Birmingham truly is one of Britain's great surprises.

伯明罕是英國的最大驚喜。

Birmingham, or Brum as the locals call it, sits in the UK's West Midlands, halfway between London and Liverpool.

伯明罕位於英國西米德蘭茲郡，當地人暱稱其為「布魯姆」，坐落在倫敦和利物浦的之間。

Most cities are the product of bricks and mortar, but Birmingham is built on innovation and imagination.

多數城市由磚塊和砂漿建成，但是伯明罕，是由創新和想像力所建造。

Birmingham is a place of constant renewal, yet the city's people remain ever-proud of their regal history and industrial heritage.

雖然伯明罕從不匱乏新意，但是當地人依舊對其偉大歷史以及工業創舉感到無比驕傲。

Delve into Birmingham's past at the age-old stronghold of kings and conquerors,

探究伯明罕的悠久歷史，造訪歷任國王和征服者的堡壘

Warwick Castle. The story-soaked walls of this medieval fortress date back over 1000 years and have witnessed Birmingham's steady growth into the powerhouse it is today. The city itself began in the 12th century as a small market village at the crossroads of Britain's early trading routes.

「華威城堡」，這座中古世紀堡壘中蘊含大量史實的牆已有逾千年歷史，同時也見證了伯明罕穩定地成長茁壯，成就今日偉業。伯明罕這座城市在 12 世紀時本來是個小市集村，位在英國早期貿易要道交界處，

Merchants and craftsmen brought wealth and knowhow to Birmingham, earning it the title,

商人與工匠為伯明罕帶來了財富與成功之道，

"The City of a Thousand Trades."

也為此地帶來「千貿之都」的美名。

During the industrial revolution, over 170 miles of transport canals were built, that's more canals than Venice.

工業革命期間，人們在此建造了總長超過 274 公里的運河，運河的數量超越了威尼斯，

Water became the life blood of a city, which would soon boom into the UK second largest metropolis.

水，是這個城市的命脈，讓此地迅速躍升成為英國第二大都市。

At Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, get close to the cogs, pistons and pulleys that powered Birmingham during the industrial revolution, then catch a glimpse into the city's newest technological frontiers. Change has been a constant in Birmingham's history.

造訪「伯明翰科學博物館」，深入觀察齒輪、活塞和滑輪，見證伯明罕在工業革命期間的強大，並在此一窺伯明罕最新潮的科技，伯明罕從不停止更迭。

Rising from that first muddy crossroads market, is the Bullring, one of the city's many futuristic retail and restaurant utopias.

原本泥濘的路口市集，如今是「牛環」的所在地，此處有伯明罕最新奇的商品及餐廳。

While Birmingham has redefined modern shopping, the city remains the proud custodian of traditional hand-crafted riches too.

伯明罕雖然重新定義了時尚購物，但是這座城市也是傳統手工藝品的捍衛者，

Wander along canals and parks to the Jewellery Quarter, a thriving urban village which sits at the edge of the city.

沿著運河和公園漫步來到城市邊緣，前往生氣蓬勃的珠寶區，造訪這座現代村莊。

Goldsmiths began smelting, soldering and selling their wares here in the mid-16th century, fusing the craft into Birmingham's DNA forever.

16 世紀中期，金匠開始在此鑄造販賣金製器具，將工藝注入伯明罕的基因，永久流傳。

At the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, learn about the riches that Birmingham has brought to the world

造訪珠寶區博物館，看看伯明罕為世界帶來的萬千珍寶，

and witness traditional techniques in perfectly preserved workshops.

保存完好的工作坊則可見證傳統技藝，

After a few pints in the Jewellery Quarter's swanky bars and microbreweries, head to Digbeth, the city's bohemian heart and soul.

在珠寶區的時髦酒吧和微型釀酒廠喝上幾杯酒後，前往充滿波西米亞氣息的迪格貝斯，

Savor the funky flavors at the Digbeth Dining Club, where artisans simmer, fry and sauté a smorgasbord of innovative goodness.

到「迪格貝斯餐飲俱樂部」感受時髦氛圍，食物藝術家在此蒸、炒、煮、炸，為您呈上創意滿點的美味拼盤。

Follow aromas of coriander and cardamom to the Balti Triangle, where innovative Pakistani chefs helped make Birmingham one of the UK's most popular curry hotspots.

跟隨香菜和小豆蔻的香氣前往巴爾蒂三角區，這裡極富創意的巴基斯坦廚師，讓伯明罕成了英國品嚐咖哩的熱門去處。

Birmingham is also the birthplace of one of the world's most beloved confectionary brands.

同時，伯明罕也是世上最受歡迎甜點品牌的家鄉，

Cadbury World can be found four miles outside of the city, where the pioneering Cadbury Brothers created their worker village of Bournville and large chocolate factory in 1870s.

「吉百利巧克力世界」位在城外 6.4 公里處，業界領頭的吉百利兄弟在 1870 年代於布恩維爾創造了工作天地以及大型巧克力工廠，

A banquet of a different kind awaits at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery which exhibits creative treasures from across the ages.

造訪「伯明罕博物館和美術館」體驗截然不同的饗宴，這裡珍藏著歷代充滿創意的藝術寶藏。

One of Birmingham's greatest masterpieces is rendered in brick.

伯明罕最宏偉的「阿斯頓廳」 是由磚塊所建造而成，

Aston Hall was commissioned in the early 17th century by Sir Thomas Holte. Once the high sherif of Warwickshire, Holte believed that he needed the grandest residence money could buy to show off his power and wealth.

這座建築是由湯瑪斯·霍爾特爵士於 17 世紀初委派他人所興建，他曾是沃里克郡的郡長，他認為要買下最貴、最宏偉的建築，能彰顯其權力和財富。

Today the structure is a heritage listed reminder of the Birmingham's history of architectural innovation.

如今，這座建築成為了伯明罕創新建築史上列入國家遺產名錄的建築物。

A few centuries later, Winterbourne House and Garden was built for John and Margaret Nettlefold.

數百年後，為了約翰·內特爾弗德夫婦而建的「溫特伯恩故居和花園」落成，

This restored estate is now one of the UK's finest examples of an Edwardian arts and crafts villa.

這座經修復的莊園是收藏愛德華時代藝術與工藝品的所在地。

The tradition of architectural innovation continues into the present at the magnificent Library of Birmingham, the perfect place to ignite your imagination.

到伯明罕圖書館點燃您的想像力，見證一直以來的新興建築傳統，如何一直延續至今日。

Once your literary passions have been fired up, take the drive to Sarehole Mill, the birthplace of one of the world's greatest stories.

在文學熱情被點燃之後，驅車前往「薩利洞水磨坊」，這裡是世上最偉大作家的出生地，

J.R.R. Tolkien spent his childhood around this mill, which inspired his fictional realm of Middle Earth,

約翰·托爾金在此度過童年 ，激發他創造出虛構國度「中土大陸」，

the setting of The Lord of the Rings and other novels. Whether it's sustenance for the soul, fuel for the mind, or food for the body,

也就是《魔戒》和其他作品內的背景設定。無論是心靈寄託、靈感來源、又或是美味佳餚，

Birmingham is sure to satisfy every appetite. From high-end shopping to hand-crafted riches… from the red bricks of history to the gleaming shapes of tomorrow,

伯明罕絕對能對上每個人的胃口。從高端購物到豐富手工藝品，從紅磚歷史到未來璀璨之星，

Birmingham sits forever at the crossroads of a proud past and a future of endless possibilities.

伯明罕永遠都位在驕傲歷史以及未來無限可能的十字路口上，

And crossroads, as every traveler knows, are the most exciting places to be.

人人皆知，十字路口是最富趣味之處，伯明罕也不例外。