濟南市同英國考文垂市的友好關(guān)系已有20年的歷史�？嘉拇故且粋�整潔的現(xiàn)代化工業(yè)城市，同時擁有著輝煌燦爛的中世紀歷史。它從戰(zhàn)爭的廢墟中走出，展現(xiàn)出嶄新的大都會面貌。但在它高大的寫字樓之間，在現(xiàn)代化的道路兩旁，是中世紀的房屋和教堂；在其五光十色的店埠后面，在寬闊開敞的公園附近，處處可見的是歷史的遺跡。
　　考文垂在英國首都倫敦以北150公里處，地處英國心臟地帶，距英國的交通樞紐伯明翰約半小時路程�？嘉拇故忻娣e為9654公頃，人口335000。考文垂的主要行政機構(gòu)為市議會，是由民主選舉產(chǎn)生的團體，代表了全市人民的利益，服務于全市人民。議會共有54名議員，代表18個選區(qū)。議會每月開一次例會，討論市里的重大政策，審批12個主要委員會的工作。議會的政策和日�；顒泳�由全市近兩萬名公務員及工作人員貫徹并付諸實施。議會中有兩個政治團體，保守黨和工黨。市長是該市的第一公民，負責召集議會會議，接待來賓負責整個市政活動。市長是從54名議員中推選出來的，任期一年，每年5月份換屆。
　　說到考文垂市的歷史，已經(jīng)有1000多年了。最初只是一個宗教中心，小城鎮(zhèn)上有零星的工藝品生產(chǎn)業(yè)和貿(mào)易，現(xiàn)在許多街道的名稱都同歷史有聯(lián)系。后來該城鎮(zhèn)成為一個很重要的羊毛、皮革及金屬工業(yè)中心，到中世紀時，已發(fā)展成為英國最為重要的四大城市之一。1345年考文垂首次接受英國皇家憲章，從此，地方政府開始形成。那時社會最突出的特征是各行各業(yè)都形成了行會。考文垂的行會會館是座精美的中世紀建筑，現(xiàn)用來作為市宴會廳。附近的伯明翰雖然在中世紀僅僅是一個村舍，到了19世紀產(chǎn)業(yè)革命期間卻比考文垂大多了�？嘉拇共�沒有能像英國其他城市那樣迅速發(fā)展，當時的工業(yè)主要是編織、造表和腳踏車制造，后來又發(fā)展了摩托車、汽車制造和其他的工業(yè)生產(chǎn)。20世紀以來，考文垂市又再度成為英國發(fā)展速度最快的城市之一。在20世紀初，人口還僅為7萬，而現(xiàn)在約33.5萬�？嘉拇故兄車�的農(nóng)村有專門郡來分管。
　　第二次世界大戰(zhàn)期間，考文垂由于是英國的軍火工業(yè)中心，被作為一個重要目標遭到德軍的轟炸。市區(qū)1000多幢建筑中，僅有30幢幸存。而工業(yè)蒙受的損失更為慘重，但多數(shù)工業(yè)在六七周內(nèi)均恢復了生產(chǎn)。而且戰(zhàn)爭還仍在進行的時候，考文垂就精心制定了重建城市的規(guī)劃。戰(zhàn)后，考文垂就像是一只在煙灰中升起的鳳凰，發(fā)出耀眼的光輝。
　　第二次世界大戰(zhàn)之后，考文垂市成為英國重要的機動車工業(yè)中心�？梢赃@樣說，考文垂是英國機動車工業(yè)的搖籃。市中心的大不列顛道路交通博物館是英國最大的國產(chǎn)陸地交通工具博物館，里面收藏了許多獨一無二的車輛，如1896年第一輛開下生產(chǎn)線的汽車、皇家用車、推動力2（Thrust 2）――打破了陸上速度極限的汽車。里面還永久性地舉行1940年大空襲展，展示當時考文垂市的街景。
　　戰(zhàn)后的考文垂還發(fā)展了更多的工業(yè)并采用新型工藝。目前其他主要工業(yè)包括機床、拖拉機、航天、電子及通訊設備、合成纖維及復合纖維。市政府與工商業(yè)機構(gòu)等民間組織密切配合，積極合作，在市區(qū)沃里克大學附近形成一個科技園。新城區(qū)的建設是依照一個全面綜合發(fā)展的規(guī)劃而進行的，包括市區(qū)、商業(yè)、文化娛樂建筑等。
　　新的巴茲爾?斯賓思勛爵大教堂是考文垂城市重生的象征。這是一座令人矚目的現(xiàn)代建筑，與旁邊的1940年大空襲中被摧毀的大教堂遺跡并肩而立，形成鮮明對比，共同向世人展現(xiàn)著現(xiàn)代工匠和中世紀工匠高超的技藝。老教堂有萬花筒式的七彩玻璃窗，對應著新教堂滿墻連壁的織錦畫，那是現(xiàn)代派藝術(shù)家格蘭漢姆?薩德蘭德織錦作品《光輝基督》。從老教堂的廢墟中走向新教堂的明暢，給游客傳達的信息是象征著基督在十字架上死后重生。
　　市中心現(xiàn)代化區(qū)域為游客們提供了三條有遮蔽的步行街。整個商業(yè)中心地處繁華鬧市，中心是噴泉雕像、壁畫和露天棋盤�，F(xiàn)代化的商業(yè)中心為考文垂的購物經(jīng)歷增添了新的內(nèi)容。
　　古老的考文垂的遺跡被巧妙地保留下來，保留著古舊的氣氛。干草巷、斯旁街和大教堂附近就是這樣的歷史瑰寶。前面提到的中世紀的行會會館是一處游客經(jīng)常到訪的去處，里面有古老的玻璃制品、精美的雕刻藝術(shù)和游吟詩人畫廊，還有風格獨特的15世紀壁掛織錦。溫馨的邦德醫(yī)院和福特醫(yī)院在都鐸王朝時代是養(yǎng)老院。安靜的貝麗巷和小修道院街提醒著人們輝煌的過去。斯旁街是一條美麗的、經(jīng)過重修的單口巷子。這里許多建筑是從城市其他地方遷來的，在伊麗莎白時期的“磨房酒吧”現(xiàn)在仍在使用，過去與現(xiàn)代的精神完美交融。還有一些古老而迷人的建筑現(xiàn)在做特殊用途：美術(shù)館、傳統(tǒng)酒吧、咖啡館。
　　在過去的五十多年中，考文垂在基本建設、娛樂、就業(yè)、住房及其他需要方面都適應了人口的猛增。雖是一個工業(yè)城市，但考文垂是以整潔、現(xiàn)代化而著稱的。市區(qū)有兩所大學，另外還有4所專業(yè)技術(shù)院校，其中一處是為殘疾學生而設的。小學有126所，在校學生為53000人。有21處中等學校，其中6處成立了社團協(xié)會，全年為市民們提供了各種各樣的文化和體育活動。在市區(qū)中心有一些市政設施，如：符合奧林匹克標準的游泳池、室內(nèi)體育活動中心、博物館、畫廊及公路運輸博物館。中心圖書館的條件正在得到改善，另有17個圖書館分布在全市不同地區(qū)。全市到處都有可供參觀和觀賞的體育活動設備。市政機構(gòu)還為老年人提供住所，為1600人送飯上門，為5500人提供家庭幫助�？嘉拇勾蠹s有10萬多處住宅，其中3萬多處為市政所有。
　　傳說在11世紀時戈德娃夫人為了抗議她丈夫?qū)Ξ數(shù)氐倪^高征稅，曾裸體騎馬當街而過�？嘉拇咕褪沁@樣一個城市，不斷在逆境中拼搏，在廢墟中重生；不斷演義著歷史，創(chuàng)造著神話。從中世紀的行會城鎮(zhèn)發(fā)展成為現(xiàn)代化的機械商品城市，它是古與今的完美結(jié)合，擁有著現(xiàn)代的面孔，古典的內(nèi)心，在日新月異的發(fā)展中將古老經(jīng)典的傳統(tǒng)發(fā)揚光大。
　　
　　Jinan, the capital city of Shandong Province, established a sister-city relationship with England’s Coventry 20 years ago. Coventry is a clean and modernized industrial city with a brilliant mediaeval history. Rising from the ruins of World War II, Coventry now presents a fresh appearance of municipality. However, interspersed among towering buildings and besides modern roads in the downtown area, there is no lack of homes and churches built during the Middle Ages. Behind the multifarious shops and nearby ample parks, the curious visitor can discover the historic relics everywhere.
　　Coventry is 150 kilometers north of London. Located in England’s heartland, it takes half an hour to drive from Coventry to Birmingham, a major transport hub. Coventry covers an area of 9,654 hectares, providing homes for 335,000 people; and the Coventry City Council, the top administration organization in Coventry, is established through democratic election. It represents the interests of people of the whole city and serves all the people. The 54 councillors on the Council represent the 18 wards under Coventry. The council has a regular meeting every month to discuss the major policies of the city and examines and approves the work of the 12 major committees under the council. Throughout the city, nearly 20,000 public servants and clerks bear the responsibility of carrying out the policies and daily activities of the City Council. There are two major political parties in England Ñ Tory and Labor - and both are represented on the City Council. The mayor is “the first citizen” of Coventry and is in charge of presiding over council meetings in the council, receiving visiting guests, and overseeing all city affairs. The mayor is elected from among the 54 councillors for a one year of term of office and a new election is held in May every year.
　　Coventry has a history of more than a thousand years. At first, it was only a religious center. In the small town of those bygone days, there were just a few handicraft production industries and trades. Many present-day street names have linkages with the city’s history. Later, the town was developed into an important center involved in the wool, leather, and metal industries.
　　During the Middle Ages, Coventry had already been developed into one of the four most important cities in England. In 1345, for the first time, Coventry accepted the royal charter, and the local government has been officially established ever since. At that time, the most remarkable feature of the society was that guilds were popular among every trade and industry. The St. Mary’s Guild Hall is an exquisite building dating back to the Middle Ages and is now used as the city banquet hall.
　　Nearby Birmingham, though only a village in the Middle Ages, became much stronger than Coventry during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, since Coventry did not develop as rapidly as other British cities at that time, when the major industries in Coventry included weaving, watches, and bicycles. Later, other industries, such as motorcycles and automobiles, were added, and Coventry once again became one of the most rapidly developing cities in England. In the early period of the 20th century, the population of Coventry was only 70,000, whereas, nowadays, it has increased to 335,000. Rural areas around Coventry are administrated by a special ward.
　　During the period of World War Two, as the center of the British munitions industry, Coventry became a prime bombing target for the German air force. Among more than a thousand buildings in the downtown area, only 30 survived intensive bombing by the Luftwaffe. Though all local industries were seriously damaged, most restored production in six or seven weeks. In fact, even while the war was still continuing, Coventry had already begun making plans to re-construct the city; so that, after the war, Coventry, like a phoenix flying from the ashes, displayed brilliant splendors.
　　Over the past 50-odd years, the infrastructure, entertainment, employment, and housing of Coventry have adapted to the rapid growth of population. Though being an industrial city, Coventry is also famous for its clean and modernized city environment. There are two universities and four vocational institutions in Coventry, and one of these was established specifically for the disabled. There are 126 elementary schools with enrollment totalling 53,000 students. There are 21 middle schools, among which six have organizations or associations to provide various cultural and sports services for citizens all year round.
　　In addition, the downtown area of Coventry boasts some excellent public facilities, such as a swimming pool constructed to meet Olympic standards, an indoor sports center, a museum, an art gallery, and the Highway Transport Museum. Meanwhile, facilities at the central library are being improved by both expansion and renovation, while 17 branch libraries grace suburban areas. Sports facilities accommodating local teams and competitions with visitor abound throughout Coventry. Various civic organizations are devoted to the care of senior citizens, providing free or low cost housing for many, sending dinners to the homes of at least 1600, and provide household aid for 5500. In Coventry, there are more than 100,000 residential apartments, among which more than 30,000 are owned by the city government.

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