和无法轻易斩断的情谊。En: Beneath the Mid-Autumn night sky, they found a new beginning, a new friendship, and a bond that couldn't be easily severed.Zh: 莲终于明白，过去的阴影无法阻止她走向光明的未来。En: Lian finally understood that the shadows of the past couldn't prevent her from moving towards a bright future.Zh: 在紫禁城古旧的廊柱之间，她学会了原谅，也学会了为未来的可能性敞开心扉。En: Between the ancient pillars of the Forbidden City, she learned to forgive and to open her heart to the possibilities of the future. Vocabulary Words:charm: 魅力sway: 摇曳adorn: 点缀fragrance: 香味courtyard: 庭院invitation: 邀请confront: 面对kindred spirits: 志同道合amends: 弥补twilight: 暮光untied: 松开knot: 绳结illuminate: 点亮reconciliation: 和解severed: 斩断pillars: 廊柱sweetness: 甜蜜full moon: 圆月calm: 平静misunderstanding: 误会distrust: 不信任preservation: 保护research: 研究victims: 受害者drift apart: 渐行渐远repaired: 修复separate: 隔离unfolded: 发生possibilities: 可能性forgive: 原谅

We've been deep in the heart of Texas—Austin, to be exact—for our FANTASTIC FEST 2025 coverage! From midnight screenings to surprise premieres, we've got the highlights, the weirdness, and the best genre gems to put on your radar. But first, we lock the doors and draw the blinds for our review of THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2. Does this long-awaited sequel breathe new life into one of horror's most unsettling franchises, or is it just knocking on nostalgia's door? Festival chaos, masked killers, and maybe a little Texas kolache talk: join us for all that and more. Enjoy the show and drop your thoughts in the comments!   TIME INDEX:   8:18 - Review: THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2   23:37 - Spoilers: THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2   34:43 - Discussion of highlights from FANTASTIC FEST 2025:        ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER;        SIRAT;        BUGONIA;        THE PLAGUE;        V/H/S HALLOWEEN;        GOOD LUCK HAVE FUN DON'T DIE;        FORBIDDEN CITY Listen to more MBP movie reviews and special episodes for FREE! on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Or, you can watch videos of our shows on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/moviebearspodcast, our website: www.moviebearspodcast.com,  or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/moviebearspodcast.  Please leave a comment or review, we'd love to read it on the next episode!

About a month ago, the foreign affairs and geopoltical media was abuzz with talk about the Victory Day military parade in Beijing. What had shocked was that, unlike the standard communist bloc military parades, with their thousands of Soviet-style tanks and armoured personnel carriers and well trained goose-steppers, this one showcased weaponry that could have come from a science fiction film: mobile, directed energy laser weapons; hypersonic glide vehicles; futuristic looking, fighter jet sized, loyal wingmen stealth drones; robot wolves; space defence systems.But was it real, or just a Potemkin arsenal driving past the Forbidden City? And if they were real, what do these things actually do? What do they mean for the balance of power in the western pacific? And, finally, as China climbs at breakneck speed up the military tech ladder, what does it mean for Washington's efforts to hold its defensive perimeter at the first Island Chain?Anybody interested in China's military tech, and especially its military aviation, will know TP Huang, an invaluable provider of detailed analysis on Beijing's ever greater military arsenal, and China's Beijing's technological progress more generally. He joins us for a special interview with Andrew. Multipolarity dialogues is a series of interview that scan the geopolitical horizon. We talk to some of the sharpest analysts, thinkers and experts about how they see the world beyond the visible edge of the geopolitical now.Remember you can get special paywalled premium episodes of Multipolarity every month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/multipolarity or by becoming a member on our YouTube Channel.

Today, we'll continue to talk about how the Forbidden City transformed into the Palace Museum. Specifically, we'll introduce Ma Heng, the longest-serving director of the Palace Museum, whose leadership during key historical events preserved the Forbidden City as China's largest museum.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Secrets Under the Moon: A Forbidden City Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-10-14-07-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在中秋节的第一天，故宫的大门外，红色的灯笼高高挂起，点亮了这座古老的城市。En: On the first day of the Zhongqiujie Mid-Autumn Festival, outside the gates of the Gugong Forbidden City, red lanterns were hung high, illuminating the ancient city.Zh: 秋风轻轻吹拂，地上的落叶随风舞动。En: The autumn breeze gently blew, causing the fallen leaves on the ground to dance with the wind.Zh: 成群结队的游客穿梭在宏伟的建筑之间，空气中弥漫着月饼的甜香。En: Groups of tourists wove in and out between the majestic structures, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of yuebing mooncakes.Zh: 莲是个来北京旅行的历史爱好者，但她心里藏着一个秘密。En: Lian Lian is a history enthusiast traveling in Beijing, but she's keeping a secret in her heart.Zh: 她不是只为赏景而来，她在寻找一个传说中的失落文物。En: She didn't come just to enjoy the sights; she's searching for a legendary lost artifact.Zh: 据说，这件宝物藏在故宫的某个秘密角落。En: It's said that this treasure is hidden in some secret corner of the Gugong Forbidden City.Zh: 莲听说这个文物拥有改变历史的秘密，她决心找到它。En: Lian heard that the artifact holds secrets capable of changing history, and she's determined to find it.Zh: 一路上，莲小心避开了保安陈的注视。En: Along the way, Lian carefully avoided the watchful eyes of Chen, the security guard.Zh: 陈不迷信，但他对故宫的每一个文物都格外重视，不容许任何人打它们的主意。En: Chen isn't superstitious, but he is especially attentive to each artifact in the Gugong Forbidden City, not allowing anyone to have designs on them.Zh: 莲觉得，若想成功，她需要找到一个合适的帮手。En: Lian thought that to succeed, she needed to find a suitable helper.Zh: 正当她在一条用石砖铺成的小道上徘徊的时候，她听到导游梅在向游客讲解。En: Just as she was wandering on a little path paved with stone bricks, she heard a tour guide, Mei, explaining to tourists.Zh: 梅是个专注的历史学者，她的知识渊博且充满热情。En: Mei is a dedicated historian, with vast knowledge and enthusiasm.Zh: 莲心生一计，她需要梅的帮助。En: Lian had an idea; she needed Mei's help.Zh: 旅游团离去后，莲走向梅，表明了自己的来意。En: After the tour group left, Lian approached Mei and expressed her intentions.Zh: 梅的眼中闪过一丝惊讶，但她也是个渴望了解真相的人。En: A hint of surprise flashed in Mei's eyes, but she, too, was someone eager to discover the truth.Zh: 梅想了想，点了点头。En: Mei thought for a moment and nodded.Zh: 夜幕降临，故宫被灯光笼罩。En: As night fell, the Gugong Forbidden City was enveloped in lights.Zh: 莲和梅沿着一条隐秘的小径向一个鲜为人知的方向走去。En: Lian and Mei walked along a hidden path to a little-known direction.Zh: 凭借梅的指引，她们找到了一个隐藏的入口，通往一间古老的密室。En: With Mei's guidance, they found a concealed entrance leading to an ancient secret chamber.Zh: 但就在她们准备进入的时候，陈出现在她们面前。En: But just as they were about to enter, Chen appeared before them.Zh: “你们在这里做什么？En: "What are you doing here?"Zh: ”陈皱着眉头问。En: Chen asked, frowning.Zh: 梅勇敢地站出来解释，她们是在寻找一个被遗忘的历史真相，而不是破坏故宫。En: Mei bravely stepped forward to explain that they were seeking a forgotten historical truth, not intending any harm to the Gugong Forbidden City.Zh: 听完她们的叙述后，陈沉默了片刻。En: After listening to their explanation, Chen was silent for a moment.Zh: 虽然半信半疑，但他被她们的决心打动。En: Though half-believing, he was moved by their determination.Zh: 最终，陈决定不再过问，转身离去。En: Ultimately, Chen decided not to inquire further and turned away.Zh: 莲和梅步入密室，眼前露出一个尘封已久的文物。En: Lian and Mei stepped into the secret chamber, where there lay a long-buried artifact.Zh: 它的存在揭示了一段被人遗忘的辉煌历史，足以改变曾经流传的故事。En: Its existence revealed a glorious history that had been forgotten, enough to change the stories that had been passed down.Zh: 莲满怀敬意地凝视着它，心中充满了对历史更深的理解。En: Lian gazed at it with reverence, filled with a deeper understanding of history.Zh: 当莲和梅走出故宫时，中秋的月亮已高挂天际，灯笼点点。En: As Lian and Mei exited the Gugong Forbidden City, the Mid-Autumn moon was already high in the sky, lanterns dotting the night.Zh: 莲知道，这段奇妙的探险将伴随她一生，历史的复杂与人心的奥秘，她将从此铭记于心。En: Lian knew that this wonderful adventure would accompany her for a lifetime, the complexities of history and the secrets of human nature forever etched in her heart.Zh: 故事的终点，是一种新的开始。En: The end of the story is a new beginning. Vocabulary Words:illuminating: 点亮majestic: 宏伟artifact: 文物legendary: 传说中的corner: 角落hidden: 隐藏suitable: 合适paved: 铺成dedicated: 专注的historian: 历史学者intentions: 来意reverence: 敬意glorious: 辉煌concealed: 隐藏的entrance: 入口chamber: 密室determination: 决心watchful: 注视explanation: 解释attentive: 重视discover: 了解superstitious: 迷信truth: 真相guide: 指引frowning: 皱着眉头forgotten: 被人遗忘intent: 打主意aura: 气息accompany: 伴随wander: 徘徊

In the first installment of what will be a two-part feature, we'll talk about the transformation of the Forbidden City into the Palace Museum, focusing on China's last emperor Puyi's expulsion in 1924, the Qing imperial family's financial struggles, and the founding of the museum in 1925.

Eighty years ago, in the autumn of 1945, World War II surrender ceremonies took place across the Japanese Empire.The one in China was held at the Forbidden City in Beijing bringing an end to eight years of occupation. Thousands of people watched the incredible moment Japanese generals handed over their swords. The United States, China, Russia and the United Kingdom were all represented. John Stanfield, now 105, is the last surviving British person who was there. He recalls to Josephine McDermott how he signed the surrender declaration documents on behalf of the British.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina's Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall' speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France's ‘rock star' philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world's oldest languages.(Photo: Surrender in the Forbidden City. Credit: Hedda Morrison, courtesy of John Stanfield family/University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China)

THE FORBIDDEN CITY MOVIE REVIEW Genre-fusing sometimes is an awkward affair, ending up with a film that doesn't know what it is. But sometimes it creates something that feels very new. Sometimes it ends up being epic. Fortunately this is the case for The Forbidden City. The story follows Mei, a girl who along with […]

THE FORBIDDEN CITY MOVIE REVIEW Genre-fusing sometimes is an awkward affair, ending up with a film that doesn't know what it is. But sometimes it creates something that feels very new. Sometimes it ends up being epic. Fortunately this is the case for The Forbidden City. The story follows Mei, a girl who along with […]

April 27, 1856. In Beijing's Forbidden City, one of the emperor's consorts, a woman named Cixi, has given birth to a son – the emperor's first heir. This landmark event is met with mass celebration. But in just five years time, the emperor will be dead and Cixi will be planning a coup to take power for herself. How will she ever succeed?  Special thanks to our guests: Jung Chang, author of Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China, and Professor Ying-chen Peng, author of Artful Subversion: Empress Dowager Cixi's Image Making in Art. **This episode originally aired April 24, 2023. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices