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:
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?”