Broadcasting Time: 2006-05-27




(Photo Source: food.poco.cn)

Part I:  Opening and Letters
A: Hello and welcome to "Listener's Garden" on China Radio International.  I'm your host LPC.

B: and I'm XH. In this edition of Listeners' Garden, on the request of US listener Ken Osicki, we'll introduce to China's greatest cultural export, its cuisine.
 
A: While following that main course, we'll continue with our listeners' quiz, entitled "Get to Know CRI", and then learn the Chinese idiom: 家徒四壁 which means to possess nothing but the bare walls of one's home

B: But, before all of that, let's get to the appetizers, as we open our trusty mailbox.

Andrei Illes from Romania
I am currently learning Chinese. I have been listening to your Chinese lessons for a couple of months now and I am very happy with them. They provide clear explanations and use everyday language.

Cao Qiang from China
I like CRI very much, and I visit your website every day. I like Studio Classroom; I've learned a lot from it. I am currently involved in foreign trade, so I was wondering if you could put some business conversations on the website? I think it could be a great help to many Chinese businessmen.

A: Thanks, Andrei Illes and Cao Qiang for the letters. Cao, we'll definitely forward your suggestion to our producers, it's high time we taught some business English on CRI.

Helmut Matt from Germany
 CRI has a new contest: "Get to know CRI". Of course I will try to participate - I hope that I will be able to understand and answer all the questions properly. Believe me, I would never miss a chance to see your wonderful country and all the nice friends I have in Beijing, especially at CRI. Anyway, I am sure I will learn many interesting facts about CRI during the contest, even though I have been a listener of CRI since about 1976. Indeed as I write this, I suddenly realize that this year 2006 will mark the 30th anniversary of my relationship and friendship with CRI. 

A: Well, whether long- or short-term, we hope that every listener can take part in this activity. Later in our today's program, we'll bring you the second part of our quiz. You can send us your answers to crieng@crifm.com or log onto our website at www.crienglish.com. Don't worry, we'll give you that address again, during the quiz.

Brian Kendall From United Kingdom

I want to say something about your features on travel. I wish that you could go out more from the studio to different places and just paint word pictures for us, for example, the background noises of Beijing life. This would give a real flavor of travel to us listeners.
A: Thanks for your great suggestion. Actually that is also what we are trying our best to achieve.

John Eary from USA
I have listened to China Radio International since 1958 on short wave. I started out on an old short wave receiver. I guess that's when I fell in love with China and her people. Keep up the good work.

Douglas D Kung from USA
I think that China Radio International has always done a great job in its English short wave broadcasts. I especially appreciated your news reporting. Being someone who is always interested in world news & events, I think your News and Reports program does an excellent job.
Also, your "Reports from Developing Countries" is another great resource on international news and affairs. Thanks to CRI, I am now quite informed on stories concerning developing countries.
 
Shahrzad Banihashemi from Iran
Hi. I am writing to you to tell you about the good experience of my recent business trip to China. Over a period of nine days I stayed in Shanghai and Wuxi of east China's Jiangsu Province. Before going to China I was a little bit worried. But later I found that all the people were very kind and hospitable - I had very enjoyable time there.
 I took so many photos in China. When I see them in Tehran, I remember the nice people in their nice country. I hope to have another chance to visit this country.

Mitsunori Kawazoe from Japan
I am studying Chinese by myself. A Chinese student sometimes helps me. I hope that someday in the future I can conduct a daily conversation in Chinese.
In order to learn Chinese, I often watch Chinese movies or dramas from the Internet. They are all free. I have been watching the drama "Last Emperor-溥仪". In China, can movies or dramas be watched on the Internet for free?

A: Of course, although sometimes it can be hard to find exactly what you want. After all, such a service is undoubtedly illegal, so someone somewhere should be doing something to prevent these free movie viewings.

Mogire Machuki from Kenya
I have received the January-February 2006 edition of Messenger.

It is a great edition of the magazine, especially with its new look. I think that every listener should be very happy with the news contained in its extra pages.

The color of the magazine and the pictures are great.

However, I do want to know more about the political side of china, which was not included in this edition of the periodical.

Moreover, can you include CRI's frequencies within the pages of Messenger? These are essential facts for us listeners.
 
A: Thanks for pointing out the omission of broadcast details, Mogire, we'll try and put that right in the future. 

Ziad Jemal from Ethiopia
I think your programs are informative & educational.
I started to listen to CRI about a year ago when I was a student in high school. 
You are a small window through which I can learn about China. I love your radio programs and through these programs have even come to love your country. Please keep up the good work.

A: Thanks very much Ziad for your letter, which incidentally brings us to our first short break. Listeners Garden will be right back in just a minute, so don't go away!

Part II: Topic of the week

A: Welcome back to Listeners' Garden. I'm LPC.

B: And I'm XH. Recently US listener Ken Osicki wrote to us, saying:" I am very much interested in Chinese cuisine. Can you give me more information on that?"

A: Wow, that's a seriously large topic you've given us Ken. And it just so happens that we're both experts in the art of eating. Isn't that right, XH?

B: Hmm, I think I could take your statement even further, and say that every Chinese person is semi-obsessed with cuisine, even though many young people can't cook at all these days After all, even Confucius once said: "Eating is the utmost important part of life."

A: So of course, in a field where everybody considers themselves an expert, there are bound to be arguments. For example, many people find it hard to agree on how many different genres of cuisine exist in China.

B: For our part, we believe that the most influential and well-known types are the 'Eight Cuisines'. These are the cuisines from Shangdong, Sichuan, Canton, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan and Anhui.

A: Basically this method of classification splits cooking styles up according to region. People from the Northeast and Southwest may well disagree with the choice of Eight Cuisines though, since both of these areas are completely overlooked, despite having very distinctive styles.

B: Yet at least everyone can agree that Chinese cuisine varies hugely according to region. My personal favorite is Sichuan Cuisine. Many dishes from this region are prepared using red chilies and Chinese peppercorns, which give a hot, numbing taste. The most famous Sichuan dish of all is probably Kung Pao chicken, with diced chicken fried quickly and served in a spicy sauce with peanuts and red pepper.

A: Great stuff, but hot stuff too, and therefore not too good for your inner balance. Eat too much of this, and you'll probably end up with ulcers and pockmarks, as the inner heat erupts from your body.

B: Maybe, that's why they call another famous Sichuan dish Ma Po Tofu, or Pockmarked Grandma Tofu. It's another spicy treat, which combines tender beancurd, or tofu, with minced meat.

A: Yep another classic dose of Sichuan spice. Meanwhile, neighboring Hunan is home to another of the Eight Cuisines, which is also very liberal in its use of spicy condiments.

B: To be honest though, us Beijingers aren't too sure about the difference between Sichuan and Hunan cuisines. Lucky then that our reporter recently interviewed Hunan expert Chen Jie, who gives her opinion about the food from the province.

"Hunan cuisine is hot and sour while Sichuan cuisine is usually not and numbing. In addition, Sichuan cuisine usually involves stir-frying while Hunan cuisine relies on the two cooking methods of braising and steaming. For me, Hunan food is a healthier option."

A: There you go, we've learnt something new there, despite being self-proclaimed experts. Anyway, we may not know about Hunan food, but we do know about Cantonese cuisine, even though this province is way down south, far from Beijing.

B: Pah, nothing impressive there - everyone in China knows, or thinks they know, about Cantonese eating habits. We even have a saying, "the Cantonese eat every thing that flies except planes, every thing on the ground except cars, and every thing that is in water except boats." 

A: A slight exaggeration there, but you get the idea. The main ingredients for Cantonese dishes are seafood, pork, chicken and vegetables, but as the saying suggests, local cooks are happy to experiment with whatever comes to hand.

B: Canton is also very famous for its snacks, both sweet and savory. I especially like their steamed or fried dumplings. They are usually served in small portions, to appear dainty and delicate to the eye.

A: Moving on to another southern style of cooking, we have Fujian Cuisine. Our reporter interviewed Zhou Wei, a fan of this particular style, especially the curiously named Buddha Jumps over the Wall. Let's find out more.

"With a history of over 100 years, Buddhas Jumps over the Wall is prepared with more than 20 ingredients, including chicken, duck, pig's trotters and mutton. These items are all stewed together over a low fire in a jar previously used for holding Shaoxing rice wine. Whenever this dish is served, the whole restaurant will be full of its aroma. In the past a scholar even composed a poem on this subject, saying: "All the neighbors enjoy the pleasant whiffs of this dish; and even a Buddha would jump over the wall in pursuit of this smell." Hence the name Buddha Jumps over the Wall.

A: No aromas get into this studio, we're soundproof and smellproof. All the same, I can't help feeling a bit peckish right now.

B: Well, I'm afraid we've still got a fair few cuisines to go yet. In fact, I guess we only have time for one more, Shandong cuisine.

A: Hmm, this style is pretty popular in Beijing, but perhaps not ideally represented. After all, Shandong food uses a lot of seafood, which won't be too fresh by the time it arrives in Beijing. Also personally, I strongly dislike the Shandong penchant for using green Chinese onion to flavor everything.

B: People in Shandong also like foodstuffs which use wheat flour, such as steamed buns and pancakes, both of which are sometimes stuffed with savory fillings.

A: That still leaves us with Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui Cuisine, but I'm afraid we've already run out of time. Apologies to the inhabitants of those regions - if any of you are listening, how about writing in and giving us all a description of your local food styles.

B: Meanwhile, for the time being, we need a quick break and a quick bite, before our reporter Wang Jing brings you the second installment of our quiz "Get to know CRI".

Part III "Get To Know CRI" Quiz Series

Hello and welcome to today's "Get to Know CRI" quiz. I'm Wang Jing. In this edition, we will ask you two simple questions about China Radio International, their answers are right here in our program. One lucky winner will get a 7-day trip to China at the end of this year. To take part, send us your answers via email at crieng@crifm.com or log onto our website at www.crienglish.com. Today is the second part of the quiz, and our subject is CRI in Development.

Before we start our program, here are the two quiz questions. Listen carefully. The first question is: How many foreign bureaus does CRI have around the world? And Question Number Two: How many languages does CRI broadcast worldwide?

In 1980, CRI began to set up foreign bureaus to cover news events taking place abroad. The first two were in Tokyo and BeListeners' Gardenrade.

So far CRI has 27 foreign bureaus all over the world. When any breaking news happens in the world, CRI correspondents can send back first-hand reports. And with the development of CRI's broadcast service, it currently uses 43 languages every day to broadcast all over the world.
After China's reform and opening up, more and more foreigners have come to China.

for work, study, travel or business. In order to provide them with a better understanding of China, in 1984 CRI began offering domestic service in English in Beijing.

In 1998, CRI began its online broadcasting service by setting up a multi-language website: CRI Online. The website has audio programs in 48 languages, including standard Chinese and four Chinese dialects, and has become quite famous at home and abroad.

Now I'll repeat today's questions: The first question is: How many foreign bureaus does CRI have around the world? And Question Number Two: How many languages does CRI broadcast worldwide?

Please send us your answers by email to crieng@crifm.com or by logging onto our website at www.crienglish.com. Good luck and thanks for listening.

Part IV Chinese idioms:

A: Welcome back. I'm LPC.
B: And I'm XH. Time now for Chinese idioms, presented to you every week by Listeners' Garden. Today's idiom is家徒四壁, which means to possess nothing but the bare walls of one's home.

B: Here's Shanshan to tell us the story behind the idiom: 

About two thousand years ago during the Han Dynasty, there lived a man of letters called Sima Xiangru. He was appointed military officer by the emperor, yet really didn't like this post, since literature was his first love. Still, he had to obey the emperor, and carried out his duties for some time, based in the capital, Chang'an, today's Xi'an. Later however, Sima resigned, using illness as an excuse, and went to an imperial kinsman who enjoyed the company of scholars. Unfortunately, a few years later, this kinsman died. Consequently, Sima returned to his hometown Chengdu in present day Sichuan, where he proceeded to lead a poor life.

A local magistrate, and old friend of Sima Xiangru, admired his abilities and invited him to his county. This county's most wealthy man Zhuo Wangsun even gave a banquet in his honor. However, Sima declined the invitation, again using the excuse of illness. Accordingly, the county magistrate went personally to invite him, so that Sima finally accepted the invitation. At the banquet, Sima's distinguished manner overwhelmed all of the nobles and gentlemen present.

During the feast, the magistrate asked Sima Xiangru to play the Zheng, a Chinese zither. After politely declining at first, Sima finally consented to play. He had heard that Zhuo Wangsun's newly widowed daughter, Zhuo Wenjun, was a talented and beautiful woman and that she was fond of music. So he purposefully chose soft, sweet love tunes to show his affection for her.

The music struck a chord with the widow, who snuck a peak at Sima from her window and instantly developed a fondness for him. In short, the two fell in love. However, at that time, women weren't allowed to marry a second time, and the old man wouldn't let his daughter marry Sima.

"What a daughter! I can't kill you but I won't give you a penny if you marry again."
Despite the obstacles, their love remained true. One night, Wenjun and Xiangru eloped to a small town and settled down there. They had no furniture, to say nothing of luxurious goods. They only possessed the four walls standing around them. But that didn't matter. They loved each other dearly. Later, they moved, and borrowed some money from Wenjun's brother to start a bar.
 
A: From this story comes the idiom家徒四壁. It is used to describe a poverty-stricken family. It is like saying "as poor as a church mouse."

B: But I don't even have the money to buy a house and four walls. So I'm even poorer than Sima Xiangru. Personally, I would feel satisfied just to have somewhere of my own, furniture or no furniture.

A: You should remember though, Sima was very poor, and his house probably leaked during rainy spells. Ask yourself, which is better, rented comfort or purchased poverty?

B: Hmm, a home is a home. Better than nothing, I think

Part IV: the week ahead

A: Welcome back to Listeners' Garden, where it's time now for our Week Ahead.
B: Let's hear from the CRI feature team, and their plans for next week's coming shows.

A: Well with that, we come to the end of this edition of Listeners' Garden - any comments or suggestions, please write to China Radio International, Beijing, China with the postcode 100040;
B: or you may email us at garden@cri.com.cn;
A: Well, I'm LPC,
B: and I'm Xiaohua. Thanks for join us and see you next week.