游客们成群结队地去看立陶宛的一棵像棋子一样的圣诞树

Every holiday season, the city of Vilnius — Lithuania's capital — welcomes the season by erecting an unusual, massive Christmas tree in the city's central Cathedral Square and Old Town area. Lit with 70,000 lights, this year's tree is 27 meters (88 feet) tall and was created from about 6,000 spruce branches. The branches weren't cut down just to form the tree; they were left over from workers who were doing general maintenance in the surrounding forests.

每到节假日，立陶宛首都维尔纽斯都会在市中心的大教堂广场和老城区竖起一棵不同寻常的巨型圣诞树来迎接这个节日。今年的圣诞树有7万盏灯，高27米(88英尺)，由大约6000根云杉树枝制成。树枝被砍下并不是为了形成树;他们是在周围森林做一般维护的工人留下的。

Photo: Saulius Žiūra

The sparkling blue-and-white regal creation resembles a chess queen. The actual chess figure used as a model for the tree was found by archaeologists in 2007 during excavations around the Ducal Palace in Vilnius. Dating to the 14th or 15th century, the piece was made from a spindle tree. Its center was carved with geometrical patterns and then topped by floral designs. The city's tourism agency says historians have found that chess was a favorite game played by Lithuanian nobility.

这个闪闪发光的蓝白相间的皇家作品就像一个国际象棋皇后。2007年，考古学家在维尔纽斯公爵宫殿周围的挖掘工作中发现了这棵树的模型。这件作品可以追溯到14或15世纪，由一棵纺锤树制成。它的中心被雕刻成几何图案，然后顶部是花卉图案。这个城市的旅游机构说，历史学家发现，国际象棋是立陶宛贵族最喜欢的游戏。

There is a Christmas market set up in the area surrounding the Vilnius Christmas tree. (Photo: Gabrielius Tamosiunas and Gabrielius Khiterer)

The dazzling tree isn't the only draw for visitors in Vilinius. A traditional Christmas market offers crafts, sweets and other holiday fare. Visitors also flock to the area for a Christmas train and an ice skating rink.

这棵耀眼的树并不是维尔纽斯唯一吸引游客的地方。传统的圣诞市场提供手工艺品、糖果和其他节日商品。游客们还涌向该地区乘坐圣诞火车和滑冰场。

This year, Brussels-based travel organization European Best Destinations named the Vilnius Christmas tree the most beautiful in Europe. The designation was based on votes from more than 14,000 travelers from 82 countries.

今年，总部位于布鲁塞尔的旅游组织“欧洲最佳目的地”将维尔纽斯圣诞树评为欧洲最美的圣诞树。这一排名是基于来自82个国家的14000多名游客的投票。

"It is the most beautiful Christmas tree in Europe," the site declared. "The Vilnius Christmas tree is stunning! Get to the bustling streets, watch the Christmas tree and be amazed by the decorations in the Old Town."

该网站称:“这是欧洲最漂亮的圣诞树。”“维尔纽斯的圣诞树太美了!”走到熙熙攘攘的街道上，看看圣诞树，你会对旧城的装饰感到惊讶。”