把中国建筑科技文化说给世界听 英国华侨光谷做了近4年志愿讲解员
Sharing China’s Architectural and Cultural Stories with the World
UK Chinese Expat’s 4-year Journey as Bilingual Museum Docent
楚天都市报极目新闻记者 胡长幸
JIMU News Reporter: Hu Changxing
翻译：丁晨茜 杨金鹰 温芷晗（湖北大学）
Translators: Ding Chenxi, Yang Jinying, Wen Zhihan(Hubei University)
丁慧苑（戴耳麦者）给观众做英语讲解（中国建筑科技馆供图）Ding Huiyuan (wearing a headset) gives an English tour to the audience.Photo courtesy of China Architecture Science and Technology Museum
“在我国的传统文化中，建筑上用榫卯结构拼接的窗花经常用龟背锦纹，表达人们对长寿的美好盼望……”4月12日下午，志愿讲解员丁慧苑，又一次穿上红马甲，走进东湖高新区佛祖岭福利院，为这里的老人们，介绍中国传统建筑里窗花纹饰蕴含的吉祥寓意。老人起身或落座，她及时搀扶，轻手轻脚。
“In traditional Chinese culture, window lattices assembled with mortise and tenon joints often feature tortoiseshell brocade patterns, symbolizing wishes for longevity...” On the afternoon of April 12, volunteer docent Ding Huiyuan put on her red vest once again and entered the Fozuling Nursing Home in the East Lake High-Tech Zone. She introduced to the elderly residents the auspicious meanings behind the window lattice designs typical in traditional Chinese architecture. Whenever the seniors stood up or sat down, she would promptly offer steady support, ensuring her movements were quiet.
丁慧苑是英国华侨，几年前一家四口来到武汉光谷定居。回来后，她不再是职场上的“女飞人”，而是一边照顾家庭支持丈夫工作，一边利用空闲在中国建筑科技馆做双语志愿讲解员。
Ding Huiyuan, a Chinese expatriate from the UK, settled in Wuhan’s Optics Valley with her family of four several years ago. Since returning, she has stepped away from her previous“workaholic”lifestyle and instead prioritizescaring for her family and supporting her husband’s career now. In her spare time, she volunteers as a bilingual docent at the China Architecture Science and Technology Museum.
2018年年底，丁慧苑的丈夫决定从英国回到家乡湖北武汉，投身于半导体产业。2020年，丁慧苑带孩子逛到了中国建筑科技馆后，非常欣喜，因为发现这个馆的展览理念与国际接轨，老少皆宜。建筑科技文化是她从小就很喜欢的一个方向，于是2021年6月她加入了这里的“传承匠心”文化志愿者团队，穿上红马甲，从此开启了“第二人生”。
At the end of 2018, Ding Huiyuan’s husband decided to return to his hometown, Wuhan, to pursue a career in the semiconductor industry. In 2020, during a visit to the museum with her children, Ding was captivated by the exhibitions,which she found featured concepts much the same as international standards and catered to people of all ages. Having been passionate about architectural technology and culture since childhood, she joined the museum’s “Craftsmanship Legacy” cultural volunteer team in June 2021. Donning the signature volunteer’s red vest, she embarked on a “second life.”
做建筑讲解员，门槛可不低。专业知识的储备、语言技巧的磨炼是基本要求。丁慧苑开始花大量时间做准备，翻阅文献资料，把每件展品背后的故事“吃透”。在整理家务的间隙，在孩子上羽毛球课的场馆里，甚至在出差的高铁上，她都会抽空看书、准备介绍词、制作课件。“背东西和讲东西是有区别的，输出知识前，首先自己要先消化。”
Being a docent in architecture is no easy task. It demands specialized, technical knowledge and refined language skills. Ding began dedicating significant time to preparation, delving into the literature and materials to fully understand the stories behind each artifact.No second to spare, be it during household chores, while her children attended badminton practice, or even on high-speed trains during business trips, she spent every moment reading, drafting tour scripts, and creating presentation materials. “Memorizing and explaining are two different things. Before teaching others, one must first fully comprehend it.”
久而久之，丁慧苑成了中国建筑科技馆讲解员中的“半个专家”。观众们给了她认可：有观众听完讲解后鼓掌称赞她的专业，还有观众把礼物邮寄到馆里，表达对她的感谢。
Over time, Ding has since become a “semi-expert” of sorts among the museum’s docents. Her commentary elicits applause from visitors for her expertise, with some even mailing gifts to the museum to express gratitude.
近几年，国际友人参观建筑科技馆的数量越来越多，丁慧苑决定发挥自己的优势，参与馆内英文讲解工作。除了系统梳理英文讲解词，还会盘起中式发型、身着传统服装，尽量让外国观众全方位、沉浸式了解中国科技文化底蕴。
In recent years, the museum has seen a growing number of international visitors. Leveraging her strengths, Ding decided to participate in English tours. In addition to curating specialized scripts for English tours, she goes above and beyond, styling her hair and attire in traditional Chinese style to provide foreign museum goers a comprehensive, immersive experience of China’s technological and cultural heritage.
“丁老师做志愿服务有近4年了。”中国建筑科技馆社教部主任胡微介绍，如今她还深度参与馆内活动策划，进校园、进社区授课等各项服务中，累计讲解200余场（20多场针对国际友人）、服务831小时、服务约6000名观众。2024年她荣获“武汉市最美志愿者”等荣誉称号。
“Ms. Ding has been volunteering for nearly four years,”said Hu Wei, Director of the Social Education Department at the museum. Currently, she is actively involved in various museum activities, including event planning, campus outreach, and community lectures. To date, she has conducted over 200 tours (more than 20 for international visitors), provided 831 hours of service, and engaged with approximately 6,000 visitors. In 2024, she was honored with titles such as “Wuhan’s Most Beautiful Volunteer.”