Chinadaily.com.cn
     
    Go Adv Search
    Keeping good time

    Keeping good time

    Updated: 2012-03-20 09:59

    By Shi Yingying in Shanghai (China Daily)

      Comments() Print Mail Large Medium  Small 分享按鈕 0

    "In the past, at least four to five men were needed to rewind the clock springs and the process could take several hours," said Wei, pointing to the clock's three springs, of which the heaviest weighs more than 1 ton.

    But thanks to the installation of a motor, "it now only takes 15 minutes for the motor to get it done", Wei continued.

    But Wei still has to operate the motor to make sure nothing goes wrong.

    White spiral staircases soar straight up the clock tower leading to Wei's exclusive work space occupying the top three floors of the Customs House.

    "There are 69 stairs on the way to the machine room, where there are hundreds of big and small gears that I take care of," he said.

    "Another 48 twisting steps will guide you to the bronze bells on top of the clock tower."

    It used to play the chimes of Westminster Quarters every quarter of an hour - like every clock made in UK - until 1966. At that time it began to play The East is Red, a famous Chinese revolutionary song created during Chairman Mao's era.

    In 1986, when Queen Elizabeth II visited Shanghai, the clock resumed the mechanical chimes of Westminster Quarters at the request of the queen.

    "But after some time it turned out that Chinese still prefer Chinese songs," Wei said, adding that the clock has again been playing The East is Red since July 1, 1997, when Hong Kong returned to the motherland.

    Wei's only trip longer than three days during the past 21 years was to Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

    "It was a reward from my company," he said.

    "My teacher Zhang Hejian, who was also the tower's third clock keeper, volunteered to cover my shifts in those five days, so I could make the trip," he said.

    Zhang took care of the clock from 1977 to 1992.

    "I'm living in the same neighborhood as Wei so we have a chance to talk about the clock all the time - things like the updated acoustics - even after I left," said Zhang.

    "The biggest requirement for this job is a sense of responsibility - you've got to know nothing should go wrong with Shanghai's landmark."

    Wei said he owes much to his wife, Bao Yunju, but promises that he will take her with him to visit the clocks in London and Moscow after he retires.

    "For that, we'll have to wait for another eight years. But who knows, probably longer," Bao said. "He has been talking about trying to find an apprentice as conscientious and responsible as possible."


     

       Previous Page 1 2 Next Page  

    中文字幕日本高清| 亚洲熟妇无码八AV在线播放| 亚洲日韩v无码中文字幕| 蜜臀AV无码国产精品色午夜麻豆| 国产高清中文手机在线观看| 粉嫩高中生无码视频在线观看| 成人无码区免费A片视频WWW| 中文字幕无码第1页| 国产乱人无码伦av在线a| 亚洲综合无码AV一区二区| 国产日韩精品中文字无码| 国产亚洲?V无码?V男人的天堂| 亚洲AV无码久久精品色欲| 亚洲欧美日韩另类中文字幕组 | 香蕉伊蕉伊中文视频在线| 国产精品无码一区二区三级| 亚洲日韩国产二区无码| 特级做A爰片毛片免费看无码| 日本免费中文视频| 日韩亚洲不卡在线视频中文字幕在线观看 | 中文字幕乱人伦| 中文字幕在线免费| 中文字字幕在线一本通| 亚洲Av无码乱码在线znlu| 日韩精品无码永久免费网站 | 人妻无码久久一区二区三区免费| 无码国产精品一区二区免费式影视| 中文字幕你懂得| 欧美激情中文字幕综合一区| 国产中文欧美日韩在线| 日本乱中文字幕系列| 色综合久久中文综合网| 中文字幕免费高清视频| 乱人伦人妻中文字幕无码| 亚洲精品99久久久久中文字幕| 国产精品亚洲w码日韩中文| 欧美日韩中文字幕在线看| 最近2019中文字幕大全第二页| 中文字幕无码久久久| 狠狠躁天天躁中文字幕无码 | 中文字幕精品一区二区三区视频|