Hometown Questions
4. Whereabouts is your hometown?
Xi' an is located in Shanxi province, which is in central China.
5. Let's talk about your hometown or village. What kind of place is it?
My hometown's a small place, just outside of Beijing. It takes about an hour to get to there. The people there are mostly farmers, but a lot of the young people work in Beijing. It's a quiet place and I like it.
6. Could you tell me something about your hometown?
a. Well, it's quite big and it's the capital of Shanxi province. The population's about 6 million and it's famous for its historic sites, especially for the Terracotta Warriors. Xi' an used to be the capital of China, and it's the beginning of the famous Silk Road.
b. Okay. Well, my hometown is Beijing and I live just outside of it near the 4th ring road. As you probably know, Beijing's the political and cultural center of China, and it's quite a historical place as well. It's huge-about 12 or 13 million people live in it now-and it seems to be getting bigger every year.
7. What kind of landscape surrounds your hometown?
a. Harbin's right near the Song Hua Jiang River, and it's kind of in a flat area, with mountains in the distance.
b. Indio's a coastal city near the sea, so the main landscapes are the beaches and bays. There are also some nice hills nearby.
8. What are the main tourist attractions in your hometown?
There's the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. These are the two that are most well known. They are also symbols of China. They attract most visitors, but there are quite a lot of other famous sites as well.
9. What are the people like in your hometown?
They're usually very friendly, but a bit conservative. People still hold onto a lot of old customs and traditions, which is what I mean by conservative. But I think people there are very hospitable and kind. If you ask someone for directions, they'll always try to help you out, or find someone else who can.
10. What places in your hometown do you like best and tell me why?
I like the Temple of Heaven best because it's very beautiful. It has a lot of space and there are lots of really nice and old trees there. In the early morning, it's very peaceful. The older people practice their Tai-ji, while the younger children just run around and play. I like it there a lot.
11. What places in your hometown might a visitor be interested to visit, and tell me why?
I'd recommend the Great Wall, Summer Palace, and the Forbidden City. Those are the most famous places in the city, and I think they best represent Beijing.
12. Do you like your hometown, and tell me why or why not?
a. Yes. Although it may not have as many opportunities, I think my hometown is a warmhearted place and the people are not as selfish as they are in some of the bigger cities.
b. To be frank, I don't really like my hometown that much. I mean, perhaps there are many people who are happy to live there, but I find that the pollution problem is just too bad, and to me it doesn't seem like a good place to raise a family.
13. Do you think your hometown is a good place for a young person to live?
a. Yes I do, because it's got a lot of opportunities and the entertainment facilities are quite good. You can get a decent job here if you have some skills, and you can make a lot of good friends if you have a good personality.
b. No, I think if you're young you'd be better off going to a bigger city with more opportunities. I think my hometown is more suitable for an older crowd, who enjoy a more peaceful life. Younger people get bored with the way things are here.
14. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in your hometown?
I think the biggest advantage is that it's a place where you can find a good job with a good salary, if you try very hard. Also, the people are quite kind and generous. The main disadvantages are the traffic and pollution problems. If you stay in my hometown you will know that these are the two things that everyone here hates the most.
Weather Questions
15. What is the climate like in your hometown?
It's generally very hot in the summer, like about 40 degrees Celsius. In the winter, it's coldabout minus 14 degrees Celsius. The spring and autumn are both mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from around 12 to 25 degrees Celsius. Oh, and summertime is extremely humid as well..
There are four seasons. Winter is cold and snowy; spring is short and rainy; summer is hot and humid; and autumn is beautiful.
16. What is the weather like in Beijing?
In general, it's pretty dry. Winters are a bit cold. They are dry and windy, with a bit of snow. Spring is short and a bit windy. Summers are hot and a bit more humid, and temperatures can go as high as 30 degrees, so it can be kind of uncomfortable in the summer unless you have air conditioning. Fall is probably the best season-it's very comfortable-not windy, and not too cold or hot like the other seasons.
17. How would you compare the climate in your hometown with other cities?
Well there are definitely places that have a milder climate. My hometown's weather is a little bit uncomfortable for some people in the summer and winter. There are places where the weather is quite stable all year round. On the other hand, there are some places where the weather's even worse, like in Daqing.
18. What're the advantages and disadvantages of the weather in your hometown?
Advantages and disadvantages? That's a difficult question to answer, let me think for a second. Well, I guess the main advantage is that its dry, so we don't have to worry about too much rain, and the winters are not too cold like in some other places in northern China. The disadvantage is that it can get windy here, and when there is a sandstorm, well, that can be terrible to put up with.
19. What's your favorite weather in your hometown?
Actually, I've never thought about that. I guess it would have to be a sunny but not too hot day. It would be just a bit hot, like the kind of weather we get here in Beijing during autumn.
