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 gōng gòng) and private (私人 sī rén) modes of transportation. Some of the common forms of transportation in China include:

1. • Rail (铁路 tiě lù): China has a vast network of trains (火车 huǒ chē), including both high-speed (高速 gāo sù) and conventional (常规 cháng guī) trains. Train travel (乘火车旅行 chéng huǒ chē lǚ xíng) is a popular and convenient way to get around the country, especially for long distances (长途 cháng tú). 🚂
2. • Bus (公共汽车 gōng gòng qì chē): Buses are a popular and inexpensive (廉价 lián jià) way to travel within cities (城市 chéng shì) and between towns and cities (城镇 chéng zhèn). There are both public and private bus companies in China. 🚌
3. • Metro (地铁 dì tiě): Many cities in China have metro systems (地铁系统 dì tiě xì tǒng), which are a fast and efficient (高效 gāo xiào) way to get around. The metro is often the best option for getting around large cities (大城市 dà chéng shì) like Beijing (北京 Běi jīng) and Shanghai (上海 Shàng hǎi). 🚇
4. • Taxi (出租车 chū zū chē): Taxis are widely available in cities (城市 chéng shì) and towns (小镇 xiǎo zhèn) in China, and they can be hailed (叫出租车 jiào chū zū chē) on the street (街上 jiē shang) or booked (预订 yù dìng) through a ride-hailing (打车 dǎ chē) app. 🚕
5. • Bicycle (自行车 zì xíng chē): Bicycles are a popular mode of transportation in China, especially in smaller cities (小城市 xiǎo chéng shì) and towns. Many people use bikes for short trips (短途旅行 duǎn tú lǚ xíng) or as a way to get around the city. 🚲
6. • Car (汽车 qì chē): Private car ownership (私人汽车所有权 sī rén qì chē suǒ yǒu quán) is becoming more common in China, and there are many car rental (汽车租赁 qì chē zū lìn) companies and ride-hailing (打车 dǎ chē) services available. 🚗
7. • Air travel (航空旅行 háng kōng lǚ xíng): Air travel is a convenient and efficient way to travel between cities and regions (地区 dì qū) in China. There are many domestic (国内  guó nèi) and international (国际 guó jì) airports (机场 jī chǎng) in the country (国家 guó jiā). ✈️

Related Vocabulary

• • public (公共 gōng gòng) - belonging to or available to all people
• • private (私人 sī rén) - belonging to or for the use of a particular person or group of people
• • rail (铁路 tiě lù) - a system of trains that run on tracks
• • train (火车 huǒ chē) - a vehicle that travels on tracks and is powered by a steam engine or an electric or diesel motor
• • high-speed (高速 gāo sù) - very fast
• • conventional (常规 cháng guī) - normal or standard
• • train travel (乘火车旅行 chéng huǒ chē lǚ xíng) - the act of traveling by train
• • long distances (长途 cháng tú) - a distance that is greater than average
• • bus (公共汽车 gōng gòng qì chē) - a large vehicle that carries passengers, usually along a fixed route
• • city (城市 chéng shì) - a large town or area where many people live and work
• • towns and cities (城镇 chéng zhèn) - a place with a population of fewer than 100,000 people
• • metro (地铁 dì tiě) - a railway system in which the trains run underground
• • metro systems (地铁系统 dì tiě xì tǒng) - a network of underground trains
• • fast (高效 gāo xiào) - happening or moving quickly
• • large cities (大城市 dà chéng shì) - a city with a population of more than 1 million people
• • Beijing (北京 Běi jīng) - the capital city of China
• • Shanghai (上海 Shàng hǎi) - a city in eastern China that is the country's largest city and a major global financial center
• • taxi (出租车 chū zū chē) - a car that can be hired to take passengers to a destination
• • hail a taxi(叫出租车 jiào chū zū chē) - to stop and ask someone in a taxi to take you somewhere
• • street (街上 jiē Shang) - a public road in a town or city
• • book (预订 yù dìng) - to arrange in advance for someone to have or do something
• • ride-hailing (打车 dǎ chē) - the act of ordering and paying for a taxi or private car through a smartphone app
• • bicycle (自行车 zì xíng chē) - a vehicle with two wheels that is propelled by pedals
• • short trips (短途旅行 duǎn tú lǚ xíng) - a journey that is not long
• • car (汽车 qì chē) - a road vehicle with four wheels that is powered by an engine
• • private car ownership (私人汽车所有权 sī rén qì chē suǒ yǒu quán) - the act of owning a car that is not used for business purposes
• • car rental (汽车租赁 qì chē zū lìn) - the act of hiring a car for a short period of time
• • air travel (航空旅行 háng kōng lǚ xíng) - the act of traveling by airplane
• • domestic (国内 guó nèi) - within a particular country
• • international (国际 guó jì) - between or involving different countries
• • airport (机场 jī chǎng) - 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:

1. • The Great Wall of China (长城 Cháng chéng): 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. 🇨🇳
2. • The Forbidden City (紫禁城 Zǐ jìn chéng): 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.
3. • The Terra-Cotta Warriors (兵马俑 bīng mǎ yǒng): 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.
4. • The Yellow Mountains (黄山 Huáng shān): 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.
5. • The West Lake (西湖 Xī hú): 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 Shàng hǎi), Chengdu (成都 Chéng dū), and Guilin (桂林 Guì lín), as well as the provinces of Yunnan (云南 Yún nán) and Sichuan (四川 Sì chuān), 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 Shàng hǎi Bó wù guǎn) and the Yuyuan Garden (豫园 Yù yuán). 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 Tiān tán) in Beijing, the Summer Palace (颐和园 Yí hé yuán) in Beijing, and the Mogao Caves (莫高窟 Mò gāo kū) in Gansu province. China is also home to many beautiful beaches, including Sanya (三亚 Sān yà) on Hainan island and Qingdao (青岛 Qīng dǎo) on the east coast.

Related Vocabulary

• • Great Wall of China (长城 Cháng chéng) - a long wall in northern China that was built to protect the country from invaders
• • Forbidden City (紫禁城 Zǐ jìn chéng) - the imperial palace in Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties
• • Terra-Cotta Warriors (兵马俑 bīng mǎ yǒng) - life-size clay figures discovered in the tomb of the first emperor of China
• • Yellow Mountains (黄山 Huáng shān) - a mountain range in Anhui province known for its natural beauty
• • West Lake (西湖 Xī hú) - a lake in Hangzhou with gardens, temples, and pagodas
• • Shanghai (上海 Shàng hǎi) - a cosmopolitan city in eastern China
• • Chengdu (成都 Chéng dū) - the capital of Sichuan province in southwestern China
• • Guilin (桂林 Guì lín) - a city in Guangxi province known for its karst
• • Yunnan (云南 Yún nán) - a province in southwestern China known for its diverse ethnic minority cultures and natural beauty
• • Sichuan (四川 Sì chuān) - a province in southwestern China known for its spicy food and diverse ethnic minority cultures
• • Temple of Heaven (天坛 Tiān tán) - a temple in Beijing where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties prayed for good harvests
• • Summer Palace (颐和园 Yí hé yuán) - a palace and park in Beijing used as a summer retreat by the Qing dynasty emperors
• • Mogao Caves (莫高窟 Mò gāo kū) - a series of Buddhist cave temples in Gansu province
• • Sanya (三亚 Sān yà) - a city on Hainan island known for its beaches
• • Qingdao (青岛 Qīng dǎo) - a city on the east coast of China known for its beaches and Tsingtao beer.