Photos, guided tours and visitor services
Ask whether photos or videos are allowed, whether flash is allowed, how to join a guided tour, rent an audio guide, store luggage, or ask for help if lost. Xingping on the Li River, near Guilin: the view on the back of the 20-yuan note. Everyone wants the same photo.
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.
-
这里可以拍照吗？
Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma?
Can I take photos here?
- 这里Zhèlǐ
- 可以kěyǐ
- 拍照pāizhào
- 吗ma
-
可以帮我拍张照片吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ pāi zhāng zhàopiàn ma?
Could you take a photo for me?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 帮bāng
- 我wǒ
- 拍pāi
- 张zhāng
- 照片zhàopiàn
- 吗ma
-
请把我和这个背景拍进去。
Qǐng bǎ wǒ hé zhège bèijǐng pāi jìnqù.
Please include me and this background in the photo.
- 请Qǐng
- 把bǎ
- 我wǒ
- 和hé
- 这个zhège
- 背景bèijǐng
- 拍pāi
- 进去jìnqù
-
可以再拍一张吗？
Kěyǐ zài pāi yì zhāng ma?
Could you take one more photo?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 再zài
- 拍pāi
- 一yì
- 张zhāng
- 吗ma
-
有语音导览吗？
Yǒu yǔyīn dǎolǎn ma?
Is there an audio guide?
- 有Yǒu
- 语音yǔyīn
- 导览dǎolǎn
- 吗ma
-
我和朋友走散了。
Wǒ hé péngyou zǒu sàn le.
I got separated from my friend.
- 我Wǒ
- 和hé
- 朋友péngyou
- 走zǒu
- 散sàn
- 了le
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
-
这里可以录像吗？
Zhèlǐ kěyǐ lùxiàng ma?
Can I record video here?
-
可以开闪光灯吗？
Kěyǐ kāi shǎnguāngdēng ma?
Can I use flash?
-
这里禁止拍照吗？
Zhèlǐ jìnzhǐ pāizhào ma?
Is photography prohibited here?
-
这里有导览服务吗？
Zhèlǐ yǒu dǎolǎn fúwù ma?
Is there a guided tour service here?
-
导览几点开始？
Dǎolǎn jǐ diǎn kāishǐ?
What time does the guided tour start?
-
有英文导览吗？
Yǒu Yīngwén dǎolǎn ma?
Is there an English guided tour?
-
有日文导览吗？
Yǒu Rìwén dǎolǎn ma?
Is there a Japanese guided tour?
-
语音导览多少钱？
Yǔyīn dǎolǎn duōshǎo qián?
How much is the audio guide?
-
可以租一个语音导览吗？
Kěyǐ zū yí ge yǔyīn dǎolǎn ma?
Can I rent an audio guide?
-
这里可以寄存行李吗？
Zhèlǐ kěyǐ jìcún xíngli ma?
Can I store my luggage here?
-
寄存处在哪里？
Jìcún chù zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the storage area?
-
洗手间在哪里？
Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the restroom?
-
游客中心在哪里？
Yóukè zhōngxīn zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the visitor center?
-
可以帮我联系工作人员吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ liánxì gōngzuò rényuán ma?
Could you help me contact the staff?
-
我需要帮助。
Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù.
I need help.
-
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.
-
Staff
要拍照吗？我帮您拍吧。Yào pāizhào ma? Wǒ bāng nín pāi ba.
Want a photo? I'll take it for you.
You
请把我和这个背景拍进去。Qǐng bǎ wǒ hé zhège bèijǐng pāi jìnqù.
Please include me and this background in the photo.
-
Staff
要导游吗？一百块讲一个小时。Yào dǎoyóu ma? Yìbǎi kuài jiǎng yí ge xiǎoshí.
Want a guide? A hundred yuan for an hour.
You
有语音导览吗？Yǒu yǔyīn dǎolǎn ma?
Is there an audio guide?
Play the scene
Xingping on the Li River, near Guilin: the view on the back of the 20-yuan note. Everyone wants the same photo.
-
Staff
要拍照吗？我帮您拍吧。
Yào pāizhào ma? Wǒ bāng nín pāi ba.
Want a photo? I'll take it for you.
-
You
请把我和这个背景拍进去。
Qǐng bǎ wǒ hé zhège bèijǐng pāi jìnqù.
Please include me and this background in the photo.
What do you say?
-
Staff
拍好了，您看看行不行。
Pāi hǎo le, nín kànkan xíng bu xíng.
Done. Have a look and see if it's OK.
-
You
可以再拍一张吗？
Kěyǐ zài pāi yì zhāng ma?
Could you take one more photo?
What do you say?
-
Staff
好，再来一张。一、二、三！
Hǎo, zài lái yì zhāng. Yī, èr, sān!
OK, one more. One, two, three!
-
You
谢谢您的帮助。
Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
What do you say?
-
Staff
要导游吗？一百块讲一个小时。
Yào dǎoyóu ma? Yìbǎi kuài jiǎng yí ge xiǎoshí.
Want a guide? A hundred yuan for an hour.
-
You
有语音导览吗？
Yǒu yǔyīn dǎolǎn ma?
Is there an audio guide?
What do you say?
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Human guided tour
Ask 导览几点开始？ and whether there are English, Japanese, or other language options.
Which phrase asks someone to take a photo for you?
Show the answer
可以帮我拍张照片吗？ — Could you take a photo for me?
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Terms
拍照 To take photos. Always ask if photography is allowed in museums, temples, exhibitions, or restricted areas.
录像 To record video. Some places allow photos but not video, so it is useful to ask separately.
闪光灯 Camera flash. Flash is often prohibited in museums, galleries, temples, and historic buildings.
导览服务 Guided tour service. It may be led by a person, an audio guide, or an app.
语音导览 Audio guide. Many museums and attractions offer audio guides in different languages for rent or through an app.
走散 To get separated from someone. Use this if you lose your friend, family member, or tour group inside a scenic area.
Visitor Services Flow
Step 1: Confirm photo rules
Ask whether photos, videos, and flash are allowed before shooting, especially indoors or near cultural relics.
Step 2: Ask for help taking photos
Use 可以帮我拍张照片吗？ Then explain if you want the background included or one more photo.
Step 3: Ask about guide options
Ask about guided tours, language options, start times, and audio guide rental.
Step 4: Use visitor facilities
Ask for luggage storage, restroom, visitor center, or staff help when needed.
Useful Photo Patterns
这里可以……吗？ Use this to ask whether something is allowed in this location.
可以帮我……吗？ Use this to politely ask someone for help, such as taking a photo or contacting staff.
请把……拍进去 Use this to tell someone what should be included in the photo.
可以再……吗？ Use this to ask someone to do something one more time.
Guide and Audio Guide Tips
Human guided tour
Ask 导览几点开始？ and whether there are English, Japanese, or other language options.
Audio guide rental
Use 可以租一个语音导览吗？ Some places may require a deposit or ID.
Ask the price first
Ask 语音导览多少钱？ before renting, especially if it is not included in the ticket.
Visitor Service Tips
Luggage storage
If you have luggage, ask whether storage is available before entering. Some attractions do not allow large bags.
Visitor center
The visitor center can help with maps, information, lost items, lost companions, or emergency support.
Separated from your friend
If you get separated, go to the visitor center or ask staff for help. Say 我和朋友走散了.
Interactive Scenarios
Checking photo rules
- Traveler这里可以拍照吗？
Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma?
Can I take photos here?
- Traveler这里可以录像吗？
Zhèlǐ kěyǐ lùxiàng ma?
Can I record video here?
- Traveler可以开闪光灯吗？
Kěyǐ kāi shǎnguāngdēng ma?
Can I use flash?
Asking someone to take a photo
- Traveler可以帮我拍张照片吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ pāi zhāng zhàopiàn ma?
Could you take a photo for me?
- Traveler请把我和这个背景拍进去。
Qǐng bǎ wǒ hé zhège bèijǐng pāi jìnqù.
Please include me and this background in the photo.
- Traveler可以再拍一张吗？
Kěyǐ zài pāi yì zhāng ma?
Could you take one more photo?
Using guide services
- Traveler这里有导览服务吗？
Zhèlǐ yǒu dǎolǎn fúwù ma?
Is there a guided tour service here?
- Traveler有英文导览吗？
Yǒu Yīngwén dǎolǎn ma?
Is there an English guided tour?
- Traveler可以租一个语音导览吗？
Kěyǐ zū yí ge yǔyīn dǎolǎn ma?
Can I rent an audio guide?
Mini Quiz
How do you ask “Can I take photos here?”
- 这里可以拍照吗？ ✓ Answer
- 这里可以排队吗？
- 这里可以退票吗？
Which phrase asks someone to take a photo for you?
- 可以帮我拍张照片吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以帮我买张门票吗？
- 可以帮我看一下地图吗？
How do you ask if there is an audio guide?
- 有语音导览吗？ ✓ Answer
- 有学生票吗？
- 有停车场吗？
Which phrase means “I got separated from my friend”?
- 我和朋友走散了。 ✓ Answer
- 我和朋友买票了。
- 我和朋友拍照了。