China’s National Day (国庆节, Guóqìng Jié) is a major public holiday celebrated on October 1st each year to commemorate the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. This day is more than just a celebration of national pride; it also marks the beginning of Golden Week (黄金周, Huángjīn Zhōu), a week-long holiday that gives millions of Chinese citizens and travelers the opportunity to explore China’s many cultural and historical landmarks.
For Chinese learners, National Day presents a great opportunity to not only engage with Chinese culture but also to practice describing travel experiences in Chinese. Whether you’re discussing plans to visit famous tourist destinations, recounting adventures, or learning how to navigate busy travel periods, this article will guide you through the essential vocabulary and expressions needed to describe your travel experiences during China’s National Day.
If you’re looking to improve your Chinese language skills and gain a deeper understanding of the country’s culture, we recommend enrolling in the flexible Chinese courses offered by LC Chinese School in Oslo. These courses are designed to cater to learners of all levels and are ideal for enhancing both your conversational Chinese and cultural knowledge.
1. Basic Travel Vocabulary for National Day
Let’s start by learning some fundamental Chinese travel vocabulary that will help you describe your travel experiences during National Day. Whether you’re planning to visit famous tourist spots or simply travel within a city, these words will be essential.
1.1 旅游 (Lǚyóu) – Travel/Tourism
The word 旅游 means “travel” or “tourism.” It’s used to talk about general travel plans, destinations, and tourism activities. During National Day, millions of people engage in 旅游 across China.
Example Sentence:
国庆节期间，很多人都会去国内旅游。
Pinyin: Guóqìng Jié qíjiān, hěn duō rén dōu huì qù guónèi lǚyóu.
Translation: During National Day, many people travel within the country.
1.2 黄金周 (Huángjīn Zhōu) – Golden Week
As mentioned earlier, 黄金周 refers to the Golden Week, the week-long holiday following National Day. It is a busy travel period, with millions of tourists visiting famous sites, making it an important term to know when discussing travel during this time.
Example Sentence:
黄金周期间，景区人山人海。
Pinyin: Huángjīn Zhōu qíjiān, jǐngqū rénshānrénhǎi.
Translation: During Golden Week, tourist attractions are extremely crowded.
1.3 景区 (Jǐngqū) – Scenic Spot/Tourist Attraction
The term 景区 means “scenic spot” or “tourist attraction.” It’s used to describe the many famous landmarks, parks, and destinations that attract tourists, particularly during National Day.
Example Sentence:
故宫是中国最著名的景区之一。
Pinyin: Gùgōng shì Zhōngguó zuì zhùmíng de jǐngqū zhī yī.
Translation: The Forbidden City is one of the most famous tourist attractions in China.
1.4 出行 (Chūxíng) – Travel/Go Out
出行 refers to the act of traveling or going out. It’s often used to describe travel arrangements or transportation during busy periods like National Day.
Example Sentence:
国庆节期间的出行非常拥挤，建议提前做好计划。
Pinyin: Guóqìng Jié qíjiān de chūxíng fēicháng yōngjǐ, jiànyì tíqián zuò hǎo jìhuà.
Translation: Traveling during National Day is very crowded, so it’s recommended to plan ahead.
1.5 住宿 (Zhùsù) – Accommodation
住宿 refers to accommodations, such as hotels, hostels, or homestays. Since National Day is a peak travel time, booking accommodations in advance is essential.
Example Sentence:
你国庆节期间的住宿安排好了吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ Guóqìng Jié qíjiān de zhùsù ānpái hǎo le ma?
Translation: Have you arranged your accommodation for National Day?
1.6 交通 (Jiāotōng) – Transportation
The word 交通 means “transportation,” an important topic during National Day when roads, trains, and airports are packed with travelers. It’s useful when talking about how to get to your destination.
Example Sentence:
国庆节期间的交通非常繁忙。
Pinyin: Guóqìng Jié qíjiān de jiāotōng fēicháng fánmáng.
Translation: The transportation during National Day is extremely busy.
1.7 景点 (Jǐngdiǎn) – Tourist Site
Similar to 景区, the word 景点 refers to tourist sites or attractions, but it’s often used in a broader sense to include both natural and man-made attractions.
Example Sentence:
长城是我最想去的景点之一。
Pinyin: Chángchéng shì wǒ zuì xiǎng qù de jǐngdiǎn zhī yī.
Translation: The Great Wall is one of the tourist sites I most want to visit.
2. Useful Phrases for Describing Travel Experiences
Now that we’ve covered some basic vocabulary, let’s move on to some practical phrases that you can use to describe your travel experiences during National Day. These phrases will help you talk about where you’ve been, what you’ve seen, and how you feel about the places you visit.
2.1 我去了… (Wǒ qù le…) – I went to…
This simple phrase is used to talk about the places you visited during your trip. It can be followed by the name of a city, tourist attraction, or region.
Example Sentence:
国庆节的时候，我去了杭州和西湖。
Pinyin: Guóqìng Jié de shíhou, wǒ qù le Hángzhōu hé Xīhú.
Translation: During National Day, I went to Hangzhou and West Lake.
2.2 这个地方很… (Zhège dìfang hěn…) – This place is very…
Use this phrase to describe your impressions of a location. You can complete the sentence with adjectives like 美丽 (měilì, beautiful), 热闹 (rènào, lively), or 迷人 (mírén, charming).
Example Sentence:
长城真的很壮观。
Pinyin: Chángchéng zhēn de hěn zhuàngguān.
Translation: The Great Wall is truly magnificent.
2.3 我喜欢… (Wǒ xǐhuān…) – I like…
This phrase is perfect for talking about what you enjoyed most during your trip. You can use it to mention a particular destination, activity, or even food that you liked.
Example Sentence:
我特别喜欢丽江的古城，非常有特色。
Pinyin: Wǒ tèbié xǐhuān Lìjiāng de gǔchéng, fēicháng yǒu tèsè.
Translation: I really liked Lijiang’s Old Town, it’s very unique.
2.4 那里的人很多。 (Nàlǐ de rén hěn duō.) – There were a lot of people.
During National Day, tourist destinations can get very crowded. Use this phrase to describe the large crowds you encountered.
Example Sentence:
故宫的游客太多了，排队排了很久。
Pinyin: Gùgōng de yóukè tài duō le, páiduì pái le hěn jiǔ.
Translation: There were too many tourists at the Forbidden City, and the lines were very long.
2.5 我住在… (Wǒ zhù zài…) – I stayed at…
When talking about your accommodations, you can use this phrase to explain where you stayed during your travels.
Example Sentence:
我住在桂林的一家小旅馆里。
Pinyin: Wǒ zhù zài Guìlín de yī jiā xiǎo lǚguǎn lǐ.
Translation: I stayed at a small inn in Guilin.
2.6 交通很方便。 (Jiāotōng hěn fāngbiàn.) – The transportation was very convenient.
This phrase is helpful for describing your experience with transportation during your trip. It’s particularly useful if you had an easy time getting around.
Example Sentence:
我觉得上海的交通很方便，地铁四通八达。
Pinyin: Wǒ juéde Shànghǎi de jiāotōng hěn fāngbiàn, dìtiě sìtōngbādá.
Translation: I think Shanghai’s transportation is very convenient, the subway system goes everywhere.
3. Discussing Travel Plans and Tips for National Day
Before you embark on your National Day trip, you’ll likely want to talk about your travel plans with others. Here are some useful phrases and questions to help you discuss your plans and share travel advice.
3.1 你国庆节有什么旅行计划？ (Nǐ Guóqìng Jié yǒu shénme lǚxíng jìhuà?) – Do you have any travel plans for National Day?
Use this question to ask someone about their travel plans for National Day.
Example Sentence:
你国庆节有什么旅行计划？
Pinyin: Nǐ Guóqìng Jié yǒu shénme lǚxíng jìhuà?
Translation: Do you have any travel plans for National Day?
3.2 我打算去… (Wǒ dǎsuàn qù…) – I plan to go to…
When you’re ready to share your travel plans, this phrase will help you explain where you’re going.
Example Sentence:
我打算去西安看兵马俑。
Pinyin: Wǒ dǎsuàn qù Xī’ān kàn Bīngmǎyǒng.
Translation: I plan to go to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors.
3.3 你推荐什么景点？ (Nǐ tuījiàn shénme jǐngdiǎn?) – What attractions do you recommend?
If you’re unsure where to go, ask for recommendations using this phrase. It’s a great way to discover new travel destinations.
Example Sentence:
你推荐什么景点？
Pinyin: Nǐ tuījiàn shénme jǐngdiǎn?
Translation: What attractions do you recommend?
3.4 什么时候去最好？ (Shénme shíhou qù zuì hǎo?) – When is the best time to go?
This question is useful for getting advice on the best time to visit a certain destination, especially during peak travel seasons like National Day.
Example Sentence:
什么时候去桂林最好？
Pinyin: Shénme shíhou qù Guìlín zuì hǎo?
Translation: When is the best time to visit Guilin?
4. Navigating Crowds and Busy Tourist Spots
Traveling during National Day can be a challenge due to the large crowds. Here are a few phrases to help you describe and navigate the bustling tourist destinations during this time.
4.1 人太多了 (Rén tài duō le) – There are too many people
This phrase is perfect for expressing frustration or surprise at how crowded a place is during National Day.
Example Sentence:
天安门广场的人太多了，挤都挤不动。
Pinyin: Tiān’ānmén Guǎngchǎng de rén tài duō le, jǐ dōu jǐ bù dòng.
Translation: There were too many people at Tiananmen Square, it was impossible to move through the crowd.
4.2 排队很久 (Páidùi hěn jiǔ) – Waited in line for a long time
During National Day, long lines are common at popular tourist sites. Use this phrase to describe your experience waiting in line.
Example Sentence:
我们在长城排队排了很久。
Pinyin: Wǒmen zài Chángchéng páiduì pái le hěn jiǔ.
Translation: We waited in line for a long time at the Great Wall.
4.3 早点去 (Zǎodiǎn qù) – Go early
If you want to avoid the crowds, arriving early is a good strategy. Use this phrase to give advice to others or plan your own trip.
Example Sentence:
建议你早点去故宫，这样人会少一些。
Pinyin: Jiànyì nǐ zǎodiǎn qù Gùgōng, zhèyàng rén huì shǎo yīxiē.
Translation: I recommend going to the Forbidden City early, there will be fewer people.
5. Conclusion
Traveling during China’s National Day is an exciting and challenging experience. The large crowds and busy transportation can be overwhelming, but it’s also a time to explore some of China’s most beautiful and historic destinations. By learning the essential travel vocabulary and expressions covered in this article, you’ll be well-equipped to describe your travel experiences in Chinese, whether you’re talking about crowded tourist sites, scenic destinations, or your favorite spots.
If you want to further improve your Chinese language skills and gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, we recommend joining the flexible Chinese courses offered by LC Chinese School in Oslo. These courses are designed to enhance your language proficiency and cultural insight, helping you communicate more effectively in real-world situations like travel during National Day.
With the right preparation and knowledge, your National Day travel experiences will not only be enjoyable but also a great opportunity to practice and improve your Chinese.
