中国新年的美味佳肴

In different towns and cities, specially prepared delicious food is always on offer at this time of year. As well as being steeped in local cultures, it's a chance for visitors and local residents to really wake their taste buds to 2012. Can you smell the flavors?
每年的这个时候，在不同城镇，特别准备的美食已经在销售。除了沉浸于当地文化之外，这也是游客和当地居民真正唤醒他们2012年味蕾的一个机会。你闻到味道了吗？

It's cold in Zaozhuang city, in East China's Shandong Province, but thousands have come out to eat!
在中国东部山东省的枣庄市，天气寒冷，但是数千人已经出来吃东西了。

At Taierzhuang Ancient Town, the annual Pan Cake Festival gives visitors a chance to sample the many culinary delights on offer and learn how to make the pancakes themselves.
在台儿庄古镇，每年一度的煎饼文化节给了游客一个机会，品尝许多在售美食以及学习如何自制煎饼。

Qin Ge, visitor to Taierzhuang Pancake Festival, said, "Vegetable pan-cake is a very special local food. When I eat such traditional food on the first day of 2012, I feel so happy. Come here and try it! "
参加台儿庄煎饼文化节的游客Qin Ge表示：“蔬菜煎饼是一种非常有地方特色的食物。2012年第一天，当我吃到这样传统的食物时，我感到如此开心。你也来这里试试吧！”

The theme of the celebration is "Special Zaozhuang -- Warm Ancient Town". Visitors also get to enjoy local performers, and the unique atmosphere of ancient town.
庆祝会的主题是“非常枣庄，温暖古城”。游客还可以欣赏当地演员的表演，享受古城独特的氛围。

Over in Xi'an, in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the streets are packed with New Year snacks.
在中国西北陕西省的西安市，街上到处是新年小吃。

Most famous is the "Rose Mirror Cake". It may only be 6 centimeters across, but the smell and the taste cannot fail to please. It's an ideal way to end a day touring China's ancient capital.
最有名的是玫瑰镜糕。它的宽可能只有6厘米，但是气味和口味让人很满意。在中国这个古都玩一天是很完美的一种方式。

A Xi'an resident said, "Rose Mirror Cake is about the same size as a small mirror we might carry with us. That's where it gets its name."
西安市民表示：“玫瑰镜糕的大小和我们可以随身携带的镜子差不多。它就是因此而得名。”

It's a fairly simple cake to make. But there's a traditional way to eat it, with different seasonings like rose sauce and sesame.
这种糕点的制作非常简单。但是吃的时候有一种传统的吃法，蘸玫瑰酱和芝麻等不同佐料。

One enterprising vendor has even taken the concept further, by adding cartoon characters to each cake. It's a marketing ploy that seems to work.
一位有胆量的摊贩甚至进一步利用这种概念，将卡通人物添加到每个糕点里面。这种营销策略似乎起作用了。

Xitang ancient town of East China's Zhejiang Province also has a wide variety of local delicacies to tempt visitors.
中国东部浙江省的西塘古镇也有吸引游客的各种地方风味小吃。

A visitor to Xitang town, said, "We came here to feel the atmosphere."
到西塘古镇游玩的一位游客表示：“我们来这里感受气氛。”

A visitor said, "We want to taste all the different snacks here."
一名游客称：“我们想品尝这里不同的小吃。”

Stall owners vie for customers, and make the snacks, as hungry shoppers look on.
摊贩争相招揽顾客，在饥饿的购物者在旁观看时制作小吃。

Some of the recipes are decades, or even centuries old.
一些食谱有几十年，甚至几百年的历史。

"This is the snack we had when we were small children. I want to let my daughter have a try," said a tourist.
一位游客表示：“这是我还是小孩子时吃过的一种小吃。我想让我的女儿尝尝。”

Many people have been before, but find the food to be so good that they choose to come back again and again.
许多人以前已经来过这里，但是发现这里的食物是如此美味之后，所以他们选择一次又一次地回头。

Lou Jinwei, visitor to Xitang, town, said, "It's my second time here but my wife has been five times. The view is beautiful and it's a very meaningful place for us."
到西塘镇游玩的游客Lou Jinwei称：“这是我第二次来这里，但是我妻子来了五次。风景很漂亮，对我们来说这是非常有意义的一个地方。”

The couple first met in Xitang ancient town last year. This year, they were married.
这对夫妇去年第一次在西塘古镇相遇。今年，他们已经结婚了。

Great food and a fantastic setting -- two things that help make so many destinations in China stand out as unforgettable holiday destinations.
美味的食物和美妙的环境——这两样东西使中国许多旅游目的地脱颖而出，成为难以忘怀的度假胜地。