1、Shangri-La香格里拉Beneath billowing clouds,翻腾的云海之下in Chinas far southwestern Yunnan province,在中国西南遥远的云南省lies a place of mystery and legend.有一个神秘而又充满传奇的地方Of mighty rivers and some of the oldest jungles in the world.这儿有着世界上最久远的雨林以及奔腾的河流Here, hidden valleys nurture strange and unique creatures,藏匿于此的河谷养育了奇异
2、而又独特的动物and colourful tribal cultures.同时也孕育了多彩的民族风情Jungles are rarely found this far north of the tropics.雨林在远离热带的北部地区是罕见的So, why do they thrive here?可是为什么却得以在此茁壮成长And how has this rugged landscape come to harbourthe greatest natural wealth in all China?为何整个中国崎岖不平的山地里却蕴藏着富饶多姿的自然财富In the remote southw
3、est corner of China,在中国西南部的一个偏远的角落里a celebration is about to take place.即将举行一场庆典Dai people collect water for the most important festival of their year.傣族人为他们一年中最重要的节日收集水The Dai call themselves the people of the water.傣族人也称自己为水之民Yunnans river valleys have been their home for over 2,000 years.云南的河谷地带是
4、他们的两千多年来繁衍生息的故里By bringing the river water to the temple,把河水带到寺庙they honour the two things holiest to them -敬俸傣族人最神圣的两件事物Buddhism and their home.佛教和他们的家园The Dai give thanks for the rivers and fertile lands which have nurtured their culture.傣族人感恩养育了傣族文化的河流以及肥沃的土地Though to some it might seem just an e
5、xcuse for the biggest water fight of all time.或许这看上去只是为了打上一场大水仗的借口Dai lives are changing as towns get bigger and modernize随着小镇的发展以及现代化傣族人的生活正发生着改变but the Water Splashing Festival is still celebrated by all.泼水节依旧是众所周知的著名的傣族节日The rivers which lie at the heart of Dai life and culture河流穿越了傣族人生活与习俗的心脏地带f
6、low from the distant mountains of Tibet,发源于西藏遥远的山脉之中southward through central Yunnan in great parallel gorges.河水向南流经了宏伟的平行峡谷中的云南中部The Dai now live in the borders of tropical Vietnam and Laos,傣族人现在居住在与越南以及老挝接壤的热带地区but their legends tell of how their ancestors came here他们的传说讲述了先辈是怎样来到这儿的by following t
7、he rivers from mountain lands in the cold far north.从寒冷而又遥远的北方山区顺流而下Lying at the far eastern end of the Himalayas,头枕着遥远的喜马拉雅山脉东部的末端the Hengduan mountains form Yunnans northern border with Tibet.横断山脉构成了滇北的边界并与西藏相交Kawakarpo, crown of the Hengduan range,is a site of holy pilgrimage.卡瓦格博峰是横断山脉之上的王冠也是圣洁朝
8、圣者旅途的一站Yet, its formidable peak remains unconquered.然而她那令人敬畏的顶点至今未被征服Yunnans mountains are remote,rugged and inaccessible.云南的山不但遥远而且崎岖Here the air is thin and temperatures can drop below minus 40 degrees.这里空气稀薄而且气温能骤降至零下四十度This is home to an animal thats found nowhere else on Earth.这里是地球上独一无二的动物The
9、Yunnan snub-nosed monkey.又称扁鼻黑金丝猴即传说中的雪猴滇金丝猴的家园Its found only in these few isolated mountain forests.只有在极少数与世隔绝的山林中才能看到它们的踪影No other primate lives at such high altitudes.在如此高海拔的地区难以寻觅其它灵长类动物的踪迹but these are true specialists.这些是真正的专家These ancient mountain dwellers have inspired legends.这些出没在远古深山中的原住民
10、有着一些通灵的传说Local Lisu people consider them their ancestors,当地的傈僳族人就把它们当作自己的祖先calling them “the wild men of the mountains“.并把它们称为：“山中野老”During heavy snowfalls,even these specialists cannot feed.在大雪之中即使是这些专家也不能够进食It seems a strange place for a monkey.对滇金丝猴来说似乎又来到了一个新奇的地方Between snows, the monkeys waste
11、no time in their search for food.在另一场雪到了之前滇金丝猴抓紧时间寻找食物At this altitude,there are few fruits or tender leaves to eat.在高海拔地区只有少数水果与嫩叶可供食用90% of their diet is made up of the fine dry wisps of a curious organism.百分之九十的日常饮食由不常见的成捆精细干有机物组成Half fungus, half plant its lichen.其中一半是真菌，另外一半是植物地衣How have monkey
12、s,normally associated with lowland jungle,提起猴子人们通常联想到的是低地雨林come to live such aremote mountain existence?缘何他们选择在偏远的山地繁衍生息呢This is not the only remarkable animal found within these isolated high peaks.它们并非这些孤耸的高峰上唯一醒目的生命A Chinese red panda.一只中国小熊猫Solitary and quiet, it spends much of its time in the t
13、ree tops.这位沉默寡言的隐士将自己生命的大部分置于树的顶端Despite its name,抛开它的名字the red panda is only a very distant relative of the giant panda.让小熊猫与大熊猫扯上亲戚关系是一件非常勉强的事情Its actually more closely related to a skunk.小熊猫有时在中文中也称火狐，英文中亦有 FireFox既是对其的直接译名。列在熊科或浣熊科是多年一直被争论的问题，最近经过基因分析认为与美洲大的浣熊亲缘关系最接近，应该单独列为小熊科，它在血缘上更接近臭鼬。But it
14、does share the giant pandas taste for bamboo.但他却和大熊猫有着共同的口味嗜好-竹子Southwest Chinas red pandas are known for their very strong facial markings中国西南部的小熊猫因其醒目的面部花纹而著称which distinguish them from red pandas found anywhere else in the Himalayas.这些特征将他们与其它在喜马拉雅地区发现的火狐物种区分开来Like the monkeys, they were isolated
15、 in these high forests如同猴类一般它们被隔离在了高远的山林之中when the mountains quite literally rose beneath them山体在巨大的造山运动中被挨个完全抬起in the greatest mountain-building event in recent geological history.近年来的地质学历史已经证明了这一点Over the last 30 million years,在过去 3000 万年间the Indian subcontinent has been pushing northwards into Eu
16、rasia.印度次大陆持续向北挤压欧亚大陆On the border between India and Tibet印度与西藏的交界处the rocks have been raised eight kilometres above sea level,巨大的岩石被推挤至海平面以上 8000 米处之高creating the worlds highest mountain range, the Himalayas.造就了世界最高大宏伟的山脉喜马拉雅山But to the east,对东部来说the rocks have buckled into a series of steep north-
17、south ridges,岩石被皱褶进了南北走向的绵延陡峭的山脊cutting down through the heart of Yunnan,同时也切进了云南的心脏地带the parallel mountains of the Hengduan Shan.形成了平行的横断山脉These natural barriers serve to isolate Yunnans plants and animals这些天然屏障守护着隔绝在云南in each adjacent valley.各自毗邻的河谷中的动植物While the huge temperature range between the
18、 snowy peaks雪峰与斜坡间的巨大的温差and the warmer slopes below所创造的足够的优厚条件provides a vast array of conditions for life to thrive.使得这儿生命彰显无限生机Through spring,春的岁月the Hengduan slopes stage one of Chinas greatest natural spectacles.横断山脉的斜坡上上演了中国最为壮绝的自然景致The forests here are among the most diverse botanical areas in
19、 the world.此处的森林拥有世界上最多样化的植被及物种Over 18,000 plant species grow here,这里生长着超过 18000 种植物of which 3,000 are found nowhere else.其中约 3000 种植物是这儿特有的Until little more than a century ago,this place was unknown outside China.直到一个多世纪前这里还是个未为人知的世外桃源But then news reached the West然而有关这个神奇隐秘的东方世界的传言of a mysterious,
20、 hidden world of the orient.却不胫而走 传至西方Hidden among the mountains,a lost Shangri-la paradise.隐匿在群山中遗落人间的最后天堂 香格里拉Western high society, in the grip of a gardening craze,当时西方上流社会盛行园艺was eager for exotic species from faraway places.渴望获得遥远国度的稀有物种This gave rise to a new breed of celebrity adventurers,这也造就
21、了新物种的探险家intrepid botanist-explorers known as “the Plant Hunters“.无畏的植物探索家 世称“植物猎人”Yunnan became their Holy Grail.云南成为了他们的圣杯（Holy Grail 是 Jesus 在最后的晚宴上使用的餐具据称有不可思议的神奇力量）The most famous was Joseph Rock,a real life Indiana Jones.其中最出名的便是 Joseph Rock 真人版的 Indiana Jones(Indiana Jones 是电影 “迷失方舟的侵入者 “ 中的英雄
22、)Remarkable film footage captured his entourage on a series of expeditions,胶片出色的记录了他与随行人员的一系列as they pushed into the deepest corners of Yunnan.深入云南腹地的探险远征In glorious colour he recorded the plant life he found他发现了千姿百态的植物on special photographic glass plates.并将其记录于特制的玻璃质感光片上Sending thousands of specime
23、ns back to the West,通过将成千上万的标本送回西方the Plant Hunters changed the gardens of the world forever.植物猎人永远的改变了世界园艺Rocks success was born of a massive effort.Rock 的成功源自其不懈的努力For, to find his Shangri-la,为了找到他的香格里拉not only had he to traverse endless mountain ranges,他翻越了无尽连绵的山脉but some of the deepest gorges in
24、 the world.征服了世界上最深的峡谷The Nujiang is called The Angry River.怒江之名意为愤怒的河流This 300-kilometre stretch of raging rapids绵延三百公里的急流如同那些巍峨群山is as much a barrier to life as are the mountains above.成为了保护野生生命的天然屏障WAVES CRASH惊涛拍岸But the plant hunters werent the first people to travel here.植物猎人并非第一个到这里旅行的人Along t
25、he Nujiang,怒江之上less than 30 rope crossings allow locals passage across the torrents.有二十多座溜索桥供当地人飞越激流Tiny hamlets cling to the slopes.小村落依山而居This morning, its market day,今天是赶集的日子drawing people from up and down the valley.一大早人们就从山谷的四处集中PIG OINKS猪叫声GOAT BLEATS山羊咩咩的叫Hanging from simple rope slings,当地人使用
26、这种简易吊索穿越河流people have been using the crossings for many hundreds of years.已有数百年的历史In such narrow, precipitous gorges在如此狭窄陡峭的山谷中its by far the easiest way to get around.这种简易的交通方式显得尤为便捷Once across, the steep sides mean its still a hike.虽然成功抵达彼岸前方崎岖的山路依旧艰辛Many trek for hours by foot before they get to
27、the market.抵达集市前还需要数小时的艰苦跋涉The immense valley is home to over a dozen ethnic groups.超过十二个以上的族群居住在这片宽阔的河谷之中Some, like the Nu people,are found only here.怒族人仅存于此The markets bring the mountain tribes together.不同族群的山民们在集市上相聚To continue his expeditions,为了继续他的征途Rock had to get his entire entourage across t
28、he giant Yunnan rivers.Rock 与他的探险队必须设法越过云南的激流He commissioned especially thick ropes made from forest rattan他定制了用森林藤蔓特制的结实绳索来完成运载and filmed the entire event.并记录下了整个全程With yak butter to smooth the ride,40 men and 15 mules made the journey.他们用牦牛油润滑了吊索 40 个人和 15 头骡子开始渡河Not all made it across.但并非每次都成功抵达了
29、彼岸On the far side of the great Nujiang gorge,在怒江河谷遥远的彼岸the Plant Hunters made a remarkable discovery.植物猎人们有了惊人的发现Far from the tropics,尽管远离热带they seemed to be entering a steamy,vibrant tropical jungle,他们却似乎进入了一片热气腾腾的热带丛林the forest of Gaoligongshan.这就是高黎贡山的森林The flora here is unlike anywhere else in t
30、he world.这里的植物群落与众不同Next to subtropical species,alpine plants grow in giant form.类似亚热带高山植物物种的巨大外形Crowning the canopy, rhododendrons,up to 30 metres high.高达 30 多米的杜鹃花向着苍穹昂首怒放In April and May, their flowers turn the forests ruby red,四五月间它们将苍翠的山林染成一片嫣红attracting bird species found only here.吸引了唯此独有的鸟类C
31、onstant moisture in the air means that the branches are laden with flowering epiphytes,空气中丰富的水份供养的寄生植物增加了枝条的负载fiercely guarded by tiny sunbirds,unique to these valleys.这些山谷中特有的小太阳鸟精心护卫着杜鹃花的枝条Nectar feeders, these are the humming birds of the Old World tropics.蜂雀是花蜜的掠食者远古以来就一直生活在热带地区The forests of Ga
32、oligongshan are home to some of Chinas rarest wildlife.高黎贡山的森林是中国部分珍稀动物的家园This is a female Temmincks Tragopan.这是一只雌性红腹角雉She has a colourful male admirer.她有着一位绚丽夺目的雄性追求者Hes hoping to woo her with his peculiar peekaboo display它希望用奇特的躲猫猫游戏来向雌性求爱but shes not about to be rushed.但她却不想轻易将芳心托付His colourful
33、skin wattle reflects more light than feathers do.它多彩的盘状肉髯比羽毛能更好的反射光线（skin wattle 肉髯此系指颈部皮肤上的附属物）To her, this is like a neon sign.对雌性来说简直就是黑暗中的霓虹灯Seeing his chance,the male makes his move.是行动的时候了Constant moisture in the Gaoligongshan forests高黎贡山的森林总是保持着湿润的气候means that throughout the year there are al
34、ways fruits on the trees.这意味着这里终年都出产水果Such abundance of food encourages a high diversity of fruit eaters如此丰盛的水果吸引了各式各样原本more commonly found in the tropics.仅存于热带地区的“水果派”们The black giant squirrel is found only in undisturbed rainforest.大黑松鼠原本只生活在原始雨林中At close to a metre in length, its one of the world
35、s largest squirrels.体长近一米的大黑松鼠是世界上体型最大的松鼠之一The mystery is that these forests are growing well outside the tropics.神奇之处在于这些森林远离热带却依旧繁茂By rights, none of this jungle,or its animals, should be here.要是公正的说雨林及其间的动物本不该存在于此These are bear macaques.这是短尾猕猴Theyre found only in tropical and sub-tropical jungle.
36、他们通常只生活在热带亚热带的丛林中With a tiny home range of just a few square kilometres,之所以能够在这片方圆千米的袖珍家园生息they depend on the abundant fruit靠的是全年丰足的水果供给that only true rainforests can provide all year round.这种得天独厚的饮食条件足以媲美热带雨林To the European plant hunters,对欧洲的植物猎人而言these northern rainforests must have seemed a fanta
37、stic and mysterious lost world.北方的雨林简直是奇幻美妙的失落世界Yet, when they came here, they would have found beautifully constructed ancient stone pathways.然而 当他们来到这里却发现了构造美丽的古石道on which the forest could be explored.拜此所赐 森林探索得以进行Winding westwards into the hills,蜿蜒向西深入山地these were once some of the most important
38、highways in Asia,曾一度是亚洲地区的要道the southwestern tea and silk road.西南部的茶马古道(即为西南丝绸之路 )Built thousands of years ago,茶马古道源于古代西南边疆的茶马互市兴于唐宋盛于明清the southwestern tea and silk road gave access to the world beyond Chinas borders,西南茶马古道越过中国的边境迎来了远自罗马的商人与旅者carrying tradesmen and travellers from as far away as Ro
39、me.将这片古老土地与世界相连Wars were fought over access to this tiny path,这条路上曾燃烧过连绵的战火the only sure route in or out of China,也是出入当时中国的唯一咽喉要道that was guaranteed to be clear of snow all year round.必须要保证全年畅通无阻So, what causes Gaoligongshans strange and remarkable climate?那么是什么造就了高黎贡山独特的气候In late May, gusts of wind
40、 arrive,五月后旬阵风来临bringing with them the key to Gaoligongshans mystery.带来了解开高黎贡山气候之谜的钥匙The winds are hot and saturated with water.热风富含水分They come all the way from the Indian Ocean.它们完全来自于印度洋Channelled by Yunnans unique geography,受云南独特地形的影响they bring with them the moisture of the tropical monsoon.热带季风带
41、来了充沛的雨量The giant river valleys,created millions of years ago,形成于千百万年前的巨大河谷act like immense funnels.如同巨大的漏斗一般The gorges are so deep and narrow,这些峡谷深邃狭长that the moist warm air is driven right up into the north of Yunnan.引导湿热气流径直流向滇北The result is rain, in torrents!然后就是降雨暴泄的狂流Four months of daily rainst
42、orms sustain luxuriant vegetation.近四个月的持续雷雨滋润着茂盛的植物The arrival of the monsoon季风的来临awakens one of the forests most extraordinary moisture-loving inhabitants.唤醒了森林中最喜好潮湿的居民The crocodile newt is one of the most unusual of the many amphibian species found here.类鳄蝾螈是此处发现的最为不凡的两栖动物之一As the rains arrive,th
43、ey emerge to mate.当雨季来临它们开始求偶繁衍The newts are said to leave an odour trail that potential mates can follow.据说鳄蝾会为其潜在的伴侣留下气味线索The crocodile newt gets its name from the bumps along its back.类鳄蝾螈得名于它背上嶙峋的凸起These are its defence.这是它们的天然防御If grabbed by a potential predator,一旦被潜在的肉食者捕获the tips of its ribs
44、squeeze a deadly poison from the bumps.肋骨的顶部的隆起物中便会挤压出致命的毒素The deluge wakes another forest inhabitant.暴雨唤醒了另外一种森林生物This one is particularly astounding in its vigour!它那勃发向上的朝气令人叹为观止It can grow up to a metre a day,它一天能够生长一米fast overtaking the other plants around it.使其迅速傲视四周The taller it grows,the fast
45、er its growth rate,长得愈发高挺 长势愈发猛烈so that in a matter of days it towers above the undergrowth,数日间便拔地而起凌驾于灌木丛之上and continues reaching for the sky.并且持续向着天际进发Not bad for what is essentially a grass.对于出身草根的它而言干得还不赖Its bamboo.它就是竹子Given the chance,时机成熟bamboo will create immense forests,dominating entire ar
46、eas.竹子将造就出支配整个地域的庞大竹林Bamboo forests occur across southwest China,竹林的踪迹遍及整个中国的西南部all the way to Shanghai.一路向东直至上海都能看到它的身影But probably the highest diversity of bamboos in the world或许世界上最高耸挺拔的竹子is found on the hills and valleys of Yunnan.却悠然生长在云南的山谷之中Though incredibly strong,bamboos have hollow stems,尽
47、管外表坚硬竹子的腹中却空无一物a perfect shelter for any creatures which can find a way in.为一切能够寻径而入的生命创造了天然完美的庇护所This entrance hole was made by a beetle这是甲虫开凿的一个入口but its being used by a very different animal.但却为完全不同的生物做了嫁衣A bamboo bat.竹节蝙蝠The size of a bumblebee, its one of the tiniest mammals in the world.它是世界上最
48、小的哺乳动物体型和大黄蜂差不多一样大The entire colony, up to 25 bats,整个聚居地内里多达 25 只竹节蝙蝠fits into a single section of bamboo stem, smaller than a tea cup.挤在比一个茶杯的空间还要狭小的竹节里Its quite a squeeze!这简直就是挤油渣Half the colony are babies.竹节内一半的空间属于竹蝠宝宝Though barely a week old, they are already almost as big as their mums.尽管只有一周大
49、而已他们的体型却长得和妈妈一般大小了Feeding such a fast-growing brood is hard work.喂养这帮疯长的小家伙实在是件苦差事The mums leave to hunt just after dusk each night.蝙蝠母亲们只在每晚薄暮降临后外出寻觅食物Back in the roost,the young are left on their own.小家伙们被留下来看家Special pads on their wings help them to grip on the bamboo walls -翅膀上独特的肉趾帮助他们攀爬竹壁most of the time.绝大多数时候The young bats use the extra space to prepare for a life on the wing小竹蝠们在剩下的空间里用伸展腰肢整理翅膀by preening and stretching.为日后的飞行早做准备Packed in like sardines, they would make an easy target for a snake.就像罐头里的沙丁鱼挤得满满的将成为容易被蛇攻击的目标But the snake has no chance
