Getting to attractions and entrances
Ask how to get to a tourist attraction, where the entrance or exit is, and whether you are going in the right direction. Outside the Forbidden City, Beijing. The walls go on and on, the entrance is the Meridian Gate, and the metro has left you on the wrong side.
Key phrases
The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.
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您好，请问这个景点怎么走？
Nínhǎo, qǐngwèn zhège jǐngdiǎn zěnme zǒu?
Hello, how do I get to this attraction?
- 您好Nínhǎo
- 请问qǐngwèn
- 这个zhège
- 景点jǐngdiǎn
- 怎么zěnme
- 走zǒu
-
请问入口在哪里？
Qǐngwèn rùkǒu zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the entrance?
- 请问Qǐngwèn
- 入口rùkǒu
- 在zài
- 哪里nǎlǐ
-
我走的方向对吗？
Wǒ zǒu de fāngxiàng duì ma?
Am I going in the right direction?
- 我Wǒ
- 走zǒu
- 的de
- 方向fāngxiàng
- 对duì
- 吗ma
-
走路要多久？
Zǒulù yào duōjiǔ?
How long does it take to walk there?
- 走路Zǒulù
- 要yào
- 多久duōjiǔ
-
可以在地图上指给我看吗？
Kěyǐ zài dìtú shàng zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?
Could you point it out on the map for me?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 在zài
- 地图dìtú
- 上shàng
- 指zhǐ
- 给gěi
- 我wǒ
- 看kàn
- 吗ma
-
我好像迷路了。
Wǒ hǎoxiàng mílù le.
I think I am lost.
- 我Wǒ
- 好像hǎoxiàng
- 迷路mílù
- 了le
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
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请问出口在哪里？
Qǐngwèn chūkǒu zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the exit?
-
售票处在哪里？
Shòupiào chù zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the ticket office?
-
游客中心在哪里？
Yóukè zhōngxīn zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the visitor center?
-
这是去景点的路吗？
Zhè shì qù jǐngdiǎn de lù ma?
Is this the way to the attraction?
-
这里离景点远吗？
Zhèlǐ lí jǐngdiǎn yuǎn ma?
Is it far from here to the attraction?
-
大概要走十分钟吗？
Dàgài yào zǒu shí fēnzhōng ma?
Does it take about ten minutes to walk?
-
可以帮我看一下地图吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ kàn yíxià dìtú ma?
Could you help me look at the map?
-
这里有景区地图吗？
Zhèlǐ yǒu jǐngqū dìtú ma?
Is there a map of the scenic area here?
-
我现在在哪里？
Wǒ xiànzài zài nǎlǐ?
Where am I now?
-
请问这里附近有什么标志物？
Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ fùjìn yǒu shénme biāozhìwù?
Excuse me, are there any landmarks nearby?
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我应该往左走还是往右走？
Wǒ yīnggāi wǎng zuǒ zǒu háishi wǎng yòu zǒu?
Should I go left or right?
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需要一直往前走吗？
Xūyào yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu ma?
Do I need to keep going straight?
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一直往前走，然后右转。
Yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu, ránhòu yòu zhuǎn.
Go straight ahead, then turn right.
-
入口就在前面。
Rùkǒu jiù zài qiánmiàn.
The entrance is just ahead.
-
谢谢，我明白了。
Xièxie, wǒ míngbai le.
Thank you, I understand.
-
请帮我写下来。
Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě xiàlái.
Please write it down for me.
-
谢谢您的帮助。
Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
What you’ll hear, and how to answer
Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.
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Staff
您是来故宫的吧？Nín shì lái Gùgōng de ba?
You're here for the Forbidden City, right?
You
请问入口在哪里？Qǐngwèn rùkǒu zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the entrance?
-
Staff
走过去要二十分钟。Zǒu guòqù yào èrshí fēnzhōng.
It's a twenty-minute walk.
You
可以在地图上指给我看吗？Kěyǐ zài dìtú shàng zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?
Could you point it out on the map for me?
Play the scene
Outside the Forbidden City, Beijing. The walls go on and on, the entrance is the Meridian Gate, and the metro has left you on the wrong side.
-
Staff
您是来故宫的吧？
Nín shì lái Gùgōng de ba?
You're here for the Forbidden City, right?
-
You
请问入口在哪里？
Qǐngwèn rùkǒu zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the entrance?
What do you say?
-
Staff
这边是出口，入口在南边午门。
Zhèbiān shì chūkǒu, rùkǒu zài nánbiān Wǔmén.
This side is the exit. The entrance is the Meridian Gate, on the south side.
-
You
走路要多久？
Zǒulù yào duōjiǔ?
How long does it take to walk there?
What do you say?
-
Staff
走过去要二十分钟。
Zǒu guòqù yào èrshí fēnzhōng.
It's a twenty-minute walk.
-
You
可以在地图上指给我看吗？
Kěyǐ zài dìtú shàng zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?
Could you point it out on the map for me?
What do you say?
-
Staff
沿着护城河一直走就到了。
Yánzhe hùchénghé yìzhí zǒu jiù dào le.
Just follow the moat all the way and you'll get there.
-
You
谢谢，我明白了。
Xièxie, wǒ míngbai le.
Thank you, I understand.
What do you say?
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Show your phone map
If pronunciation is difficult, show the name or map on your phone and ask the person to point.
How do you ask “Where is the entrance?”
Show the answer
入口在哪里？
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Terms
景点 A tourist attraction or sightseeing spot. Use this word when asking for directions to a place you want to visit.
入口 / 出口 Entrance and exit. Large attractions may have several entrances and exits, so it is useful to ask clearly.
售票处 Ticket office. This is where you buy or collect tickets at many attractions.
游客中心 Visitor center. It may provide maps, information, guided tour details, luggage storage, or help for tourists.
方向 Direction. Use 方向 when checking whether you are going the right way.
迷路 To be lost. If you are unsure where you are, say 我好像迷路了 and ask for help.
Asking Directions Flow
Step 1: Ask where the attraction is
Show the attraction name on your phone and say 这个景点怎么走？ This is practical when pronunciation is difficult.
Step 2: Confirm the entrance
Ask 入口在哪里？ Large sites may have different entrances for tickets, groups, online bookings, or staff.
Step 3: Check direction and distance
Ask 我走的方向对吗？ and 走路要多久？ to avoid walking the wrong way for too long.
Step 4: Use a map if needed
If verbal directions are hard to understand, ask the person to point on the map.
Useful Direction Patterns
请问……在哪里？ Use this to ask where something is, such as the entrance, exit, ticket office, or visitor center.
……怎么走？ Use this to ask how to get somewhere.
这是去……的路吗？ Use this to check whether the path you are on goes to your destination.
可以在地图上……吗？ Use this when you want the person to show you something on a map.
Common Direction Words
Left and right
左 means left, 右 means right. 左转 means turn left, 右转 means turn right.
Go straight
一直往前走 means keep going straight. It is one of the most common direction phrases.
Ahead and nearby
前面 means ahead or in front. 附近 means nearby. Both are useful for finding entrances or landmarks.
Map and Lost Tips
Show your phone map
If pronunciation is difficult, show the name or map on your phone and ask the person to point.
Ask your current location
Use 我现在在哪里？ when you are looking at a map but cannot identify your position.
Use landmarks
Landmarks are useful in large scenic areas. Ask 附近有什么标志物？ to orient yourself.
Interactive Scenarios
Finding the entrance
- Traveler请问入口在哪里？
Qǐngwèn rùkǒu zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the entrance?
- Traveler我走的方向对吗？
Wǒ zǒu de fāngxiàng duì ma?
Am I going in the right direction?
- Traveler走路要多久？
Zǒulù yào duōjiǔ?
How long does it take to walk there?
Using a map
- Traveler可以帮我看一下地图吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ kàn yíxià dìtú ma?
Could you help me look at the map?
- Traveler可以在地图上指给我看吗？
Kěyǐ zài dìtú shàng zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?
Could you point it out on the map for me?
- Traveler我现在在哪里？
Wǒ xiànzài zài nǎlǐ?
Where am I now?
Following directions
- Traveler我应该往左走还是往右走？
Wǒ yīnggāi wǎng zuǒ zǒu háishi wǎng yòu zǒu?
Should I go left or right?
- Traveler需要一直往前走吗？
Xūyào yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu ma?
Do I need to keep going straight?
- Traveler谢谢，我明白了。
Xièxie, wǒ míngbai le.
Thank you, I understand.
Mini Quiz
How do you ask “Where is the entrance?”
- 入口在哪里？ ✓ Answer
- 出口在哪里？
- 售票处在哪里？
Which phrase means “I think I am lost”?
- 我好像迷路了。 ✓ Answer
- 我走的方向对吗？
- 我现在在哪里？
What do you say to ask someone to point it out on the map?
- 可以在地图上指给我看吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以帮我换票吗？
- 可以帮我拍照吗？
Which phrase asks whether to keep going straight?
- 需要一直往前走吗？ ✓ Answer
- 我应该往左走还是往右走？
- 这里离景点远吗？