lǚxíngshè: 旅行社 - Travel Agency, Tour Operator

• Keywords: lǚxíngshè, 旅行社, travel agency in Chinese, Chinese for travel agent, book a tour in China, Chinese package tour, Ctrip, how to say travel agency in Mandarin, booking travel in China.
• Summary: 旅行社 (lǚxíngshè) is the essential Chinese word for “travel agency” or “tour operator.” It refers to any company, whether a physical office or an online platform like Ctrip (携程), that helps you book trips, flights, hotels, and especially package tours (跟团游). Understanding this term is crucial for anyone planning to travel in China, as these agencies play a huge role in both domestic and international tourism.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lǚxíngshè
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A company that arranges and sells travel-related services, such as transportation, accommodation, and tours.
• In a Nutshell: 旅行社 (lǚxíngshè) is the place you go to plan and book a trip. Think of it as the “organization for travel.” While in the West, many people plan trips independently online, in China, using a 旅行社 for an all-inclusive package tour is extremely common, especially for family or group travel. It's a one-stop shop for your vacation.

• 旅 (lǚ): This character means “to travel” or “trip.” It originally depicted a banner under which people, such as soldiers or travelers, would gather. Think of a tour group following a flag.
• 行 (xíng): This means “to go,” “to walk,” or “to travel.” It's one of the most fundamental characters related to movement.
• 社 (shè): This means “agency,” “society,” or “organization.” It often refers to a group or entity with a common purpose, like a publishing house (出版社 chūbǎnshè) or society itself (社会 shèhuì).

Putting them together, 旅行 (lǚxíng) becomes the word for “travel” or “a trip.” Adding 社 (shè) at the end logically creates “travel agency”—an organization dedicated to travel.

In China, the concept of a 旅行社 is deeply embedded in the culture of tourism. While Western travel culture often romanticizes solo, independent travel (“backpacking through Europe”), Chinese culture, influenced by collectivist values, often prioritizes group harmony, safety, and convenience. This leads to the immense popularity of 跟团游 (gēn tuán yóu) - package tours. For many Chinese families, especially those with older members or young children, joining a tour group organized by a 旅行社 is the default way to travel. The agency handles the entire itinerary, from bus transport and meals to hotel check-ins and attraction tickets. This removes the stress of planning and navigating unfamiliar places, allowing the group to focus on the shared experience. This contrasts with the Western concept of a “travel agent,” who might be seen as someone who simply books flights and hotels for independent travelers. A Chinese 旅行社 is often a full-service tour operator, creating and managing the entire travel product from start to finish. The rise of massive Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like 携程 (Ctrip) has modernized this, but the underlying preference for pre-packaged, convenient travel solutions remains strong.

The term 旅行社 is used constantly in everyday life when discussing travel plans. Booking Travel: You use it when you want to find a company to arrange your trip. You might walk into a physical branch on the street or, more commonly today, visit the website or app of a major online 旅行社 like Ctrip (携程) or Fliggy (飞猪). Types of Agencies:

• 实体旅行社 (shítǐ lǚxíngshè): A brick-and-mortar, physical travel agency.
• 线上旅行社 (xiànshàng lǚxíngshè): An online travel agency (OTA).

Connotation: The term is neutral and functional. The reputation of a specific agency, however, can be very positive or negative based on customer reviews and experiences. People will often ask for recommendations: “哪家旅行社的服务好？” (Nǎ jiā lǚxíngshè de fúwù hǎo?) - “Which travel agency has good service?”

• Example 1:
  • 我们通过旅行社订了去北京的旅行团。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen tōngguò lǚxíngshè dìng le qù Běijīng de lǚxíngtuán.
  • English: We booked a tour group to Beijing through a travel agency.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, common usage. `通过 (tōngguò)` means “through” or “via,” showing how the agency was the channel for booking the trip.
• Example 2:
  • 你知道附近哪儿有旅行社吗？我想咨询一下。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào fùjìn nǎr yǒu lǚxíngshè ma? Wǒ xiǎng zīxún yīxià.
  • English: Do you know if there's a travel agency nearby? I'd like to make an inquiry.
  • Analysis: This sentence is what you would say when looking for a physical agency. `咨询一下 (zīxún yīxià)` means “to inquire a bit,” a polite way to ask for information.
• Example 3:
  • 这家旅行社的报价比其他家便宜很多。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā lǚxíngshè de bàojià bǐ qíjiā piányi hěn duō.
  • English: This travel agency's price quote is much cheaper than the others.
  • Analysis: `家 (jiā)` is the measure word for companies and businesses. `报价 (bàojià)` means “quoted price.” This is a practical sentence for comparing options.
• Example 4:
  • 现在很多人都用携程这样的线上旅行社来订机票和酒店。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài hěn duō rén dōu yòng Xiéchéng zhèyàng de xiànshàng lǚxíngshè lái dìng jīpiào hé jiǔdiàn.
  • English: Nowadays, many people use online travel agencies like Ctrip to book plane tickets and hotels.
  • Analysis: This highlights the shift to online platforms. `线上 (xiànshàng)` means “online.”
• Example 5:
  • 我不太喜欢跟团，所以没找旅行社，我准备自由行。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bú tài xǐhuān gēn tuán, suǒyǐ méi zhǎo lǚxíngshè, wǒ zhǔnbèi zìyóu xíng.
  • English: I don't really like being in a tour group, so I didn't look for a travel agency; I'm preparing to travel independently.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts using a 旅行社 with `自由行 (zìyóu xíng)`, or “independent travel.”
• Example 6:
  • 我们的导游是旅行社派来的，非常专业。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de dǎoyóu shì lǚxíngshè pài lái de, fēicháng zhuānyè.
  • English: Our tour guide was sent by the travel agency and is very professional.
  • Analysis: This clarifies the relationship between the agency and the tour guide. `派 (pài)` means “to dispatch” or “to send.”
• Example 7:
  • 如果你要去一些需要办签证的国家，旅行社可以帮你代办。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ yào qù yīxiē xūyào bàn qiānzhèng de guójiā, lǚxíngshè kěyǐ bāng nǐ dàibàn.
  • English: If you are going to some countries that require a visa, a travel agency can handle the application for you.
  • Analysis: `代办 (dàibàn)` means to handle something on someone's behalf, a key service offered by many agencies.
• Example 8:
  • 在选择旅行社的时候，一定要看清楚合同里的条款。
  • Pinyin: Zài xuǎnzé lǚxíngshè de shíhòu, yīdìng yào kàn qīngchǔ hétong lǐ de tiáokuǎn.
  • English: When choosing a travel agency, you must clearly read the terms in the contract.
  • Analysis: This is practical advice. `条款 (tiáokuǎn)` are the clauses or terms of a `合同 (hétong)`, or contract.
• Example 9:
  • 毕业后，他在一家国际旅行社工作。
  • Pinyin: Bìyè hòu, tā zài yījiā guójì lǚxíngshè gōngzuò.
  • English: After graduating, he works at an international travel agency.
  • Analysis: This shows how the term is used to describe a place of employment. `国际 (guójì)` specifies it's an “international” agency.
• Example 10:
  • 我对那家旅行社的服务不满意，他们的安排太乱了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ duì nà jiā lǚxíngshè de fúwù bù mǎnyì, tāmen de ānpái tài luàn le.
  • English: I'm not satisfied with that travel agency's service; their arrangements were too chaotic.
  • Analysis: A useful sentence for expressing a complaint. `对…不满意 (duì…bù mǎnyì)` means “to be unsatisfied with…”

• 旅行社 (lǚxíngshè) vs. 导游 (dǎoyóu): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 旅行社 (lǚxíngshè): The company or agency. This is the entity you pay.
  • 导游 (dǎoyóu): The tour guide. This is the person who leads the tour, holds the flag, and explains the sights.
  • Incorrect: 我要找一个旅行社带我参观故宫。(Wǒ yào zhǎo yīge lǚxíngshè dài wǒ cānguān Gùgōng.) - “I want to find a travel agency to show me around the Forbidden City.”
  • Correct: 我要找一个导游带我参观故宫。(Wǒ yào zhǎo yīge dǎoyóu dài wǒ cānguān Gùgōng.) - “I want to find a tour guide to show me around the Forbidden City.”
  • Correct: 我要找一家旅行社安排去故宫的行程。(Wǒ yào zhǎo yījiā lǚxíngshè ānpái qù Gùgōng de xíngchéng.) - “I want to find a travel agency to arrange the itinerary to the Forbidden City.”
• 旅行社 (lǚxíngshè) vs. 旅行 (lǚxíng): Don't confuse the organization with the action.
  • 旅行 (lǚxíng): The verb/noun “to travel” or “travel.”
  • 旅行社 (lǚxíngshè): The noun “travel agency.”
  • Incorrect: 我要去旅行社。(Wǒ yào qù lǚxíngshè.) - This could mean “I want to go to the travel agency (company),” but if you mean “I want to go travel,” it's wrong.
  • Correct: 我要去旅行。(Wǒ yào qù lǚxíng.) - “I'm going to travel.”

• 旅游 (lǚyóu) - Tourism; to tour. Very similar to 旅行, but often emphasizes leisure and sightseeing more.
• 导游 (dǎoyóu) - Tour guide. The person employed by the 旅行社 who leads the group.
• 跟团游 (gēn tuán yóu) - Package tour; group tour. Literally “follow group travel,” this is a primary product of a 旅行社.
• 自由行 (zìyóu xíng) - Independent travel. The opposite of a package tour, where you plan everything yourself.
• 携程 (Xiéchéng) - Ctrip. China's largest online travel agency (OTA), a household name.
• 行程 (xíngchéng) - Itinerary. The plan or schedule for a trip, created by you or the 旅行社.
• 机票 (jīpiào) - Airplane ticket. A common item booked through a 旅行社.
• 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) - Hotel. Also commonly booked through a 旅行社.
• 签证 (qiānzhèng) - Visa. A travel document that a 旅行社 can often help you apply for.
• 游客 (yóukè) - Tourist. The customer of the 旅行社.