【荷花】

　　荷花是中国的名花之一，深受人们喜爱。中国许多地方的湖泊和池塘都适宜荷花生长。荷花色彩鲜艳，夏日清晨绽放，夜晚闭合，花期长达两三个月，吸引来自各地的游客前往观赏。荷花具有多种功能，既能绿化水面，又能美化庭院，还可以净化水质、减少污染、改善环境。荷花迎骄阳而不惧，出淤泥而不染，象征纯洁、高雅，常来比喻人的高尚品德，历来是诗人画家创作的重要题材。荷花盛开的地方也是许多摄影爱好者经常光顾之地。

　　参考译文:

　　Lotus is one of best-known flowers in China which people love deeply. The lakes and ponds in many parts of China are suitable for lotus to grow. Lotus, which features bright colour, blossoms in the morning and closes in the evening with a long flowering period of two to three months, attracting tourists across the country to appreciate it. Lotus is multi-functional as it cannot only green waters and beautify courtyards but also purify water, reduce pollution and improve environment. Lotus, as it does not fear the strong sunshine and keeps clean in the dirty soil, symbolizes purity and elegance and represents people's noble morals. Therefore, the flower has become important themes for poets and painters throughout the Chinese history, and the place where it blooms turns out to be the resort of many photographers .