1.3 Contemporary Life in China: Transportation and Tourism

Introduction to Contemporary Life in China: Transportation and Tourism

Transportation in China

1. 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). 🚂
2. 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. 🚌
3. 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). 🚇
4. 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. 🚕
5. 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. 🚲
6. 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. 🚗
7. 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

1. 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. 🇨🇳
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

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.