摸着石头过河
Crossing the river by feeling the stones
摸着石头过河（Crossing the river by feeling the stones），是中国改革开放的一个标志性比喻。
一个人想过一条不熟悉的河，在没有前人给出经验、没有船也没有桥等情况下，如何分清这条河哪个地方水深，哪个地方水浅。水深的地方有可能淹死人，而水浅的地方人能够淌水过。在事先不知道这条河详细情况下，就只能以身试水摸索着河里的石头，以较为保守的甚至原始的方法逐步摸清情况并想办法安全涉水。
权威用例
40年来，中国人民始终上下求索、锐意进取，开辟了中国特色社会主义道路。中国人民坚持立足国情、放眼世界，既强调独立自主、自力更生又注重对外开放、合作共赢，既坚持社会主义制度又坚持社会主义市场经济改革方向，既“摸着石头过河”又加强顶层设计，不断研究新情况、解决新问题、总结新经验，成功开辟出一条中国特色社会主义道路。中国人民的成功实践昭示世人，通向现代化的道路不止一条，只要找准正确方向、驰而不息，条条大路通罗马。
Over the last four decades, the Chinese people have blazed a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics through determined exploration with a pioneering spirit. The Chinese people have both a keen awareness of national realities and a global vision. We champion independence and self-reliance while embracing openness and win-win cooperation. We uphold the socialist system while sticking to the direction of reform to develop the socialist market economy. As we “cross the river by feeling the stones”, we have strengthened top-level planning. We have studied new circumstances, addressed new problems as they emerge and summed up experience accordingly, thus blazing a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The successful practice of the Chinese people is a proof that there is more than one path leading to modernization. With the right direction and with unremitting efforts, all roads will take us to Rome.
——习近平主席在博鳌亚洲论坛2018年年会开幕式上的主旨演讲（双语全文）
