Nearly 1.2 billion people speak some form of Chinese as their first language. One of its main dialects is Mandarin, spoken by over 955 million native speakers worldwide. By learning Mandarin Chinese, you unlock the potential to speak to over 13% of the world’s total population.

Given its rich history and culture, huge population, vast territory and diverse geographical features, discovering China can be an overwhelming experience for the seasoned travelers and tourists. But learning a little of its language can go a long way.

Here are some essential travel phrases you need to know to make your future trip to China memorable and worthwhile.

chinese phrases