Topic 34 一次不同寻常的旅行

1. What do people usually do during long holidays?
If they have a lot of time off295, people usually like going on vacation. They might go on a trip across the country, or even go to another country. Lots of people like going on cruises296 too. Besides, I know a lot of people like visiting family during the holidays, which is always a great time to bond with each other.

2. Where do Chinese people like to go to spend their holiday?
Honestly, most people avoid going to places far from home. They just hang around at shopping malls nearby. Malls are always crowded with people during holidays. Since there are movie theatres, restaurants, and all kinds of shops there, it’s hard to get bored297 in a mall. So I think that’s why people go there.

3. Is the tourism industry important in China?
Yes, it is. In many areas of China, the tourism industry contributes to the economy298. Lots of people make a living from businesses related to tourism299. The tourism industry also employs lots of locals, which is very important to the society. Actually in recent years, Chinese families are living more comfortable lives, so tourism is getting increasingly popular in China. More cities are becoming popular travel destinations.

4. Do you think tourism could bring benefits to the economy?
Yeah, I definitely think tourism can bring benefits to the economy. Tourists spend money on lots of things. For example, they pay for accommodation and food, and that’s just the beginning. Most of them buy lots of other things, like souvenirs, which also supports locals. So visitors bring lots of money to tourist attractions, which boosts the economy300.

5. Why do many people like to travel abroad?
I think lots of people like travelling abroad because they can learn more about the world. When they see all kinds of new sights301, it teaches them a lot. They feel more educated. But sometimes it’s also just a ton of fun to travel abroad. You get to try a ton of new things, whether it’s a new activity or a new food.

6. Do people in China have enough holidays? Do people want more holidays?（同“想去远方的旅行”最后一问；该问题在 Part3 旅行类里面会被问到，Part1 也被常问到）
Um…definitely no. I mean, who doesn’t want more holidays? Although there are technically enough holidays for people in China, I believe they would appreciate some more. Nowadays, our lives are filled with work all the time; everyone needs time to just kick back and relax, which can be hard to do even when on holiday. I suppose that if we had more time off302, it could really help us be more productive303 at work and school.

295 have a lot of time off: 有很多休息时间的时候
296 going on cruises：坐游轮旅行
297 it’s hard to get bored：你很难会感到无聊
298 contributes to the economy: 对经济发展有贡献
299 businesses related to tourism：和旅游业有关的生意
300 boosts the economy: 促进经济发展
301 new sights: 新的风景，新的景致
302 had more time off: 有更多的休息时间
303 productive：有效率