Liushishi Mountain: A Magical Mountain for Flowers 披上美麗橘黃色花毯的六十石山 September is the perfect time to take a trip to Taiwan’s East Rift Valley▼. 九月是去臺灣花東縱谷遊玩的最佳時機。
Liushishi Mountain is one of the best places to experience Taiwan’s natural beauty. The mountain lies in Hualien County, and it may be one of the island’s best-kept secrets. It offers visitors breathtaking views of the Central Mountain Range▼ and the East Rift Valley. The best time to visit the area is during the late summer. This is when its main attractions, golden daylily▼ flowers, are in full bloom. In August and September, thousands of daylily flowers cover Liushishi Mountain from top to bottom. Some people even say that they make the green hills look like a big orange and yellow carpet. Daylily flowers aren’t just beautiful, though. After you enjoy looking at them, you can taste them as well. Also known as golden needles, the flowers are a useful ingredient in Chinese cooking. These flowers can add lots of flavor to many meals. The most famous dish is pork rib▼ soup with golden needles. You can try a bowl of this delicious soup at many local restaurants in the valley. It’s the perfect way to end your trip to one of the most beautiful areas on the island.
▼ rift valley n. 裂谷；地塹 ▼range n. 山脈；範圍 ▼daylily n. 黃花菜，金針 ▼rib n. 排骨；肋骨
1. magical a. 迷人的，美妙的；有魔力的 Sarah had a magical date with Victor last night. 莎拉和維克多昨晚共度了美妙的約會時光。 This stone seems to have magical powers. 這顆石頭似乎有股神奇的力量。
2. experience vt. 體驗，經歷 People in Taiwan often experience typhoons during the summer months. 臺灣人在夏季的月份常會經歷到颱風。
3. lie in / on + 地方 位於某處 Sandy’s house lies on the other side of town. 珊蒂的家位於小鎮的另一端。
4. breathtaking a. 令人屏息的，令人驚嘆的 The sunrise in the mountains is breathtaking. 群山中的日出美得令人驚嘆。
5. attraction n. 吸引人之物／地方 In addition to Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum is an attraction worth visiting. 除了臺北 101 外，國立故宮博物院也是一個值得參觀的地方。
6. in (full) bloom （鮮花）盛開，怒放 bloom n. 花朵盛開 The cherry trees are in full bloom in the park. 公園裡櫻花盛開。
7. ingredient n. 食材，原料 Pineapple is the key ingredient in this particular dish. 鳳梨是這道菜裡不可或缺的食材。
8. flavor n.（食物的）味道，風味 Ice cream at this store comes in 30 different flavors. 這間店的冰淇淋有三十種不同的口味。
名詞 carpet 的相關用法 本文中的 carpet 當名詞，為常見單字，也就是「地毯」的意思。不過這個字其實有不少其他的片語用法，像是 a carpet of sth 表「（覆蓋地面的）一層很厚的東西」；be / get called on the carpet 表「被上司叫去訓斥」；而 sweep / brush sth under the carpet 則是表「隱瞞／掩飾某事」。例：
Judy enjoyed seeing a carpet of sunflowers in the sun. （茱蒂喜歡在陽光下欣賞一大片的向日葵。）
Frank was called on the carpet by his manager to explain why he was late for work again today. （法蘭克被他的經理叫去解釋為何他今天上班又遲到了。）
The dishonest politician tried to sweep his mistake under the carpet, but the press found out and gave the news to the public. （那個不誠實的政客試著要掩飾他的錯誤，但卻被媒體揭發並昭告天下。）
