I have just come back home from the Ancient City of Qing Yan. It has been twice that we have already visited this special scenery, and it's fair to say that it won't be the last time. I am exhausted, I feel a dull ache in my neck, and so other than achy feet, my whole body is pure pain. For those who don't know, I'm already a certain age, and I strongly wanted not to be tired, but my body and my mind go their separate ways. In spite of that, I just wanted to write about this day.

我方才自青岩古镇归来。 这已是我们第二次造访此地，妙趣横生，令人流连忘返，我深信，此行并非最后一次。我身心俱疲，颈项酸痛，足部剧痛，实在是饱经疲劳。对于外人而言，可能认为我已上了年纪，虽期望能够尽兴而归，可惜人老心不老，身体和想法常起分歧。即便如此，我仍然要将今日所见所闻，一一记录下来。

As for the second time, I have been able to enjoy this place at my own pace, and I have to say that the day's weather hasn't been on our side. Though it hasn't prevented that we wanted to delight the most time despite the rain, we have gone around the streets firmly convinced of fitting into this ancestral culture, we don't know do otherwise. So that sensation has made us to feel peaceful enough to see as much as possible, but taking care not to slip due to slick ground.

第二次踏足青岩古镇，我们有幸以自己的节奏，尽情探访，感受。尽管今天的天气不佳，雨势不减，却未能阻挡我们寻觅这座古镇文化的热情。我们坚定地往前走着，眼前历史建筑延伸开来。此刻，只有平静自若，心神宁静，方得以尽览山川河流，领略更多的美景。游览时也需提防湿滑的石梯，以免一时疏忽，怠慢了大好风光。

“No matter the weather”, we tell at each other with just our eyes, and continuing visiting the ancient city. We reach some of the silversmith's to see how the jewellers work, and suddenly I remember when we were in Beijing and visited a famous hutong where there were many of these types of silversmith's and varied shops.

“不论天气如何”，我们以目光相互示意，继续游览古城。途中到达了银匠铺，亲眼见证了珠宝匠精湛的手艺。不由得想起在北京胡同游览时，也见过不少类似的银匠和店铺。

I had been reading something related to Qing Yan and I could know that this ancient town was originally built in the late 14th century. Seven centuries later, Qing Yan still remains as an interesting destination for foreign tourists, local inhabitants and, generally, Chinese citizens. That's why we have revisited some temples, the ancient academy – “it's impossible not to wonder by the inspirational power which is in the air”, I say to myself.

此前读过有关青岩的书籍，得知此古镇建于14世纪末。七个世纪过去，这里仍是外国游客、当地居民和其他省份游客的旅游胜地。不禁感触，重游古刹和书院，总能感受到“氤氲天地间的启示之力”。

The first time I was here, I could realize that the place offered a wide variety of possibilities -from seeing as much as time permits to buy as much as your wallet allows you- and that's right, however, this time we decide to focus harder on the details. That is, a hidden corner, any buildings' architectural style, as well as the materials, having a tea or a coffee, or try the typical flower pastries.

记得初到此地时，我只觉得这里有多种多样的可能性——从尽可能地游览名胜古迹到尽可能地购买纪念品，和其他游客一样。 然而，这一次我们决定更专注于细节。也就意味着，我们要发掘隐藏的角落，欣赏各种建筑风格和材料，品味茶香咖味，或是尝试传统花糕。

Because we are not in a big hurry, we size the opportunity to celebrate a sort of a Valentine's Day. Someday I will write about our Chinese love story and how this glitzy country turned our lives around, but not yet, not yet. In the midday, we go for some lunch at the same eatery we were last time. We have to eat outdoor without taking off our coats due to the cold wind, it's so cold out here. After that, we go for a well-deserved coffee. It is the occasion for having a break while checking out the photos. I think that restaurants, tea shops, cafés and other type of stores affectionally confer the city a modern touch mixed with the traditional architecture, pure diversity. Someone could see a veiled gentrification, but in my humble opinion, in this country, those who know, are aware enough to do things with the necessary respectful to the historical, social and cultural background.

由于行程不紧张，我们抓住机会庆祝情人节。未来总有一天，我将写下我们的中国爱情故事，以及这个光彩夺目的国度如何改变了我们的生活。但故事才刚开篇。中午时分，我们再次来到同一家餐馆享用午餐。由于天气很冷，我们不得不在户外用餐，不敢脱下外套。用餐后，我们享用了一杯应得的咖啡，这是一个放松的时刻，可以一边看照片，一边享受宁静。我认为餐厅、茶馆、咖啡馆和其他类型的商铺，为这个古镇带来了现代化的气息，与传统建筑融合，呈现纯粹的多样性。也许有人会认为这是一种隐蔽的新贵化，但我认为，在这个国度，有足够的人意识到必须以尊重历史、社会和文化背景的方式行事。

I particularly enjoy to go around while getting lost in my own thoughts, but without losing sight either where I am or why. It's a bittersweet feeling, however, it's worth to look back in the past through the experienced gaze to see how the life has changed. And suddenly, you bring back to yourself to life from a waking-dream to return to such a dream place.

我喜欢漫步，静心思考，但同时也不忘我的位置和目的地。这是一种苦乐交织的感觉，但回首经历，看到生活的变化，却是值得的。忽然间，你从一个清醒的梦中回到这梦幻般的地方。

We go on walking throughout the town and we decided to stop for buying some things as gifts for us due to the upcoming first 18th anniversary -our second anniversary is in October, the things in life... Sun Tzu said, “Opportunities multiply as they are seized”.

一路上，我们决定停下来购买礼物，因为我们即将迎来第一个18周年纪念日——我们的第二个周年纪念日将在十月到来，生活总是充满着变数。但正如孙子说过：“夫未战而庙算胜者，得算多也”。

The gifts, of course, represent the Chinese essence such as two Chinese dolls and a Chinese silver-engraved ingot with the word Fú, the first Chinese character that came to our lives for the very first time a long time ago.

这些礼物很有中国传统特色，两个中国娃娃和一个刻有“福”字的中国银锭，这是我们很久以前第一次接触到的第一个中文字。从那时起，中国一直以其传统的谦逊姿态出现在我们的生活中，在我们未知的生活中，默默祝福着。

特约撰稿人：Victoria B. Santisteban

翻译：彭义

编辑 高鑫 胡锐

编审 闵捷