《Amazing China: A Mysterious Place in the South China Sea》《美丽中国：中国南海的奇绝秘境》

Starting from Hainan Island, the southernmost province of China, you can reach Sansha City at the southern tip, by this transportation supply ship.

从中国最南部的省份海南岛出发，乘坐这艘交通补给船可以前往中国最南端的三沙市。

Sansha is made up of more than 280 islands, sandbars, reefs and other sea areas.

它由大小280多个岛屿、沙洲、暗礁以及其它海域组成。

April to May are the most beautiful seasons in this part of China.

每年的4月5月是这片海最美的季节。

The sea is colorful, with an average visibility of more than 30 meters.

海洋的颜色五彩斑斓，海水平均透明度达到30多米。

Looking down from a high altitude, the islands in front of us do not seem to be connected with each other, but they are known as the Seven Connected Islets.

从高空往下看，眼前的这几座小岛似乎彼此并不相连，但它们被称为七连屿。

That's because beneath the sea, there is a huge reef holding them together, forming a common foundation for the little islands.

因为在海面之下有一个巨型礁盘托住了它们，那是七座小岛共同的基座。

As the tide rises and falls, they display a variety of features.

随着潮水起落，它们展现不同的面貌。

Most of the islets here are made up of coral remains.

这里的岛屿大部分都由珊瑚虫的遗骸堆积而成。

Coral secretes limestone, which becomes their living shells.

在新陈代谢中，珊瑚虫会分泌石灰石变为自己生存的外壳。

They gather together and grow and multiply from generation to generation.

它们聚集在一起，一代代生长繁衍。

Layer upon layer of limestone is added and then compacted to form the coral reef we see today.

石灰石不断粘合压实，就成为如今我们看到的珊瑚礁。

This reef is still growing, towards the sea, at a rate of about 2.5 centimeters per year.

这片珊瑚礁如今仍在以每年2.5厘米左右的速度向海生长。