Sheepskin Rafts, Thousand-year-old Ferry Tools 千年轮渡工具——羊皮筏

The sheepskin raft， the oldest ferry tool along the Yellow River in Northwest China， boasts a history of nearly 2，000 years. The airbag of the raft is made of a whole sheepskin and undergoes careful processes that include heating to remove hair， soaking in salty oil， sewing， drying and blowing. Subsequently， the airbags are fastened to a rectangular wooden stand， enabling its use for transporting people and goods across the water.

羊皮筏是中国西北黄河沿岸最古老的轮渡工具，已有近2000年的历史。羊皮筏的气囊是用整张羊皮制成，经过加热脱毛、咸油浸泡、缝制、烘干、吹气等一系列精细的工序。随后，将气囊固定在一个矩形木架上，使其能够运送人员和货物渡河。

It is said that the largest sheepskin raft in old times consisted of more than 600 sheepskin airbags， with an impressive length of 22 meters and a width of 7 meters. It was capable of carrying around 30 tons of goods and drifting over 200 kilometers in one day， making it as formidable as a steamship. No wonder that there was a local saying： “A sheepskin raft can rival a warship.”

据说，古代最大的羊皮筏由600多个羊皮气囊组成，长22米，宽7米，令人印象深刻。它能够承载约30吨货物，一天可航行200多千米，堪比现在的轮船。难怪当地有句俗话：“羊皮筏子赛军舰。”

In the early 20th century， before the 1950s， when railways were not yet in operation and road traffic was inconvenient， the sheepskin raft served as the most important means of transportation for residents inhabiting along the Yellow River.

在20世纪初至50年代之前，那时候黄河沿岸没有火车，道路交通也不便，羊皮筏是当地居民最重要的交通工具。

However， with the rapid development of society， the sheepskin raft has largely fulfilled its historical role in transporting people and goods. Nowadays， it can only be found along the banks of the Yellow River in cities such as Lanzhou and Baiyin in Gansu Province， Zhongwei in Ningxia Hui autonomous region. It has become a tool for people to ferry on the Yellow River for sightseeing and leisure.

不过，由于社会的快速发展，羊皮筏已经基本完成了其运送人员和货物的历史使命。如今，仅在甘肃兰州、白银和宁夏中卫等地的黄河沿岸才能见到。它已成为人们在黄河上摆渡观光、休闲的工具。

Today only some of the older generation of boatmen still operate the traditional sheepskin rafts， who are inheritors and are helping to preserve the ancient craft. And the younger generations are choosing to pursue other business opportunities on the riverbank.

如今，只有一些老一辈的船夫还在用这种传统的羊皮筏，他们是传承者，正助力于使这种古老的工艺留存下来。年轻一代则选择在河岸上寻找其他商机。

Word Bank

subsequently /'sʌbsɪkwəntli/ adv. 后來；接着

rectangular /rek'tæŋɡjələ（r）/ adj. 矩形的；长方形的

formidable /'fɔːmɪdəbl/ adj. 难对付的；令人敬畏的

fulfil /fʊl'fɪl/ v. 实现；执行

They will fulfil the task in one week.

inheritor /ɪn'herɪtə（r）/ n. 后继者；继承人