1.3 Contemporary Life in China: Transportation and Tourism

7 min read•december 31, 2022

user_sophia9212

AP Chinese 🇨🇳

53 resources

See Units

Introduction to Contemporary Life in China: Transportation and Tourism

This guide covers the transportation and tourism aspects of modern China. Today, China has a ton of transportation options to choose from. Whether you want to take a train, bus, metro, taxi, bicycle, car, or even fly, there's something for everyone. And with so many amazing tourist destinations to visit in China, like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Yuyuan Garden, you'll definitely want to make sure you have the right transportation to get you there. Check out the guide below for more information on the different types of transportation and tourist destinations available in China.

Transportation in China

China has a wide range of transportation options, including both public (公共 gōnggòng) and private (私人 sīrén) modes of transportation. Some of the common forms of transportation in China include:

Rail (铁路 tiělù): China has a vast network of trains (火车 huǒchē), including both high-speed (高速 gāosù) and conventional (常规 chángguī) trains. Train travel (乘火车旅行 chéng huǒchē lǚxíng) is a popular and convenient way to get around the country, especially for long distances (长途 chángtú). 🚂
Bus (公共汽车 gōnggòng qìchē): Buses are a popular and inexpensive (廉价 liánjià) way to travel within cities (城市 chéngshì) and between towns and cities (城镇 chéngzhèn). There are both public and private bus companies in China. 🚌
Metro (地铁 dìtiě): Many cities in China have metro systems (地铁系统 dìtiě xìtǒng), which are a fast and efficient (高效 gāoxiào) way to get around. The metro is often the best option for getting around large cities (大城市 dàchéngshì) like Beijing (北京 Běijīng) and Shanghai (上海 Shànghǎi). 🚇
Taxi (出租车 chūzūchē): Taxis are widely available in cities (城市 chéngshì) and towns (小镇 xiǎozhèn) in China, and they can be hailed (叫出租车 jiào chūzūchē) on the street (街上 jiēshàng) or booked (预订 yùdìng) through a ride-hailing (打车 dǎchē) app. 🚕
Bicycle (自行车 zìxíngchē): Bicycles are a popular mode of transportation in China, especially in smaller cities (小城市 xiǎochéngshì) and towns. Many people use bikes for short trips (短途旅行 duǎntú lǚxíng) or as a way to get around the city. 🚲
Car (汽车 qìchē): Private car ownership (私人汽车所有权 sīrén qìchē suǒyǒuquán) is becoming more common in China, and there are many car rental (汽车租赁 qìchē zūlìn) companies and ride-hailing (打车 dǎchē) services available. 🚗
Air travel (航空旅行 hángkōng lǚxíng): Air travel is a convenient and efficient way to travel between cities and regions (地区 dìqū) in China. There are many domestic (国内 guónèi) and international (国际 guójì) airports (机场 jīchǎng) in the country (国家 guójiā). ✈️

Related Vocabulary

public (公共 gōnggòng) - belonging to or available to all people
private (私人 sīrén) - belonging to or for the use of a particular person or group of people
rail (铁路 tiělù) - a system of trains that run on tracks
train (火车 huǒchē) - a vehicle that travels on tracks and is powered by a steam engine or an electric or diesel motor
high-speed (高速 gāosù) - very fast
conventional (常规 chángguī) - normal or standard
train travel (乘火车旅行 chéng huǒchē lǚxíng) - the act of traveling by train
long distances (长途 chángtú) - a distance that is greater than average
bus (公共汽车 gōnggòng qìchē) - a large vehicle that carries passengers, usually along a fixed route
city (城市 chéngshì) - a large town or area where many people live and work
towns and cities (城镇 chéngzhèn) - a place with a population of fewer than 100,000 people
metro (地铁 dìtiě) - a railway system in which the trains run underground
metro systems (地铁系统 dìtiě xìtǒng) - a network of underground trains
fast (高效 gāoxiào) - happening or moving quickly
large cities (大城市 dàchéngshì) - a city with a population of more than 1 million people
Beijing (北京 Běijīng) - the capital city of China
Shanghai (上海 Shànghǎi) - a city in eastern China that is the country's largest city and a major global financial center
taxi (出租车 chūzūchē) - a car that can be hired to take passengers to a destination
hail a taxi(叫出租车 jiào chūzūchē) - to stop and ask someone in a taxi to take you somewhere
street (街上 jiēshàng) - a public road in a town or city
book (预订 yùdìng) - to arrange in advance for someone to have or do something
ride-hailing (打车 dǎchē) - the act of ordering and paying for a taxi or private car through a smartphone app
bicycle (自行车 zìxíngchē) - a vehicle with two wheels that is propelled by pedals
short trips (短途旅行 duǎntú lǚxíng) - a journey that is not long
car (汽车 qìchē) - a road vehicle with four wheels that is powered by an engine
private car ownership (私人汽车所有权 sīrén qìchē suǒyǒuquán) - the act of owning a car that is not used for business purposes
car rental (汽车租赁 qìchē zūlìn) - the act of hiring a car for a short period of time
air travel (航空旅行 hángkōng lǚxíng) - the act of traveling by airplane
domestic (国内 guónèi) - within a particular country
international (国际 guójì) - between or involving different countries
airport (机场 jīchǎng) - a place where planes can take off and land, and where passengers can board and leave planes.

Tourism in China

China is a popular destination for tourists from around the world, with a diverse range of attractions and experiences to offer. Some popular tourist destinations in China include:

The Great Wall of China (长城 Chángchéng): This iconic landmark is a must-see for any visitor to China. The Great Wall stretches over 13,000 miles (21,000 kilometers) across northern China, and is a testament to the country's rich history and cultural heritage. 🇨🇳
The Forbidden City (紫禁城 Zǐjìnchéng): Located in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is now a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Terra-Cotta Warriors (兵马俑 Tǔmùqí): These life-size clay figures were discovered in the 1970s in the tomb of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. They are considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century and are a popular tourist attraction in Xi'an.
The Yellow Mountains (黄山 Huángshān): Located in Anhui province, the Yellow Mountains are known for their stunning natural beauty, with jagged peaks, sparkling waterfalls, and colorful sunsets. They are a popular destination for hiking and nature-lovers.
The West Lake (西湖 Xīhú): Located in Hangzhou, the West Lake is a beautiful and peaceful spot, with gardens, temples, and pagodas set around the lake. It is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.

Other popular tourist destinations in China include the cities of Shanghai (上海 Shànghǎi), Chengdu (成都 Chéngdū), and Guilin (桂林 Guìlín), as well as the provinces of Yunnan (云南 Yúnnán) and Sichuan (四川 Sìchuān), known for their beautiful landscapes and cultural diversity.

Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city known for its modern skyline and vibrant nightlife. It is also home to many cultural and historical sites, including the Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆 Shànghǎi Bówùguǎn) and the Yuyuan Garden (豫园 Yùyuán). Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province and is known for its spicy food, pandas, and beautiful natural surroundings. Guilin is a city in Guangxi province known for its beautiful karst landscapes and picturesque rice paddies. Yunnan and Sichuan provinces are both known for their diverse and unique ethnic minority cultures, as well as their beautiful natural landscapes.

Tourists can also visit China's many temples, palaces, and other cultural and historical sites, such as the Temple of Heaven (天坛 Tiāntán) in Beijing, the Summer Palace (颐和园 Yíhéyuán) in Beijing, and the Mogao Caves (莫高窟 Mògāokū) in Gansu province. China is also home to many beautiful beaches, including Sanya (三亚 Sānyà) on Hainan island and Qingdao (青岛 Qīngdǎo) on the east coast.

Related Vocabulary

Great Wall of China (长城 Chángchéng) - a long wall in northern China that was built to protect the country from invaders
Forbidden City (紫禁城 Zǐjìnchéng) - the imperial palace in Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties
Terra-Cotta Warriors (兵马俑 Tǔmùqí) - life-size clay figures discovered in the tomb of the first emperor of China
Yellow Mountains (黄山 Huángshān) - a mountain range in Anhui province known for its natural beauty
West Lake (西湖 Xīhú) - a lake in Hangzhou with gardens, temples, and pagodas
Shanghai (上海 Shànghǎi) - a cosmopolitan city in eastern China
Chengdu (成都 Chéngdū) - the capital of Sichuan province in southwestern China
Guilin (桂林 Guìlín) - a city in Guangxi province known for its karst
Yunnan (云南 Yúnnán) - a province in southwestern China known for its diverse ethnic minority cultures and natural beauty
Sichuan (四川 Sìchuān) - a province in southwestern China known for its spicy food and diverse ethnic minority cultures
Temple of Heaven (天坛 Tiāntán) - a temple in Beijing where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties prayed for good harvests
Summer Palace (颐和园 Yíhéyuán) - a palace and park in Beijing used as a summer retreat by the Qing dynasty emperors
Mogao Caves (莫高窟 Mògāokū) - a series of Buddhist cave temples in Gansu province
Sanya (三亚 Sānyà) - a city on Hainan island known for its beaches
Qingdao (青岛 Qīngdǎo) - a city on the east coast of China known for its beaches and Tsingtao beer.