Today’s Episode
Have you noticed that many Chinese tour groups are full of older people? In this episode, we talk about why 大爷大妈 love group travel, how time, language and safety play a role, and what this says about travel culture in China. Simple Chinese, real life, real culture.
Membership Preview
Very cheap group tours can look attractive, but they often come with hidden problems. In next MaoMi Chinese+ episode, we talk about what can go wrong on low-price tours, how people feel when things aren’t as expected. Be careful, and be mindful of those traps in cheap group tours!
Support MaoMi & Get exclusive to premium content!
*Please be mindful that Spotify does not support the membership program.
大家好，欢迎回来 MaoMi Chinese！
你有没有见过中国的旅游团？很多时候，你会看见，中国旅游团里的人，大多是老人。我们也叫这些老人大爷大妈。他们很有活力，很有热情，但是他们就是喜欢在一个旅游团里，一共三十个人，四十个人，甚至五十个人一起旅游。旅游以前，他们都不认识。我们说这种是跟团旅游。为什么中国的大爷大妈喜欢跟团游呢？今天，我们一起来聊一聊吧！
第一个原因，其实是时间。很多年轻人要上班，要请假，时间不自由。老人退休了，也有退休金，时间比较多，什么时候想出去旅游都可以。但是，一个人去旅游太孤单了，对他们来说，跟团旅游很方便。
第二个原因是语言。很多老人不会说外语。他们想去旅游，但是又不敢一个人去旅游。一个人出国旅游，也会觉得很害怕。跟着中国旅游团，有导游，说中文，遇到问题也有人帮忙，心里会更放心。
还有一个原因是习惯。很多老人习惯有人安排好一切。吃什么，住哪里，去哪儿玩，都不用自己想。每天跟着计划走，对他们来说很轻松。
还有安全的问题。很多年轻人喜欢自由行。自由行，意思是不跟团旅游，自己想去哪儿就去哪儿，很自由，但是也有点麻烦。一些老人觉得，自由行很累，也会害怕迷路、生病或者不安全。旅游团人多，有导游，有很多中国人，他们会觉得更安全。
那为什么年轻人比较少跟团呢？因为很多年轻人更喜欢自由。他们会自己订机票、订酒店，想去哪儿就去哪儿，不想每天赶时间。赶时间，也就是做了一个事，去了一个地方，马上就要做下一个事，去下一个地方，非常忙。
你呢？你更喜欢跟团旅行，还是自由行？欢迎给我们留言，和我们分享哦！
Hello everyone, welcome back to MaoMi Chinese!
Have you ever seen a Chinese tour group? Very often, you’ll notice that most people in Chinese tour groups are older. In Chinese, we often call them dà yé and dà mā — uncles and aunties. They are full of energy and enthusiasm, and they really enjoy travelling in a tour group, sometimes with thirty, forty, or even fifty people. Before the trip, they don’t know each other at all. We call this kind of travel travelling with a tour group. So why do these Chinese uncles and aunties like group tours so much? Today, let’s talk about it together.
The first reason is actually time. Many young people have to work and need to take leave, so their time isn’t very flexible. Older people are retired, and they also receive a pension, so they have much more free time. They can travel whenever they want. But travelling alone can feel lonely, and for them, going with a tour group is very convenient.
The second reason is language. Many older people don’t speak foreign languages. They want to travel, but they don’t dare to travel on their own. Travelling abroad alone can also feel quite scary. When they join a Chinese tour group, there is a guide who speaks Chinese, and if there are any problems, someone is there to help. This makes them feel much more at ease.
Another reason is habit. Many older people are used to having everything arranged for them. What to eat, where to stay, and where to go are all planned, so they don’t need to think about it themselves. Following a daily schedule like this feels very easy for them.
There is also the issue of safety. Many young people like independent travel. Independent travel means not joining a tour group and going wherever you want, which feels very free, but can also be a bit troublesome. Some older people feel that independent travel is tiring, and they worry about getting lost, falling ill, or safety issues. In a tour group, there are many people, a guide, and lots of other Chinese travellers, so they feel safer.
So why do younger people join tour groups less often? Because many young people prefer freedom. They book their own flights and hotels, go wherever they want, and don’t like rushing every day. Rushing means finishing one thing, going to one place, and then immediately moving on to the next — always very busy.
What about you? Do you prefer travelling with a tour group, or travelling on your own? Feel free to leave us a message and share your thoughts with us!
Hello. 我很喜欢你们的博客。总是很有趣，很有用。最近我听到一集241，但是发现在你的网站不见了。有原因吗？谢谢你们。
不好意思，241集也已经放上去了，可以看了，谢谢你！
我和我的妻子最倾向于自由行。我妻子的工作很忙，很累。我们放假的时候，我们不喜欢很忙的日程。我们最喜欢慢慢来，看成是，跟人说话。我明白大家不想跟我们一样。我觉得旅游很好玩。我很高兴有旅游团和自由行。大家可以选择他最喜欢的旅游看法。