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  

    国产做无码视频在线观看浪潮| 国内精品人妻无码久久久影院 | 亚洲国产综合精品中文第一| 亚洲AV无码无限在线观看不卡| 国产午夜精品无码| 乱人伦中文视频在线| 国产午夜无码精品免费看动漫 | 中文一国产一无码一日韩| 中文字幕乱码无码人妻系列蜜桃| 最新中文字幕AV无码不卡| AV无码久久久久不卡蜜桃| 中文字幕人妻无码专区| 无码国产精品一区二区免费式直播| 免费无码午夜福利片69| 久久精品无码午夜福利理论片| 亚洲色无码播放| 人妻精品久久久久中文字幕 | 亚洲熟妇无码乱子AV电影| 中文字幕无码日韩专区| 国产av无码专区亚洲av桃花庵| 亚洲AV无码一区东京热久久| 精品久久久无码21p发布| 中文字幕无码不卡免费视频| 国模GOGO无码人体啪啪| 无码国产福利av私拍| 亚洲精品无码午夜福利中文字幕| 中文字幕第3页| 人妻无码人妻有码中文字幕| 午夜成人无码福利免费视频| 久久久久亚洲AV无码永不| 无码人妻一区二区三区免费n鬼沢| 五月天中文字幕mv在线女婷婷五月| 91中文字幕在线| 免费 无码 国产在线观看观| 国产AV无码专区亚洲A∨毛片| 久热中文字幕无码视频| 亚洲AV无码一区二区三区性色| 亚洲AV日韩AV永久无码绿巨人| 中文字幕精品一区影音先锋| 中文字幕日本高清| 中文字幕51日韩视频|