Today’s Episode
Why do so many Chinese people love taking photos when they travel or eat? In this episode, we explore “checking in and taking photos” —why it’s so popular, where people go for the perfect shot, and whether it’s about memories or just social media. Tune in now!
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Taking photos while travelling is fun, but what happens when people go too far—climbing dangerous spots, standing on cliffs, or risking their safety just for the perfect shot? In our next MaoMi Chinese+ episode, we’ll explore how to describe this in Chinese. Join us on Tuesday 25th March!
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大家好，欢迎回来 MaoMi Chinese。今天我们来聊一个很流行的事情——打卡拍照。你去旅行的时候会拍照吗？吃好吃的东西会拍照吗？今天我们一起来看看“打卡拍照”是什么意思，为什么很多中国人喜欢这样做。
“打卡”本来的意思是上班签到，比如你去公司，要“打卡”，告诉老板你到了。但现在，“打卡”有了新的意思，就是去一个特别的地方，拍照，然后发到社交媒体。比如，你去了一个网红咖啡馆，或者去了长城，拍一张照片，发到小红书、微信、抖音，让朋友们看到，这就是打卡拍照。
很多中国人喜欢打卡拍照。为什么呢？一个原因是大家喜欢在网上分享自己的生活。如果看到朋友发了一张很漂亮的照片，比如在海边、在山上，或者在一家很美的餐厅，很多人就会想：“哇，这个地方好漂亮，我也想去看看！” 于是，更多人去拍照，更多人打卡。
现在，很多年轻人旅行时，不只是为了玩，更是为了拍照。比如，有的人去上海，最想去的地方不是东方明珠，而是武康大楼，因为那里很适合拍照。有的人去重庆，最想去的地方不是吃火锅，而是**洪崖洞**，因为晚上的灯光很漂亮，拍出来像动画里的世界。有的人去北京，除了去故宫，还会去一些好看的咖啡馆，因为那些地方在小红书上很火，拍照很好看。
不只是旅行的时候，很多人在吃饭、喝咖啡的时候，也会拍照。有时候，菜刚上桌，不是先吃，而是先拍照。有的人喜欢拍食物，有的人喜欢拍自己，有的人喜欢拍环境，然后把照片发到社交媒体，和朋友分享。有的人甚至会在网上查“最适合拍照的餐厅”或者“最适合拍照的地方”，找到最好的地方打卡。
当然，也有一些人不喜欢打卡拍照。他们觉得这样太累了，没有时间真正去看风景，或者好好吃饭。他们认为，旅行应该是放松的，不是为了拍照而旅行。有的人甚至觉得，拍照太多，反而忘记了旅行的意义。
你喜欢打卡拍照吗？如果去一个地方，你会拍照发到社交媒体上吗？
Hello everyone, welcome back to MaoMi Chinese. Today, we’re going to talk about a very popular trend—checking in and taking photos. Do you take photos when you travel? Do you take pictures of delicious food before eating? Today, let’s explore what “checking in and taking photos” means and why so many Chinese people love doing it.
The original meaning of “打卡” (dǎkǎ) was to clock in at work. For example, when you arrive at your company, you need to “clock in” to let your boss know you’re there. But nowadays, “打卡” has taken on a new meaning—it refers to visiting a special place, taking photos, and posting them on social media. For example, if you visit a trendy café or go to the Great Wall, take a picture, and share it on Xiaohongshu, WeChat, or Douyin for your friends to see, that’s called “checking in and taking photos.”
Many Chinese people enjoy this. Why? One reason is that people love sharing their lives online. If they see a friend post a stunning photo—maybe at the seaside, in the mountains, or in a beautiful restaurant—they often think, “Wow, that place looks amazing! I want to go too!” As a result, more people take photos, and more people check in.
Nowadays, for many young people, travelling isn’t just about having fun—it’s also about taking photos. For example, some people visiting Shanghai aren’t most excited about seeing the Oriental Pearl Tower, but rather the Wukang Mansion, because it’s a great spot for photos. Others travelling to Chongqing might prioritise visiting Hongya Cave over having hotpot because the night-time lights make the place look like something out of an animated film. In Beijing, besides visiting the Forbidden City, some people also seek out stylish cafés that are popular on Xiaohongshu, as they make for perfect photo backdrops.
It’s not just when travelling—many people also take photos when eating or having coffee. Sometimes, when a dish arrives, instead of eating first, people take photos first. Some like photographing food, others prefer taking selfies, and some focus on capturing the atmosphere. They then upload the pictures to social media to share with friends. Some even search online for “the most Instagrammable restaurants” or “the best photo spots” to find the perfect places to check in.
Of course, not everyone enjoys this trend. Some people find it exhausting and feel that it takes away from truly experiencing the scenery or properly enjoying a meal. They believe that travelling should be about relaxation rather than just taking photos. Some even argue that taking too many pictures makes people forget the true meaning of travel.
Do you like checking in and taking photos? If you visit a place, do you post your pictures on social media?
not sure the english text is following the Chinese?