Brazil, the biggest country in South America, has drawn the whole world’s attention, as it will host the 2014 World Cup in less than a month.
巴西是南美最大的国家，最近更因要举办2014年世界杯而备受瞩目。

The country certainly has a long tradition of soccer and has won the World Cup five times. But except for watching and playing soccer, Brazil’s beautiful landscape, various cultural events and delicious food also make it a great traveling destination.
巴西不仅拥有悠久的足球历史，曾五次夺冠世界杯。除了看球和踢球之外，巴西也是一座令人神往的旅游城市，拥有美丽的风景，丰富的文化活动与可口的美食。

Read on to learn more about this vibrant country.
接下来，让我们一起来了解这个多彩斑斓的国度！

Visit world wonders
领略世界奇观

Christ the Redeemer
里约热内卢基督像

As one of the New Seven Wonders and an icon of Brazil, Christ the Redeemer is the famous statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, also one of the largest art deco-statues in the world. Located at the top of the 700-meter Corcovado Mountain, it offers a sweeping panorama of Guanabara Bay. It stands 98 feet (30 meters) tall, not including its 26-foot (8-meter) pedestal, and its arms stretch to a width of 92 feet (28 meters).
里约热内卢的救世主基督像是全世界最大的艺术装饰性雕塑之一，既是巴西的标志，也是“新世界七大奇迹”。这座雕塑坐落在海拔700米的科科瓦多山顶，站在那里可以将瓜纳巴拉湾的美景尽收眼底。雕像净高98英尺（30米），下面还有一个26英尺（8米）的底座，而雕塑耶稣双臂张开宽度可达92英尺（28米）。

Iguazu Falls
伊瓜苏大瀑布

Situated on the border of Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu Falls is one of the great natural wonders of the world. They feature on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among its system of 275 waterfalls along the Iguazu River, the Devil’s Throat is the most magnificent one. It’s a U-shaped waterfall with a height of 269 feet (82 meters).
伊瓜苏大瀑布位于巴西与阿根廷交界处，是世界伟大的自然奇观之一，已被联合国教科文组织列入世界遗产名录。沿着伊瓜苏河，大瀑布由275个小瀑布组成，其中“魔鬼咽喉”瀑布最为壮观，这条U字型的瀑布高达269英尺（82米）。

Amazon River
亚马逊河

At approximately 6,400 km, the Amazon River is the second longest river and the largest river by volume in the world. With 3,000 recognized species of fish, it is surrounded by half of the planet’s remaining rainforests. Tourists can boat upriver into the damp and enjoy the unique and powerful ambience of the wild.
亚马逊河全长近6400千米，是世界上第二长的河流，也是世界上总流量最大的河流。亚马逊河里已确认的鱼种达3000种，而地球上现存热带雨林的一半也都在亚马逊河两岸。游客可以从上游乘船进入湿地，在那里感受动人心魄、独一无二的野生环境。

Join cultural spectacles
参加文化盛事

Carnival
狂欢节

As Brazil’s best-known festival, Carnival is celebrated 46 days before the Easter festival and takes place over a period of about five days.
作为巴西最著名的的节日，狂欢节于每年复活节之前的46天举行，持续约5天时间。

Carnival is derived from the word carnelevare, literally meaning “removal of meat”. Brazil’s carnival began during the European dominated era when followers of the Roman Catholic Church would indulge in a last day of alcohol, dance, fun and sex just before the start of Lent, a period of abstinence from alcohol and other sins. Back then, people would exchange clothes and indulge in wild dancing.
狂欢一词源于意大利语carnelevare，意为“把肉拿走”。巴西狂欢节始于欧洲殖民时期，当时的罗马天主教信徒会在四月斋（期间需戒除酒精等）之前的最后一天尽情喝酒，跳舞，玩乐，纵欲。那时，人们甚至会互换服装，尽情跳舞。

Nowadays, the most famous carnival is that held in Rio de Janeiro, where thousands of people, wearing masks and colorful costumes, dance samba to the sound of drums and music.
时至今日，最著名的狂欢节会在里约热内卢举办，成千上万的人身着各色服饰，头戴面具，伴着音乐和鼓点一起跳桑巴。

Passion plays
《受难记》表演

This festival takes place annually in the week before Easter and involves different performances. Brazil’s largest passion play is held in Nova Jerusalem, involving more than 500 actors. With a huge theater taking up an area close to that of 12 football fields, visitors can enjoy the wonderful play or just experience the street fair outside.
这一活动于每年复活节之前的一周举行，期间会有各式各样的表演。巴西最盛大的《受难记》表演是在Nova Jerusalem，参演者人数超过500。巨型剧院占地近12个足球场大小，游客既可以充分欣赏表演，也可以单纯地逛逛街边的露天集市。

Bumba-Meu-Boi
Bumba-Meu-Boi

Roughly translated as “hit my bull”, Bumba-Meu-Boi, mainly held in June, is a festival with traditional roots. Locals create a bull from a wire frame covered in papier-mache and use it in a folk dance. It tells the story of a bull that was killed and then brought back to life by traditional healers and music. One of the largest Bumba-Meu-Boi is held in Sao Luis.
Bumba-Meu-Boi可以直译为“打我的牛”，是一个具有巴西传统特色的节日，一般在每年六月庆祝。当地人会用铁制骨架与纸做出一个牛的形状，并将其用在民族舞蹈中。这段舞蹈讲述的是一头牛被杀死之后，又被医生和音乐救活的故事。圣路易斯市举办的Bumba-Meu-Boi是最为盛大的Bumba-Meu-Boi活动之一。

Taste local specialities
品尝当地美食

Feijoada
Feijoada

Considered to be the national dish, feijoada is a black bean stew with various types of beef and sausage. It originated from the time of colonization when the Portuguese brought their stew of black beans to Brazil. Its taste is strong, moderately salty but not spicy.
Feijoada被认为是巴西的“国菜”，由黑豆与各种牛肉和香肠炖煮而成。这道菜始于巴西被殖民时期，是葡萄牙人将炖煮黑豆的方法带到了巴西。Feijoada 口味较重，略咸但不辣。

Acaraje
Acaraje

Made from black-eyed peas that are rolled into balls and then fried, acaraje is a popular street food and beach snack in Brazil. It is typically stuffed with shrimp, peanuts and other ingredients.
Acaraje由黑眼豌豆做成的球煎炸而成，是巴西有名的街边小吃和沙滩零食。更具代表性的Acaraje则会加入虾、花生及其他食材。

Brigadeiro
Brigadeiro

Probably the national dessert of Brazil, brigadeiro look like balls of chocolate similar to truffles. They are named after a brigadier that helped stop a communist coup in Rio. The thick mix of condensed milk, butter and chocolate powder is rolled into small balls and cooked. Then they are covered in chocolate sprinkles and taste delicious.
Brigadeiro也许是巴西的“国家小吃”，它看上去像一个巧克力球，与松露差不多。Brigadeiro以一位陆军军官的名字命名，纪念他曾为镇压里约热内卢的共产主义政变贡献一臂之力。将浓醇的牛奶、黄油以及巧克力粉做成球状，烹调之后，再裹上巧克力碎屑，便带来了Brigadeiro诱人的口感。