| Due to the poor quality of the translation of tourism writing, C-E translation of tourism writing deserves attention and urgently calls for sound critical studies.A comparison in stylistic differences between tourism writing in Chinese (CTW) and that in English (ETW) finds that ETW distinguishes itself as both functionally vocative and down-to-earth in information by employing plain language, eye-catching form, and reader-friendly and compelling tone. While CTW is prominently expressive in that it features rich description and rhetorical devices that present an elegant, refined and serious air. Cultural tradition results in such differences. And the sharp differences bring about difficulties in C-E translation of tourism writing.Translation studies have developed from the contrastive study of specific linguistic features and the text-centered inner study to a more comprehensive research of such critical factors as readers and readers' response. Both ST-centered translation theories and those with a tendency towards target readers help people to seek an all-around understanding of translation. Besides ST and TT, more critical factors such as text type, reader reception, translation purpose, the intended function of target texts and culture are gaining increasing attention.In this regard, Skopos Theory, which is proposed by H. J. Vermeer, K. Reiss and Christiane Nord, adds a new dimension to translation studies. The theory considers translation a purposeful activity and "the production of a functional target text maintaining a relationship with a given source text that is specified according to the intended or demanded function of the target text (translation skopos)" (Nord, 1991: 28). So, the very purpose for which the translation is done determines what translation method should be adopted, which is what is called "the end justifies the means".The idea that translation activity should serve the purpose of translation dethrones the ST to a certain degree. But the ST is never abandoned. It is not theonly factor taken into account in translation. Whether to produce a translated text faithful to the original in form or in meaning or a free translation that can meet the needs of target readers depends mainly on the very purpose of the translation. Any discussion about the task or process of translation is basically inadequate unless it fully takes account of the purpose of translation and the mechanism of text processing from the reader's point of view. Translators should adopt proper strategies according to specific translation purpose.The notions of "purpose" and "function" of the TT shed new light on tourism writing translation. They provide a theoretical foundation for some translation practices that end up with satisfactory results but are considered against the existing criteria of translation. Differences between the ST and the TT with regard to the writing style is only superficial and can be coordinated if translators always keep the intended function or purpose of translation in mind. Both ST and TT intend to promote tourism products and services only by resorting to different means of constructing the texts.As TTs should serve the purpose of tourism products promotion, this dissertation maintains that the translation of tourism writing should be target-reader centered and thus a shift from the ST to target readers should be required. Based on the analysis of the text features of tourism writing, Vermeer and Reiss's Skopos Theory and Peter Newmark's text typology, this thesis continues to venture a communicative approach to tourism writing translation-the principle of a dynamic shift from the source text to the target readers to achieve the intended functions of the target tourism text, and the Chinese tourism text should be rendered in accordance with the convention of the English language.This paper justifies the notion of "a dynamic shift" in two ways. On the one hand, the purpose of the tourism products promotion requires that the general orientation should shift to target...
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