Essential Chinese travel vocabulary for getting around, ordering food, using transport, and handling emergencies — everything you need before your trip.
Traveling in China with some Mandarin is a fundamentally different experience from traveling without it. The difference is not just convenience — though the convenience is real — it is the quality of human connection, the ability to ask questions that aren't on any menu or sign, and the respect that even imperfect attempts at the language generate from Chinese hosts. You don't need fluency to travel well in China; you need the right vocabulary, organised practically, and confidence to use it.
This guide is organised by travel situation rather than by vocabulary category — because you don't need to know all Chinese travel vocabulary, you need to know the vocabulary for the specific situations you will actually encounter.
护照 (hùzhào) — passport
签证 (qiānzhèng) — visa
行李 (xíngli) — luggage
托运行李 (tuōyùn xíngli) — checked baggage
随身行李 / 手提行李 (suíshēn xíngli / shǒutí xíngli) — carry-on luggage
登机牌 (dēngjī pái) — boarding pass
登机口 (dēngjī kǒu) — gate (literally boarding mouth)
出发 (chūfā) — departure
到达 (dàodá) — arrival
海关 (hǎiguān) — customs
入境 (rùjìng) — entry / immigration
出境 (chūjìng) — exit / departure control
申报 (shēnbào) — to declare (customs)
没有什么要申报的 (méiyǒu shénme yào shēnbào de) — nothing to declare
At Chinese border control, you will need to complete an arrival card (入境卡, rùjìng kǎ) with standard personal information. Staff typically speak enough English for this process, but knowing the vocabulary helps if questions arise.
地铁 (dìtiě) — metro/subway: Chinese cities have extensive and efficient metro systems. Station names and directions are displayed in pinyin as well as characters on most systems. Key phrases: 请问，去____站怎么走？(How do I get to ____ station?), 下一站是哪里？(What is the next stop?), 换乘 (huànchéng, transfer).
公交车 (gōngjiāo chē) — bus: 请问这路车去____吗？(Does this bus go to ____?) 在哪里下车？(Where should I get off?)
出租车 / 打车 (chūzūchē / dǎchē) — taxi: 请去____ (Please go to ____). 请打表 (qǐng dǎ biǎo, please use the meter). 在这里停一下 (stop here please). Most taxi trips in Chinese cities now use apps (滴滴, DiDi is the dominant ride-hailing platform). Having DiDi installed and configured before arrival is highly recommended — it works in Chinese, but most cities have driver destinations set via map so written address input reduces the need for spoken negotiation.
高铁 / 火车 (gāotiě / huǒchē) — high-speed rail / train: China's high-speed rail network is extensive and the primary transport between cities. Key vocabulary: 站台 (zhàntái, platform), 候车室 (hòuchēshì, waiting hall), 检票 (jiǎnpiào, ticket check), 座位号 (zuòwèi hào, seat number), 车厢 (chēxiāng, carriage), 几号车厢几号座 (which carriage, which seat). Tickets purchased via the 12306 app or website require a passport for foreigners.
入住 (rùzhù) — check in
退房 (tuìfáng) — check out
我有预订 (wǒ yǒu yùdìng) — I have a reservation
单人间 / 双人间 (dānrén jiān / shuāngrén jiān) — single / double room
标准间 (biāozhǔn jiān) — standard room
空调 (kōngtiáo) — air conditioning
热水 (rè shuǐ) — hot water
无线网络 / WiFi密码 (wúxiàn wǎngluò / WiFi mìmǎ) — WiFi / WiFi password
叫醒服务 (jiàoxǐng fúwù) — wake-up call
这里有问题 (zhèlǐ yǒu wèntí) — there's a problem here
能换一个房间吗？(néng huàn yīgè fángjiān ma?) — can I change rooms?
Note for foreign visitors: Chinese hotels are required by law to register foreign guests' passports with local police. Your passport will be requested at check-in; this is routine and expected, not a cause for concern.
This is where basic Mandarin pays off most viscerally. Chinese restaurant staff generally do not speak English outside major tourist areas and international hotels, and menus outside tourist venues may have no English. The vocabulary:
服务员！(fúwùyuán! — waiter!/server! — the standard way to get attention in a Chinese restaurant)
菜单 (càidān) — menu
点菜 (diǎncài) — to order (food)
推荐什么？(tuījiàn shénme?) — what do you recommend?
这个是什么？(zhège shì shénme?) — what is this?
不辣 (bù là) — not spicy
少辣 (shǎo là) — less spicy
不要____（我过敏）(bú yào ____, wǒ guòmǐn) — no ____ (I'm allergic)
好吃！(hǎochī!) — delicious!
买单 / 结账 (mǎidān / jiézhàng) — the bill please
能开发票吗？(néng kāi fāpiào ma?) — can I get a receipt/invoice?
Scanning QR codes to order food (扫码点餐, sǎo mǎ diǎn cān) is now ubiquitous in Chinese restaurants — you scan the table QR code, browse the menu on your phone, and place the order entirely digitally. This removes the ordering interaction but requires WeChat or Alipay payment, which foreign visitors need to set up in advance (WeChat now allows binding foreign Visa/Mastercard).
多少钱？(duōshǎo qián?) — how much?
太贵了 (tài guì le) — too expensive
便宜一点儿 (piányí yīdiǎnr) — a bit cheaper please
能打折吗？(néng dǎzhé ma?) — can I get a discount?
我只是看看 (wǒ zhǐshì kànkàn) — I'm just looking
用微信/支付宝付款可以吗？(yòng Wēixìn/Zhīfùbǎo fùkuǎn kěyǐ ma?) — can I pay with WeChat/Alipay?
刷卡 (shuākǎ) — credit card payment
发票 (fāpiào) — official receipt
Cash use has declined dramatically in China — many younger vendors and modern shops don't accept it. WeChat Pay (微信支付) and Alipay (支付宝) dominate. Foreign visitors can link foreign bank cards to WeChat Pay; setting this up before arrival saves significant inconvenience.
请问，____在哪里？(qǐngwèn, ____ zài nǎlǐ?) — excuse me, where is ____?
往左/右转 (wǎng zuǒ/yòu zhuǎn) — turn left/right
直走 (zhí zǒu) — go straight
前面 / 后面 / 旁边 (qiánmiàn / hòumiàn / pángbiān) — ahead / behind / beside
附近 (fùjìn) — nearby
大概走多远？(dàgài zǒu duō yuǎn?) — about how far to walk?
我迷路了 (wǒ mí lù le) — I'm lost
救命！(jiùmìng!) — Help! (literally save my life)
我需要帮助 (wǒ xūyào bāngzhù) — I need help
请叫警察 (qǐng jiào jǐngchá) — please call the police
请叫救护车 (qǐng jiào jiùhùchē) — please call an ambulance
医院在哪里？(yīyuàn zài nǎlǐ?) — where is the hospital?
我钱包丢了 (wǒ qiánbāo diū le) — my wallet is lost
我护照丢了 (wǒ hùzhào diū le) — I've lost my passport
我需要翻译 (wǒ xūyào fānyì) — I need an interpreter
Emergency numbers in China: 110 (police), 120 (ambulance), 119 (fire). Operators may not speak English; having these phrases ready is important.
The HSK 1 Huangshan Adventure series is set in a Chinese travel context and introduces transport, food, and navigation vocabulary naturally. The HSK 3 Lantern Festival story covers the festival and public space vocabulary you'll encounter during peak holiday travel. The Grammar section covers the question structures (在哪里, 怎么走, 多少钱) that are most essential for travel communication.
Build your travel Chinese through real graded stories on Dumplingo — read, listen, and learn the vocabulary that matters before you go. Start now →