当长江传奇号游轮从五马渡启航，落日的余晖把南京长江大桥映射在船上，英国人贺福（Frank Hossack）从未以这个视角观察过中国独立设计与建造的第一座长江大桥——尽管在南京生活超过20年，但这是他第一次乘坐长江游轮，感觉十分新奇。
75岁的南京作家薛冰是贺福的同行者之一，他告诉贺福，《The Times》本应翻译为《时报》，中国人却习惯用伦敦一条大河的名字将其称为《泰晤士报》，“这就是文化,我们需要沟通才能了解彼此。”
贺福则回应薛冰，你知道吗？英国人口中所说的长江（Yangtze River/直译为扬子江），其实狭义上指的是从南京为起点的下游长江段。
在两人相视一笑中，“理解万岁”达成。
——以上，是11月22日出版的英国《泰晤士报》的英式幽默文章，该报以半版篇幅刊发题为《以南京为起点，瞭望长江的未来》（《Embarking from Nanjing; Embracing a Future Yangtze）的文章，以英国和中国的两位嘉宾在长江游轮上一场文化交流对话的独特叙事视角，引领读者进入对大河文明交流互鉴幽默而深刻的思考。
11月22日《泰晤士报》刊文《以南京为起点，瞭望长江的未来》
通过两人的对话，文章介绍了即将于11月24日开幕的2023长江文化南京论坛，为全流域长江文化搭建共享平台，创设世界大河文明和城市交流互鉴的平台，来自全球大河流域的近400位嘉宾，将共同研讨水保护、滨水城市可持续发展、文化传承与传播等议题。
南京市长江岸线
文章说，当今长江不仅是全球的黄金水道，更是连接人类共同未来的文化纽带。长江文化南京论坛将为全球可持续发展提供解决方案，呼吁关注发展观念的转变，从过去的索取观念转变为人与自然和谐共生的新认识。
南京长江沿岸
两位的对话或许已画上句号，但大河文明的交流如泰晤士河和长江的水脉一样，奔流不息，润泽人类的共同历史，为可持续未来汇聚智慧。
《泰晤士报》(The Times)诞生于1785年，是一张对全世界政治、经济、文化发挥着巨大影响的报纸。
中译全文：
以南京为起点，瞭望长江的未来
Embarking from Nanjing; Embracing a Future Yangtze
当雄浑的长江奔流入海，这条大河所揭示的人类文明新境界，将为凝聚可持续发展的未来提供方案。
As the mighty Yangtze River flows seaward, the unfolding chapter of human civilization unveiled by the river holds the key to solutions for a sustainable future.
当长江传奇号游轮从五马渡启航，落日的余晖把南京长江大桥映射在船上，从未从这个角度观察过中国人自己独立设计与建造的第一座长江大桥的人们发出欢呼，在南京生活超过20年的英国人贺福开心笑了，这是他第一次乘坐长江游轮，也是他最棒的旅行体验之一。
When the “Yangtze Legend” cruise ship set sail from Wuma Ferry, the glow of the setting sun cast a silhouette of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge onto the ship. Cheers erupted from those who had never before witnessed the first Yangtze River Bridge designed and built independently by the Chinese from the unique perspective of under the bridge and on the river’s waters. Frank Hossack, a Brit who has lived in Nanjing for over 20 years, smiled with joy. This marked his first time aboard a cruise on the Yangtze River, which turned out to be one of his best travel experiences.
江上船舶往来穿梭、繁忙有序，岸边草长莺飞、沙鸥翔集，不远处高楼鳞次栉比，要是运气好，还能看见珍稀物种江豚——这种天生带着微笑嘴型的生物，愈来愈多被普通人肉眼看到。
Ships on the river shuttle back and forth, busy but organized; grasses grow on the river’s shores and birds fly and warble; while skyscrapers line the riverbank in a striking display. With a bit of luck, you can even spot a Yangtze finless porpoise, a rare mammal called the “smiling angel” for its mouth fixed in a permanent grin. The number of Yangtze finless porpoise is on the rise, increasingly spotted by common folks.
75岁的南京作家薛冰是贺福的同行者之一，在即将于11月24日开幕的2023长江文化南京论坛上，他们将和其他近400位来自全世界大河流域的嘉宾一起，共同探讨水保护、滨水城市可持续发展、文化传承与传播等议题。
Xue Bing, a 75-year-old Nanjing writer, is one of Hossack’s fellow companions. At the upcoming 2023 Yangtze Culture Forum, scheduled to open on November 24, they will join nearly 400 guests from river basins around the world, delving into discussions on topics such as water conservation, sustainable development of waterfront cities, and the preservation and communication of culture.
“你知道吗，Frank，在中文中，我们称《The Times》为《泰晤士报》。”薛冰说，这就是文化,我们需要沟通才能了解彼此。
“You know, Frank, in Chinese, we refer to ‘The Times’ as ‘The Thames Newspaper,’” Xue Bing said. “That’s culture. That’s why we need communication to understand each other.”
“我知道了，就像扬子江其实是长江从南京以下至入海口的下游河段，但是现在‘Yangtze’逐渐演变为全部长江的英文统称。是吧？”贺福回答。
“Huh, likewise the term ‘Yangtze’ referred in particular to the section of the Changjiang River from Nanjing to the estuary. But over time, ‘Yangtze’ has gradually evolved into the English umbrella term for the entire Changjiang River. Is that right?” Replied Hossack.
“确实，也许南京也可以被称为长江（Yangtze）的起点。”薛冰笑了。
“Exactly. Perhaps Nanjing can also be regarded as the starting point of the Yangtze,” Xue Bing smiled.
这次由南京市人民政府、联合国教科文组织等联合主办的论坛，旨在搭建全流域长江文化的共享展台、创设世界大河文明和城市的交流互鉴平台。
The forum will be jointly hosted by Nanjing, UNESCO, and other partners. It is geared towards establishing a platform to showcase and share the diverse cultures of the entire Yangtze River basin, with a broader goal to foster mutual learning and exchange among civilizations and cities of great rivers.
泰晤士河上的赛艇——牛津剑桥赛艇对抗赛
和英国人无比珍视泰晤士河一样，中国人也把长江视作自己的母亲河。这条长达6300多公里的亚洲第一长河孕育了博大的中华文明，哺育出众多的伟大城市，位于下游的南京就是其中一枚璀璨的明珠。
The British affectionately dub River Thames as Old Father Thames, while the Chinese revere the Yangtze as their mother river. Stretching over 6,300 kilometers, the longest river in Asia has cradled the birth of China’s profound civilization and nurtured magnificent cities along its banks. Among these, Nanjing stands downstream as a brilliant pearl.
“我们从来都很重视长江，但现在，我真正觉得长江是我们生命中的一部分。”薛冰说。
“We’ve always valued the Yangtze River, but now, I truly feel that the Yangtze is a part of our lives,” said Xue.
一只水獭在英国伦敦湿地中心享受美食（2022年11月9日摄）
距离伦敦市中心5千米、坐落在泰晤士河畔的英国伦敦湿地中心是一个由工业废地改建的都市生态乐园
和伦敦一样，南京同样是建造在伟大河流之畔的城市。她尽管在历史上被战争数次摧毁，但总能浴火重生，研究者认为，连绵不断的文脉和经济发展的“动脉”是南京复兴的关键所在，而这其中，黄金水道长江扮演了重要角色。
Much like London, Nanjing is a city built along the banks of a great river. Both cities were formally the centers of empires throughout history. Despite repeatedly devastated by wars in the past, Nanjing has over and over risen again. Researchers believe that its continuous culture and dynamic economy are crucial to Nanjing’s revival, recognizing the vital role of the golden waterway, the Yangtze River.
“薛，长江对于南京来说，是什么？”贺福问。
“Xue, what does the Yangtze River mean to Nanjing?” asked Hossack.
“长江是南京城市的塑造者。”薛冰回答。
“It’s the shaper of Nanjing,” replied Xue.
一方面是守卫者，因为长江天堑的庇护，南京成为抵御北方入侵者的华夏文明捍卫者和中华文化传播者，所以传统意义上的南京城位于长江南岸。而如今，南京城市的范围早已跨越大江南北，南京全城有超过10条跨江通道，其中包括跨江大桥和江底隧道与地铁。长江文化南京论坛的举办地便位于长江北岸的扬子江国际会议中心。
On one hand, it serves as a guardian. Sheltered by the river as a natural barrier, Nanjing stood as defender of the Huaxia civilization against northern invaders and as a disseminator of Chinese culture. Hence, the urban area of Nanjing City is traditionally to the south of the Yangtze. However, today, the city has extended far beyond the north and south of the river. Currently, the whole of Nanjing City has over 10 river crossings, including bridges, tunnels, and subway lines. Venue for the upcoming Yangtze Culture Forum is the Yangzi River International Conference Center Hotel on the river’s northern bank
另一方面则是沟通的网络，来自全世界的商人从海上而来，从扬子江进入中国内陆。
On the other hand, the Yangtze serves as a network of communication. It is where merchants from around the world left the seas to enter China’s interior.
在15世纪的明朝，郑和从南京出发远下西洋，作为全球化的开拓者，郑和的船队最远航行至非洲和红海，遍撒了和平友谊的种子、收获了繁荣发展的果实。
During the Ming Dynasty in the 15th century, Nanjing was the launch point for the voyages of Zheng He. An early standard bearer of globalization, the admiral’s treasure fleets sailed as far as Africa and the Red Sea. His legacy of peace, partnership and prosperity is still remembered.
今天的长江，不仅是一条链接全球的黄金水道，更是一条连接人类共同未来的文化纽带，透过长江，可以看到中国发展的最新理念与变化，长江文化南京论坛也将带来解决困扰全球可持续发展的工具箱，为河流与人类的和谐共生提供方案。
Today, the Yangtze River is not just a golden waterway connecting the world, but also a cultural link binding humanity’s shared future. Through the Yangtze, one can witness the latest outlook and changes in China’s development. The Yangtze Culture Forum aims to serve as a toolbox for addressing challenges in global sustainable development, offering solutions for the harmonious coexistence of rivers and humanity.
“关键是发展观念的变化，我们改变了过去靠山吃山靠水吃水的索取观念，重新认识到人与自然和谐共生的意义。”“老南京人”薛冰亲身见证，一度因过度开发而遭受污染之痛的长江，变为了与城市、百姓共荣共生的长江，每逢周末，长江沿岸的绿地成为市民露营的热门之地。
“The key lies in the shift in our developmental outlook. We have moved away from the notion of exploiting nature without regard, grasping the significance of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature,” said Xue, a seasoned resident of Nanjing, who has personally witnessed the transformation of the Yangtze River. Once plagued by pollution due to excessive exploitation, now it has turned into a thriving river shared by the city and its people. Every weekend, the green spaces along the Yangtze River become a popular camping destination for citizens.
“薛，南京对于长江来说，是什么？”贺福问。
“Xue, then what does Nanjing mean for the Yangtze?” asked Hossack.
“也许象征了未来，如果你对今天的中国好奇。欢迎来南京长江走走。”薛冰说。
“Perhaps, it symbolizes the future. If you’re curious about today’s China, you are welcome to take a stroll along the Yangtze in Nanjing,” replied Xue.
“我同意。”贺福回答。
“I agree,” Hossack responded.
来源：新华社客户端
