Speaking June 5

Describe an unusual but interesting building you would like to visit

answer

Original version

You know, ever since I first saw photos of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, I’ve been dying to visit it. Actually, I imagine standing in Tiananmen Square area, looking over at that massive oval structure — it’s like a giant egg floating on water.

Technically, it’s located right next to the Forbidden City, so the contrast is crazy. You have this centuries-old imperial palace, and right beside it sits a futuristic dome made of titanium and glass. When the sun hits it, the surface shimmers, and at night, it’s all lit up — almost like a spaceship that’s landed on a reflective pool. To me, that mix of ultra-modern materials and traditional surroundings is what makes it so unusual.

I guess what really interests me is how it challenges your expectations: in a place so steeped in history and tradition, you suddenly see this contemporary marvel. As a postgraduate student, let’s say, architecture and urban planning, so I’d love to go inside, walk through the water-lined corridors, and experience how the acoustics and design work in real life. Plus, watching an opera or a concert there would be an experience in itself because the auditorium is supposed to have amazing sound quality.

So yeah, I’d love to visit it not only to snap photos of the exterior, but also to appreciate how modern Chinese architects blend cutting-edge design with historical context.

You know, ever since I first saw photos of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, I’ve been dying to visit it. /juː/ /nəʊ/ /ˈev.ə/ /sɪns/ /aɪ/ /fɜːst/ /sɔː/ /ˈfəʊ.təʊz/ /ɒv/ /ðə/ /ˈnæʃ.ə.nəl/ /ˈsen.tə/ /fə/ /ðə/ /pəˈfɔː.mɪŋ/ /ɑːts/ /ɪn/ /beɪˈʤɪŋ/ /aɪv/ /bɪn/ /ˈdaɪ.ɪŋ/ /tuː/ /ˈvɪz.ɪt/ /ɪt/

Actually, I imagine standing in Tiananmen Square area, looking over at that massive oval structure — it’s like a giant egg floating on water. /ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li/ /aɪ/ /ɪˈmæʤ.ɪn/ /ˈstæn.dɪŋ/ /ɪn/ /ˌtjænˈæn.mən/ /skweə/ /ˈeə.ri.ə/ /ˈlʊk.ɪŋ/ /ˈəʊ.və/ /æt/ /ðæt/ /ˈmæs.ɪv/ /ˈəʊ.vəl/ /ˈstrʌk.ʧə/ — /ɪts/ /laɪk/ /ə/ /ˈʤaɪ.ənt/ /eɡ/ /ˈfləʊ.tɪŋ/ /ɒn/ /ˈwɔː.tər/

Technically, it’s located right next to the Forbidden City, so the contrast is crazy. /ˈtek.nɪ.kəl.i/ /ɪts/ /ləʊˈkeɪ.tɪd/ /raɪt/ /nɛkst/ /tuː/ /ðə/ /fəˈbɪd.ən/ /ˈsɪt.i/ /səʊ/ /ðə/ /ˈkɒn.trɑːst/ /ɪz/ /ˈkreɪ.zi/

You have this centuries-old imperial palace, and right beside it sits a futuristic dome made of titanium and glass. /juː/ /hæv/ /ðɪs/ /ˈsen.tʃər.izˌəʊld/ /ɪmˈpɪə.ri.əl/ /ˈpæl.ɪs/ /ənd/ /raɪt/ /bɪˈsaɪd/ /ɪt/ /sɪts/ /ə/ /ˌfjuː.tʃəˈrɪs.tɪk/ /dəʊm/ /meɪd/ /ɒv/ /taɪˈteɪ.ni.əm/ /ənd/ /ɡlɑːs/

When the sun hits it, the surface shimmers, and at night, it’s all lit up — almost like a spaceship that’s landed on a reflective pool. /wen/ /ðə/ /sʌn/ /hɪts/ /ɪt/ /ðə/ /ˈsɜː.fɪs/ /ˈʃɪm.əz/ /ənd/ /æt/ /naɪt/ /ɪts/ /ɔːl/ /lɪt/ /ʌp/ — /ˈɔːl.məʊst/ /laɪk/ /ə/ /ˈspeɪs.ʃɪp/ /ðæts/ /ˈlæn.dɪd/ /ɒn/ /ə/ /rɪˈflek.tɪv/ /puːl/

To me, that mix of ultra-modern materials and traditional surroundings is what makes it so unusual. /tuː/ /miː/ /ðæt/ /mɪks/ /ɒv/ /ˌʌl.trəˈmɒd.ən/ /məˈtɪə.ri.əlz/ /ənd/ /trəˈdɪʃ.ən.əl/ /səˈraʊn.dɪŋz/ /ɪz/ /wɒt/ /meɪks/ /ɪt/ /səʊ/ /ʌnˈjuː.ʒu.əl/

I guess what really interests me is how it challenges your expectations: in a place so steeped in history and tradition, you suddenly see this contemporary marvel. /aɪ/ /ɡes/ /wɒt/ /ˈrɪə.li/ /ˈɪn.trɛsts/ /miː/ /ɪz/ /haʊ/ /ɪt/ /ˈʧæl.ɪn.dʒɪz/ /jɔː/ /ˌeks.pekˈteɪ.ʃənz/ — /ɪn/ /ə/ /pleɪs/ /səʊ/ /stiːpt/ /ɪn/ /ˈhɪs.tər.i/ /ənd/ /trəˈdɪʃ.ən/ /juː/ /ˈsʌd.ən.li/ /siː/ /ðɪs/ /kənˈtem.pə.rər.i/ /ˈmɑː.vəl/

I’m a postgraduate student studying, let’s say, architecture and urban planning, so I’d love to go inside, walk through the water-lined corridors, and experience how the acoustics and design work in real life. /aɪm/ /ə/ /ˌpəʊstˈɡræd.jʊ.ət/ /ˈstjuː.dənt/ /ˈstʌd.i.ɪŋ/ /let’s/ /seɪ/ /ˈɑː.kɪ.tek.ʧər/ /ənd/ /ˈɜː.bən/ /ˈplæn.ɪŋ/ /səʊ/ /aɪd/ /lʌv/ /tuː/ /ɡəʊ/ /ɪnˈsaɪd/ /wɔːk/ /θruː/ /ðə/ /ˈwɔː.təˌlaɪnd/ /ˈkɒr.ɪ.dɔːz/ /ənd/ /ɪkˈspɪə.ri.əns/ /haʊ/ /ði/ /əˈkuː.stɪks/ /ənd/ /dɪˈzaɪn/ /wɜːk/ /ɪn/ /riːl/ /laɪf/

Plus, watching an opera or a concert there would be an experience in itself because the auditorium is supposed to have amazing sound quality. /plʌs/ /ˈwɒ.tʃɪŋ/ /ən/ /ˈɒp.rə/ /ɔː/ /ə/ /ˈkɒn.sət/ /ðeə/ /wʊd/ /biː/ /ən/ /ɪkˈspɪə.ri.əns/ /ɪn/ /ɪtˈself/ /bɪˈkɒz/ /ði/ /ˌɔː.dɪˈtɔː.ri.əm/ /ɪz/ /səˈpəʊzd/ /tə/ /hæv/ /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/ /saʊnd/ /ˈkwɒl.ɪ.ti/

So yeah, I’d love to visit it not only to snap photos of the exterior, but also to appreciate how modern Chinese architects blend cutting-edge design with historical context. /səʊ/ /jeə/ /aɪd/ /lʌv/ /tuː/ /ˈvɪz.ɪt/ /ɪt/ /nɒt/ /ˈəʊn.li/ /tuː/ /snæp/ /ˈfəʊ.təʊz/ /ɒv/ /ði/ /ɪkˈstɪə.ri.ə/ /bət/ /ˈɔːl.səʊ/ /tuː/ /əˈpriːʃ.i.eɪt/ /haʊ/ /ˈmɒd.ən/ /ˈtʃaɪ.niːz/ /ˈɑː.kɪ.tekts/ /blend/ /ˈkʌt.ɪŋˌedʒ/ /dɪˈzaɪn/ /wɪð/ /hɪˈstɒr.ɪ.kəl/ /ˈkɒn.tekst/

answer

1. Why do some people choose to build houses by themselves?

Well, I think one of the main reasons people choose to build their own house is to save money. You know, when you hire a contractor or a developer, there are so many hidden fees and mark-ups, but if you do the work yourself—at least partially—you can significantly cut down on labour costs. Plus, there’s this huge sense of ownership and achievement that comes from literally putting your own sweat into the walls of your home. It’s kind of empowering to say, “Yeah, I built that,” instead of just moving into something someone else constructed.

Well, I think one of the main reasons people choose to build their own house is to save money. /wel/ /aɪ/ /θɪŋk/ /wʌn/ /ɒv/ /ðə/ /meɪn/ /ˈriː.zənz/ /ˈpiː.pl̩/ /tʃuːz/ /tuː/ /bɪld/ /ðeə/ /əʊn/ /haʊs/ /ɪz/ /tuː/ /seɪv/ /ˈmʌn.i/

You know, when you hire a contractor or a developer, there are so many hidden fees and mark-ups, but if you do the work yourself—at least partially—you can significantly cut down on labour costs. /juː/ /nəʊ/ /wen/ /juː/ /ˈhaɪ.ə/ /ə/ /kənˈtræk.tə/ /ɔː/ /ə/ /dɪˈvel.ə.pə/ /ðeə/ /ɑː/ /səʊ/ /ˈmen.i/ /ˈhɪd.ən/ /fiːz/ /ænd/ /ˈmɑːk.ʌps/ /bət/ /ɪf/ /juː/ /duː/ /ðə/ /wɜːk/ /jɔːˈself/ /æt/ /liːst/ /ˈpɑː.ʃəl.i/ /juː/ /kæn/ /sɪgˈnɪf.ɪ.kənt.li/ /kʌt/ /daʊn/ /ɒn/ /ˈleɪ.bə/ /kɒsts/

Plus, there’s this huge sense of ownership and achievement that comes from literally putting your own sweat into the walls of your home. /plʌs/ /ðeəz/ /ðɪs/ /hjuːʤ/ /sens/ /ɒv/ /ˈəʊ.nə.ʃɪp/ /ænd/ /əˈtʃiːv.mənt/ /ðæt/ /kʌmz/ /frɒm/ /ˈlɪt.ər.əl.i/ /ˈpʊt.ɪŋ/ /jɔː/ /əʊn/ /swet/ /ˈɪn.tuː/ /ðə/ /wɔːlz/ /ɒv/ /jɔː/ /həʊm/

It’s kind of empowering to say, “Yeah, I built that,” instead of just moving into something someone else constructed. /ɪts/ /kaɪnd/ /ɒv/ /ɪmˈpaʊə.rɪŋ/ /tuː/ /seɪ/ /jeə/ /aɪ/ /bɪlt/ /ðæt/ /ɪnˈsted/ /ɒv/ /dʒʌst/ /ˈmuːv.ɪŋ/ /ˈɪn.tuː/ /ˈsʌm.θɪŋ/ /ˈsʌm.wʌn/ /els/ /kənˈstrʌk.tɪd/

2. What factors do you consider when choosing a house or an apartment?

Well, to be honest, the very first thing I check is affordability — you know, the monthly rent, deposits, and estimated utility bills. As a student, I can’t really overstretch my budget. Next, I look at the commute: is there a direct bus or metro line to campus? Ideally, it shouldn’t take more than 20 or 30 minutes door-to-door. Oh, and I always factor in whether the lease terms are flexible — like a six-month contract instead of a year — since grad school schedules can change.

Well, to be honest, the very first thing I check is affordability — you know, the monthly rent, deposits, and estimated utility bills. /wel/ /tuː/ /biː/ /ˈɒn.ɪst/ /ðə/ /ˈver.i/ /fɜːst/ /θɪŋ/ /aɪ/ /ʧek/ /ɪz/ /əˌfɔː.dəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ — /juː/ /nəʊ/ /ðə/ /ˈmʌnθ.li/ /rent/ /dɪˈpɒz.ɪts/ /ænd/ /ˈes.tɪ.meɪ.tɪd/ /juːˈtɪləti/ /bɪlz/

As a student, I can’t really overstretch my budget. /æz/ /ə/ /ˈstjuː.dənt/ /aɪ/ /kɑːnt/ /ˈrɪə.li/ /ˌəʊvəˈstretʃ/ /maɪ/ /ˈbʌdʒ.ɪt/

Next, I look at the commute: is there a direct bus or metro line to campus? /nekst/ /aɪ/ /lʊk/ /ət/ /ðə/ /kəˈmjuːt/ /ɪz/ /ðeə/ /ə/ /dɪˈrekt/ /bʌs/ /ɔː/ /ˈmet.rəʊ/ /laɪn/ /tuː/ /ˈkæm.pəs/

Ideally, it shouldn’t take more than twenty or thirty minutes door-to-door. /aɪˈdiː.ə.li/ /ɪt/ /ˈʃʊd.ənt/ /teɪk/ /mɔː/ /ðæn/ /ˈtwenti/ /ɔː/ /ˈθɜː.ti/ /ˈmɪn.ɪts/ /ˌdɔːtəˈdɔː/

Oh, and I always factor in whether the lease terms are flexible — like a six-month contract instead of a year — since grad school schedules can change. /əʊ/ /ænd/ /aɪ/ /ˈɔːl.weɪz/ /ˈfæk.tə/ /ɪn/ /ˈweð.ər/ /ðə/ /liːs/ /tɜːmz/ /ɑː/ /ˈfleks.ə.bəl/ — /laɪk/ /ə/ /ˌsɪksˈmʌnθ/ /ˈkɒn.trækt/ /ɪnˈsted/ /ɒv/ /ə/ /jɪə/ — /sɪns/ /græd/ /skuːl/ /ˈʃed.juːlz/ /kæn/ /ʧeɪnʤ/

3. Do you think a city's buildings affect its vibe or atmosphere?

Well, I definitely think a city’s buildings have a huge impact on its overall vibe. You know, when you walk through old hutongs in Beijing, the low-rise gray brick walls and narrow alleys almost make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. In contrast, the Pudong skyline in Shanghai—full of gleaming glass skyscrapers—gives off this ultra-modern, almost futuristic energy. So, the architectural style, from heritage courtyards to high-rise towers, really shapes how we perceive a city’s character and pace.

Well, I definitely think a city’s buildings have a huge impact on its overall vibe. /wɛl/ /aɪ/ /ˈdɛf.ɪ.nɪt.li/ /θɪŋk/ /ə/ /ˈsɪt.iːz/ /ˈbɪl.dɪŋz/ /hæv/ /ə/ /hjuːʤ/ /ˈɪm.pækt/ /ɒn/ /ɪts/ /əʊ.vəˈrɔːl/ /vaɪb/

You know, when you walk through old hutongs in Beijing, the low-rise gray brick walls and narrow alleys almost make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. /juː/ /nəʊ/ /wɛn/ /juː/ /wɔːk/ /θruː/ /əʊld/ /ˈhuː.tɒŋz/ /ɪn/ /beɪˈʤɪŋ/ /ðə/ /ləʊ-raɪz/ /ɡreɪ/ /brɪk/ /wɔːlz/ /ænd/ /ˈnær.əʊ/ /ˈæl.iz/ /ˈɔːl.məʊst/ /meɪk/ /juː/ /fiːl/ /laɪk/ /juːv/ /stɛpt/ /bæk/ /ɪn/ /taɪm/

In contrast, the Pudong skyline in Shanghai—full of gleaming glass skyscrapers—gives off this ultra-modern, almost futuristic energy. /ɪn/ /ˈkɒn.trɑːst/ /ðə/ /ˈpuː.dɒŋ/ /ˈskaɪ.laɪn/ /ɪn/ /ʃæŋˈhaɪ/ — /fʊl/ /ɒv/ /ˈɡliː.mɪŋ/ /ɡlɑːs/ /ˈskaɪˌskreɪ.pəz/ — /ɡɪvz/ /ɒf/ /ðɪs/ /ˌʌl.trəˈmɒd.ən/ — /ˈɔːl.məʊst/ /ˌfjuːˈtʃɜː.rɪs.tɪk/ /ˈɛn.ə.dʒi/

So, the architectural style, from heritage courtyards to high-rise towers, really shapes how we perceive a city’s character and pace. /səʊ/ /ðə/ /ˌɑː.kɪˈtɛk.tʃər.əl/ /staɪl/ — /frɒm/ /ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ /ˈkɔː.tjɑːdz/ /tuː/ /haɪ-raɪz/ /ˈtaʊ.əz/ — /ˈrɪə.li/ /ʃeɪps/ /haʊ/ /wiː/ /pəˈsiːv/ /ə/ /ˈsɪt.iːz/ /ˈkær.ɪk.tər/ /ænd/ /peɪs/

4. Do you think old buildings should be preserved?

Well, I’d say old buildings absolutely should be preserved, you know? They’re like living textbooks of our history and culture. Take the hutongs in Beijing or the ancient city wall in Xi’an — once they’re gone, that tangible link to the past disappears too. Preserving these structures not only maintains a city’s unique identity but also attracts cultural tourism, which benefits the local economy. So, to be honest, I think it’s crucial we keep them intact and even restore them sensitively rather than tear them down.

Well, I’d say old buildings absolutely should be preserved, you know? /wel/ /aɪd/ /seɪ/ /əʊld/ /ˈbɪl.dɪŋz/ /ˌæb.səˈluːt.li/ /ʃʊd/ /biː/ /prɪˈzɜːvd/ /juː/ /nəʊ/

They’re like living textbooks of our history and culture. /ðeə/ /laɪk/ /ˈlɪv.ɪŋ/ /ˈtekst.bʊks/ /ɒv/ /aʊə/ /ˈhɪs.tər.i/ /ænd/ /ˈkʌl.tʃə/

Take the hutongs in Beijing or the ancient city wall in Xi’an — once they’re gone, that tangible link to the past disappears too. /teɪk/ /ðə/ /ˈhuː.tɒŋz/ /ɪn/ /beɪˈʤɪŋ/ /ɔː/ /ðə/ /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/ /ˈsɪt.i/ /wɔːl/ /ɪn/ /ˌʃiːˈæn/ — /wʌns/ /ðeə/ /ɡɒn/ /ðæt/ /ˈtæn.dʒɪ.bəl/ /lɪŋk/ /tuː/ /ðə/ /pɑːst/ /ˌdɪs.əˈpɪəz/ /tuː/

Preserving these structures not only maintains a city’s unique identity but also attracts cultural tourism, which benefits the local economy. /prɪˈzɜː.vɪŋ/ /ðiːz/ /ˈstrʌk.ʧəz/ /nɒt/ /ˈəʊn.li/ /meɪnˈteɪnz/ /ə/ /ˈsɪt.iz/ /juːˈniːk/ /aɪˈden.tɪ.ti/ /bət/ /ˈɔːl.səʊ/ /əˈtrækts/ /ˈkʌl.tʃər.əl/ /ˈtʊə.rɪ.zəm/ /wɪʧ/ /ˈben.ɪ.fɪts/ /ðə/ /ˈləʊ.kəl/ /ɪˈkɒn.ə.mi/

So, to be honest, I think it’s crucial we keep them intact and even restore them sensitively rather than tear them down. /səʊ/ /tuː/ /biː/ /ˈɒn.ɪst/ /aɪ/ /θɪŋk/ /ɪts/ /ˈkruː.ʃəl/ /wiː/ /kiːp/ /ðəm/ /ɪnˈtækt/ /ænd/ /ˈiː.vən/ /rɪˈstɔː/ /ðəm/ /ˈsen.sɪ.tɪv.li/ /ˈrɑː.ðə/ /ðæn/ /teə/ /ðəm/ /daʊn/