Lesson 19: Travel Experiences

Overview

Narrating travel experiences in Chinese requires more than describing places: it involves recounting sequences of events, expressing subjective impressions, and reflecting on what an experience meant. The vocabulary cluster around 经历 (experience), 难忘 (unforgettable), 印象深刻 (deeply impressed), 当地 (local), and 风俗 (customs) forms the core of travel narrative in Chinese. At B1 level, the challenge is constructing multi-clause narratives that flow naturally rather than stringing together simple sentences. Transition markers and narrative sequencing are as important as the vocabulary itself.

Learning Objectives

Narrate a travel experience in a coherent sequence using appropriate discourse markers.
Express impressions and emotional responses using 难忘, 印象深刻, and related expressions.
Discuss local customs and cultural observations using 当地, 风俗, and 体验.
Write a short travel narrative of 100 words or more.

Vocabulary

Character	Pinyin	Type	Meaning	Example
经历	jīnglì	n/v	experience; to experience	难忘的经历
难忘	nánwàng	adj	unforgettable	难忘的旅行
印象深刻	yìnxiàng shēnkè	phrase	deeply impressed	给我留下了深刻印象
当地	dāngdì	adj/n	local; local area	当地文化
风俗	fēngsú	n	customs, traditions	当地风俗
体验	tǐyàn	v/n	to experience; experience	亲身体验
景色	jǐngsè	n	scenery, landscape	美丽的景色
特色	tèsè	n	characteristic, special feature	地方特色
感受	gǎnshòu	v/n	to feel; feeling, impression	分享感受
启发	qǐfā	v/n	to inspire; inspiration	受到启发
收获	shōuhuò	n/v	gain, harvest; to gain	旅行收获
陌生	mòshēng	adj	unfamiliar, strange	陌生的环境
融入	róngrù	v	to blend into, integrate	融入当地生活
回味	huíwèi	v/n	to recall and savor; aftertaste	值得回味

Grammar Focus

Pattern 1: Narrative Sequencing with 先...然后...最后

Structure: 先 + VP1, 然后 + VP2, 最后 + VP3

This three-part sequence is essential for telling a story. 先 introduces what happened first, 然后 connects the next event, 最后 concludes the sequence. Each segment can be expanded.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
我们先参观了古城，然后品尝了当地的特色小吃，最后在日落时爬上了山顶。	Wǒmen xiān cānguān le gǔchéng, ránhòu pǐncháng le dāngdì de tèsè xiǎochī, zuìhòu zài rìluò shí pá shàng le shāndǐng.	We first visited the ancient town, then tasted local specialty snacks, and finally climbed to the mountaintop at sunset.

Pattern 2: 给我留下了深刻的印象

Structure: Subject + 给 + [person] + 留下了 + 深刻的/难忘的 + 印象

This is the standard way to say "left a deep impression on me." It is preferred over the literal translation of "make me deeply impressed."

Chinese	Pinyin	English
当地人的热情好客给我留下了非常深刻的印象。	Dāngdì rén de rèqíng hàokè gěi wǒ liú xià le fēicháng shēnkè de yìnxiàng.	The warmth and hospitality of the local people left a very deep impression on me.
那次独自旅行的经历给了我很多启发。	Nà cì dúzì lǚxíng de jīnglì gěi le wǒ hěn duō qǐfā.	That solo travel experience gave me a lot of inspiration.
西藏的景色给每一位游客都留下了难忘的印象。	Xīzàng de jǐngsè gěi měi yī wèi yóukè dōu liú xià le nánwàng de yìnxiàng.	The scenery of Tibet has left an unforgettable impression on every visitor.

Pattern 3: 虽然陌生，但... / 起初...后来

These patterns are useful for describing a change in feeling over the course of a trip.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
起初，面对完全陌生的环境，我有些不适应；后来慢慢融入了当地的生活节奏。	Qǐchū, miànduì wánquán mòshēng de huánjìng, wǒ yǒu xiē bù shìyìng; hòulái màn man róngrù le dāngdì de shēnghuó jiézòu.	At first, facing a completely unfamiliar environment, I felt a bit out of place; later I gradually blended into the local pace of life.
虽然语言不通，但当地人的笑容让我感到温暖。	Suīrán yǔyán bù tōng, dàn dāngdì rén de xiàoróng ràng wǒ gǎndào wēnnuǎn.	Although I couldn't communicate in the language, the smiles of the local people made me feel warm.

Dialogue

Context: Two friends sharing their travel experiences at a café.

A: 你上次去云南，感觉怎么样？
Nǐ shàng cì qù Yúnnán, gǎnjué zěnmeyàng?
How was your trip to Yunnan last time?

B: 真的是一次难忘的经历。那里的景色给我留下了非常深刻的印象，特别是丽江的古城。
Zhēn de shì yī cì nánwàng de jīnglì. Nàlǐ de jǐngsè gěi wǒ liú xià le fēicháng shēnkè de yìnxiàng, tèbié shì Lìjiāng de gǔchéng.
It was truly an unforgettable experience. The scenery there left a very deep impression on me, especially the ancient town of Lijiang.

A: 你主要去了哪些地方？
Nǐ zhǔyào qù le nǎxiē dìfang?
Which places did you mainly go to?

B: 我们先在昆明待了两天，体验了当地的花市和美食，然后坐火车去了大理，最后才到达丽江。
Wǒmen xiān zài Kūnmíng dài le liǎng tiān, tǐyàn le dāngdì de huāshì hé měishí, ránhòu zuò huǒchē qù le Dàlǐ, zuìhòu cái dádào Lìjiāng.
We first stayed in Kunming for two days, experiencing the local flower market and food, then took a train to Dali, and finally arrived in Lijiang.

A: 当地的风俗有没有让你印象深刻的？
Dāngdì de fēngsú yǒu méiyǒu ràng nǐ yìnxiàng shēnkè de?
Were there any local customs that deeply impressed you?

B: 有！纳西族的火把节给我留下了最深的印象。起初我对这种风俗完全陌生，但慢慢融入之后，感受到了一种非常真实的文化体验。
Yǒu! Nàxīzú de huǒbǎ jié gěi wǒ liú xià le zuì shēn de yìnxiàng. Qǐchū wǒ duì zhè zhǒng fēngsú wánquán mòshēng, dàn màn man róngrù zhīhòu, gǎnshòu dào le yī zhǒng fēicháng zhēnshí de wénhuà tǐyàn.
Yes! The Naxi people's Torch Festival left the deepest impression on me. At first I was completely unfamiliar with this custom, but after gradually blending in, I felt a very authentic cultural experience.

A: 旅行最大的收获是什么？
Lǚxíng zuìdà de shōuhuò shì shénme?
What was the greatest gain from the trip?

B: 我觉得是开阔了视野。那次经历让我意识到，中国的文化多样性远比我想象的丰富，这些都是值得用一生去回味的经历。
Wǒ juéde shì kāikuò le shìyě. Nà cì jīnglì ràng wǒ yìshídào, Zhōngguó de wénhuà duōyàngxìng yuǎn bǐ wǒ xiǎngxiàng de fēngfù, zhèxiē dōu shì zhídé yòng yīshēng qù huíwèi de jīnglì.
I think it was broadening my horizons. That experience made me realize that China's cultural diversity is far richer than I had imagined. These are experiences worth savoring for a lifetime.

Extended Reading

去年夏天，我独自踏上了一段前往西北地区的旅程。那是一次充满挑战和惊喜的经历。先从西安出发，感受了古都深厚的历史文化，然后沿着丝绸之路向西，途经甘肃的敦煌，亲眼见到了举世闻名的莫高窟。最后，我来到了新疆，体验了当地维吾尔族独特的饮食和音乐风俗。起初，陌生的语言和习俗让我有些不知所措，但当地人的热情很快消除了这种陌生感。这段旅程给我留下了无数难忘的回忆，也让我对中国文化的丰富性有了全新的认识和感受。

Qùnián xiàtiān, wǒ dúzì tàshàng le yī duàn qiánwǎng xīběi dìqū de lǚchéng. Nà shì yī cì chōngmǎn tiǎozhàn hé jīngxǐ de jīnglì. Xiān cóng Xī'ān chūfā, gǎnshòu le gǔdū shēnhòu de lìshǐ wénhuà, ránhòu yán zhe Sīchóu zhī lù xiàng xī, tújīng Gānsù de Dūnhuáng, qīnyǎn jiàn dào le jǔshì wénmíng de Mógāo kū. Zuìhòu, wǒ lái dào le Xīnjiāng, tǐyàn le dāngdì Wéiwú'ěrzú dútè de yǐnshí hé yīnyuè fēngsú. Qǐchū, mòshēng de yǔyán hé xísú ràng wǒ yǒu xiē bù zhī suǒ cuò, dàn dāngdì rén de rèqíng hěn kuài xiāochú le zhè zhǒng mòshēnggǎn.

Last summer, I set off alone on a journey to the northwest region. It was an experience full of challenges and surprises. Starting from Xi'an, I experienced the deep historical culture of the ancient capital, then headed west along the Silk Road, passing through Dunhuang in Gansu and seeing with my own eyes the world-famous Mogao Caves. Finally, I arrived in Xinjiang and experienced the unique food and musical customs of the local Uyghur people. At first, the unfamiliar language and customs left me at a loss, but the warmth of the local people quickly dispelled that sense of unfamiliarity.

Practice

Exercise 1: Put the sentences in narrative order and connect them with 先...然后...最后.

a. 我们在山顶欣赏了日出。 b. 我们半夜出发，开始登山。 c. 我们吃了当地的早餐，然后下山休息。

Exercise 2: Describe in Chinese using 给...留下了深刻的印象.

The food in Sichuan left a deep impression on you.
A local custom you saw left a very unforgettable impression on everyone.

Exercise 3: Write a travel narrative (100+ words) about a real or imagined trip. Include: narrative sequence (先...然后...最后), an impression phrase (给...留下了...印象), and a reflection on what you gained (收获/体验/感受).

Cultural Note

Travel in China has undergone a transformation in recent decades. The concept of 说走就走的旅行 (a spontaneous trip, literally "a trip where you say let's go and then go") captures the aspirational freedom that travel represents for Chinese urban youth. At the same time, 打卡 (dǎkǎ, literally "punch the clock," now meaning to visit and document a popular spot) describes a newer, more curated form of travel driven by social media. The tension between authentic 体验 (genuine experience) and superficial 打卡 tourism is a topic of ongoing cultural discussion in China, and knowing these two poles helps you understand how Chinese travelers discuss and evaluate their travel experiences.