第一句：珠江是华南一大河系，流经广州市，是中国第三长的河流，仅次于长江和黄河。

译文：As a major riversystem in southern China that runs through Guangzhou, capital of Gungdong Province, the Pearl River is the third longest in China, after the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.

解析：此句定语较多，可用定语从句，介词短语做定语等方式来修饰中心词。

注意几个专门的表达：河系river system、流经run through、仅次after；

第二句：珠江三角洲是中国最发达的地区之一，面积约11，000平方公里。

译文：The Pearl River Deltawhich covers an area of 11，000 square kilometers,represents one of the most developed regions in China.

解析：此句说明主语的两个方面，也可以用到定语从句，重要的一方面放在主句中描述。“是最发达的地区之一”中可以用is 或者represents做谓语，后者用法更高级；

第三句：它在面积和人口方面也是世界上最大的城市聚集区。

译文：It is also the world’s largest city cluster in terms of size and population.

解析：此句中有两个专用表达，城市聚集区city cluster，在面积和人口方面in terms of size and population；

第四句：珠江三角洲九个最大城市共有5700多万人口。

译文：Put together the nine largest cities in the Delta are home to a combined population of over 57 million.

解析：此句可用there be句型，或者参考译文中用到的祈使句（显得生动一些）；

第五句：上世纪70年代末中国改革开放以来，珠江三角洲已成为中国和世界主要经济区域和制造中心之一。

译文：Since China’s reform and opening up was initiated in the late 1970s, the Pearl River Delta has become one of the leading regional economies and manufacturing centers in China and around the world.

解析：此句用since引导时间状语从句，注意主句及从句的时态；“中国改革开放”应译作China’s reform and opening up；此处用initiate更强调率先、首创的意味；“经济区域”译作regional economies，此处economy做可数名词表示“经济体”。

【主题分类】汉译英：文化

【参考译文】

As a major river system in southern China that runs through Guangzhou, capital of Gungdong Province, the Pearl River is the third longest in China, after the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. The Pearl River Delta which covers an area of 11，000 square kilometers, represents one of the most developed regions in China. It is also the world’s largest city cluster in terms of size and population. Put together the nine largest cities in the Delta are home to a combined population of over 57 million. Since reform and opening up was initiated in the late 1970s, the Pearl River Delta has become one of the leading regional economies and manufacturing centers in China and around the world.