Every year more than 10 million Chinese citizens make the journey to Europe, with Germany a firm favorite on their list. But it’s not Berlin or the beer gardens of Munich that are the biggest draws. More than any other German city, Chinese tourists are heading to Trier, a small city in the west of the country.
Trier is Germany’s oldest city. It’s rich in Roman history and wine culture, and visitors from all over the world usually stop by the monuments such as the Porta Nigra or come to enjoy a glass of the local Moselle wine. For the 150,000 Chinese tourists who visit Trier every year, however, the main attraction lies in the city’s link to Karl Marx.
The well-known philosopher Karl Marx was born in Trier on 5 May 1818 and spent his first 17 years in the city before leaving for Bonn, Berlin, and Paris. “Karl Marx is one of the city’s most famous sons although he left early,” said Trier mayor, Wolfram Leibe.
Actually, Trier is packed with points of interest for anyone looking for traces (痕迹) of the city’s most famous son. First on the list for many visitors is the bronze statue of Marx by Chinese sculptor Wu Weishan. Crowds of tourists queue up to take a picture with the likeness. A few meters away, the famous German philosopher can even help you cross the street: special traffic lights bear Marx cartoons in. place of the traditional green and red figures. The Karl-Marx-Haus Museum on Brückenstraβe offers more details about the revolutionary’s life and work, while its Baroque façade (巴洛克风格的外墙) is another photo hotspot.
This “red tourism” has shown an obvious influence on business in Trier. Restaurants, cafés and wine houses are filled with such new creations as the “Marx-Schnitzel”, Karl Marx chocolates or a bottle of wine branded “Das Kapital”.
【小题1】What is the main attraction for the Chinese tourists in Trier?| A．Its variety of wine. | B．Its Roman culture. |
| C．Its great monuments. | D．Its connection with Marx. |
| A．The early life facts of Karl Marx in Trier. |
| B．Famous photo hotspots in Trier. |
| C．A brief introduction to Trier. |
| D．The importance of Karl Marx to Trier. |
| A．The city’s business mainly depends on “red tourism”. |
| B．Das Kapital wine in the city is popular with all visitors. |
| C．Trier’s businessmen are eager to attract the “red tourists”. |
| D．The city government does not want to present Marx to the world. |
| A．Places Worth a Visit in Germany |
| B．Trier—the Hometown of Karl Marx |
| C．Red Tourism in Karl Marx’s Birthplace |
| D．Karl Marx—the Greatest Revolutionary |
