2016年CRI Chinese Admiral Zheng He's legacy boosts Indonesia's tourism industry

 

Zheng He, also known as Cheng Ho in the Cantonese dialect, played a critical role in expanding Chinese influence throughout Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia.

The Provincial¹ capital of Central Java, Semarang, is named after the Admiral in the native language.

This past weekend saw the provincial government of Central Java stage a Cheng Ho Cultural Festival in Semarang.

Hari Untoro, a multiculturalism² expert with Indonesia's Tourism Ministry³, says Cheng Ho's route through southeast Asia played an important part in boosting links between China and Indonesia.

"We have to revive the Cheng Ho route once again because it serves as an important link, both physically⁴ and historically, with Indonesia's connection with China."

The weekend festival included events at Sam Poo Kong, the oldest Chinese temple in Semarang.

This is where Admiral Cheng Ho - a Muslim - prayed, meditated⁵ and spread his message of peace to the Indonesian people hundreds of years ago.

The temple remains⁶ an essential site, and is said to represent the rich cultural heritage that Cheng Ho brought to life back in the 15th century.

Event today, tourists from all around the world gather at the temple to catch a glimpse of the past.

"I'm studying Chinese in Poland. That's why I want to see how Chinese culture looks in other countries. That's why I came here with my friends to see the temples. It's really beautiful."

"People are enjoying themselves and people are gathering⁷ all over the place and they're having fun. And I guess, that's really what it is about. You bring the culture to the people and letting them experience it."

Indonesia's Tourism Ministry created the "Cheng Ho Sea Route" tour packages last year, inspired by the Admiral's 7 voyages through Indonesian waters, which first began in 1405.

Foreign arrivals have since increased by nearly 2 percent, suggesting his ancient legacy⁸ is helping⁹ promote Indonesia's tourism industry, and still providing links to Indonesia and China 600-years later.

For CRI, this is Niu Honglin.

1 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

2 multiculturalism   

n.多元文化

参考例句：

• Switzerland is well known for cheese fondue, penguin parades and its multiculturalism. 瑞士一向以芝士火锅，企鹅游行和多元文化等特色闻名于世。
• That may be one reason why multiculturalism came easily to it. 这也是多元文化容易适应发展的原因之一。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 meditated   

深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑

参考例句：

• He meditated for two days before giving his answer. 他在作出答复之前考虑了两天。
• She meditated for 2 days before giving her answer. 她考虑了两天才答复。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

8 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。