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Our China Travel Bucket List — Learn Travel Vocabulary in Chinese!

During this live event, Keren, Juno, Luna, and Jin—four CI Chinese teachers from Unconventional Chinese—share their top travel destinations in China, along with the food, culture, and natural landscapes that make these dream destinations so captivating. Viewers also participated in the comments, sharing their travel dreams, and in the end, one thing became clear… No matter where you go, hotpot is always part of the conversation! 🔥🍲


Vocabulary We Covered


🟢 Beginner (HSK 1-2)

🔹 旅行 (lǚ yóu) – Travel, tourism

🔹 城市 (chéng shì) – City

🔹 火锅 (huǒ guō) – Hotpot


🟡 Intermediate (HSK 3-4)

🔹 风景 (fēng jǐng) – Scenery

🔹 徒步 (tú bù) – Hiking

🔹 原生态 (yuán shēng tài) – Authentic & unspoiled nature


🔴 Advanced (HSK 5-6)

🔹 圣地 (shèng dì) – Sacred place

🔹 龙脉 (lóng mài) – Dragon vein (Feng Shui concept)

🔹 气场 (qì chǎng) – Energy field


Watch our full live stream here:



1. Teacher Juno: 潮汕Chaoshan – The Paradise of Hotpot! 🐂🍲

Juno wants to visit 潮汕Chaoshan (Cháoshàn) because, as a northerner, she’s unfamiliar with southern culture and cuisine—especially Chaoshan beef hotpot, which fascinates her!

📝 Chaoshan Fun Facts:

✅ Chaoshan is not a city, but a region! It includes four cities: Chaozhou, Shantou, Jieyang, and Shanwei.


A traditional Chinese temple with ornate roof carvings, stone elephants, potted plants, and decorative engravings under a clear blue sky.

✅ Chaoshan Hotpot vs. Sichuan Hotpot

  • Chaoshan Hotpot: Focuses on fresh beef, with cooking times precise to the second for a tender texture.

  • Sichuan Hotpot: Known for its spicy and numbing flavors, with a wide variety of ingredients (tripe, duck blood, rabbit heads, etc.).

  • Chaoshan hotpot is not spicy—the focus is on the pure taste of beef!


💡Recommended Chaoshan Hotpot Restaurants:🥩 Baheli Beef Hotpot (a top-rated national chain)


Strainer holding raw beef and pineapple over simmering hot pot with broth, meatballs, and tofu. Warm, inviting cooking scene.




2. Teacher Luna: 抚仙湖Fuxian Lake – A Hawaiian-Style Lake in Yunnan! 🌊🌴

Luna dreams of visiting 抚仙湖Fuxian Lake (Fúxiān Hú) in Yunnan, after seeing stunning lakeside cafés on Xiaohongshu (China’s Instagram).


📝 Fuxian Lake Fun Facts:

✅ China’s deepest freshwater lake, with incredibly clear water!

✅ The lake has sandy shores and palm trees, resembling a beach 🏝️—some even call it “China’s Hawaii”!✅ Pu’er tea is produced nearby—Yunnan is China’s tea culture hub, making it a must-visit for tea lovers!


🌅 Why does Luna love this place? The lakeside cafés are picture-perfect, making people want to sit there all afternoon.🛶 She wants to relax by the lake and enjoy a slow-paced life.


Rocky cliff overlooking a vast blue lake under a bright, partly cloudy sky. The scene is tranquil and expansive, with green foliage nearby.

Aside from Fuxian Lake, Luna also wants to visit 澳门Macau (Màcáo), a special administrative region with a blend of Chinese and Portuguese culture. She is captivated by Macau’s history, architecture, and cuisine thanks to the popular Chinese TV series, 灿烂的风和海 (Begin Again). Luna highly recommends this romantic TV show as an engaging way for advanced learners to practice Chinese.

📝 Macau Fun Facts:

✅ Macau was once a Portuguese colony, giving it European-style architecture and culture, making it a true East-meets-West destination.


City skyline with iconic, lotus-shaped building at sunrise. Surrounding skyscrapers in warm hues against a pastel sky evoke tranquility.

3. Teacher Jin: 雨崩Yubeng Village – A Hidden Gem in the Snowy Mountains 🏔️

Jin dreams of visiting 雨崩Yubeng Village (Yǔbēng Cūn) in Yunnan, an untouched Tibetan village and a dream destination for hiking lovers! 🏕️


📝 Yubeng Fun Facts:

✅ There are no roads leading to Yubeng—you can only hike there, making it a truly pristine destination!✅ It’s near Meili Snow Mountain, known as a “sacred mountain” with breathtaking views.

✅ Yubeng is a Buddhist pilgrimage site, where many visit for meditation and spiritual reflection.


💡 Why does Jin love this place?🥾 Perfect for hiking! 🌿 Fresh air, few tourists, and stunning landscapes!🏡 He hopes to stay there for a while and escape from the noisy city life.


A village surrounded by lush green mountains under a bright blue sky with distant snow-capped peaks. The mood is peaceful and scenic.




4. Teacher Keren: 西藏Tibet – The Energy Center of the World 🏔️

Keren’s dream destination is 西藏Tibet, because he is deeply interested in Tibetan Buddhism, temples, and meditation practices.


📝 Tibet Fun Facts:

✅ Known as the 世界顶轮“Roof of the World”, with high altitudes and stunning landscapes.

✅ Home to world-famous landmarks, including the Potala Palace, Mount Everest, and Namtso Lake.

✅ Tibetan culture is unique, with Buddhist temples everywhere, making it a perfect place for meditation and self-discovery.

✅ Tibet has a strong energy field! (Keren believes it lies on a major “dragon vein”—a concept in Feng Shui, meaning it has special energy! ⚡)


💡 Tibet Travel Restrictions:

  • Foreign travelers must join a tour group and cannot travel independently.

  • A special "Tibet Travel Permit" is required.


Majestic white and red castle-like building on a hill under a dramatic cloudy sky. Greenery on the slopes adds contrast and depth.

Where Do Viewers Want to Go?

During the live event, many viewers shared their top travel destinations in China! Do you see one you’d love to visit?


📌 For Food & Hotpot Lovers:🍲 Chongqing (The largest hotpot restaurant in the world, spanning four football fields! 🔥)🐼 Chengdu (Hotpot, beautiful women, and pandas!)🥢 Guizhou (Unspoiled, authentic food culture!)


📌 For Stunning Scenery & Cultural Experiences:🍺 Qingdao (Juno’s hometown, known for Taoist monks in Laoshan and Qingdao beer!)⛰️ Huangshan (Incredible mountain views and dreamy seas of clouds! ☁️)


Ready to embark on a language adventure? 🚀 Book your class today and let's turn Mandarin into your new superpower! 🎉📚🌟



 
 
 

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