SOURCE: MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, 2022; PHOTO BY QIANTU
While the pandemic has prevented people from traveling afar, there’s a silver lining to that dark cloud: micro-tourism, or mini-vacations.
虽然因为新冠疫情，人们无法远游，但乌云之中还有一线希望：微旅行，或者叫微度假。
Micro-tourism refers to short-distance travel in which people drive two or three hours to a nearby destination and spend two or three days. Instead of requiring an elaborate plan and a lot of money, micro-tourism allows people to be more flexible and is less expensive.
“微旅行”指的是短途旅行，人们会开两三个小时的车到附近的目的地，然后游玩两、三天。微旅行不需要详细计划，也不会花费大量金钱，让人能更灵活安排，也更便宜。
According to China Daily, micro-tourism began catching on seven or eight years ago, but it has been increasingly popular since the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic prevention and control measures making long and distant trips less convenient, more and more Chinese people choose to take short trips instead.
据《中国日报》报道，微旅行于七、八年前开始流行，但自新冠疫情大流行以来，就越来越受人们欢迎。由于各地推行疫情防控措施，长途出行变得愈发不方便，越来越多的中国人选择短途出行。
Mark Hou from Beijing is one of them. Before the pandemic, the 28-year-old preferred taking long trips abroad or leaving Beijing to see places of interests in other Chinese provinces. But the pandemic meant he had to adapt to a new travel style.
来自北京的马克·侯（音）就是一个喜欢微旅行的人。新冠疫情大流行之前，这位28岁的年轻人更喜欢长途旅行，或者离开北京，去游览国内其他省份的名胜古迹。但疫情让他必须适应一种新的旅行方式。
“Traveling a long distance means you should take public transportation. But that would be likely to increase the chances of infection,” Hou said. “To stay healthy, short-distance travel is the better choice.”
“长途旅行意味着你应该乘坐公共交通工具，但这就可能增加感染的风险，”侯说，“为了保持健康，短途旅行是更好的选择。”
But that doesn’t mean Hou has lost fun during his short trips.
但这并不代表侯在短途旅行中丧失了乐趣。
After a long and tiring week at work, Hou likes to invite three or four friends and drive to Beijing’s suburbs on weekends. Sometimes they will have a hot spring gathering. Other times, they just bring camping gear, a camera, some food and water, and wander around the mountains or parks.
漫长劳累的一周工作之后，侯喜欢在周末邀请三、四个朋友开车去北京郊区。有时一群人会聚在一起泡温泉，其他时候，他们只是带着露营装备、相机，拿上一些食物和水，在山上或公园里闲逛。
“In the peach blossom season, we go to the mountains with many peach trees. Walking in the mountains, we not only get the fresh air and have exercise, but also enjoy the beauty of flowers,” Hou explained. “When we feel tired, we can pitch a tent to rest and have a picnic. That can ease tensions of daily life.”
“桃花盛开的季节，我们会去有种有桃树的山上。在山里散步，我们不仅能呼吸到新鲜空气、锻炼身体，还能欣赏到美丽的花朵。”侯解释道，“如果感到累了，我们可以搭个帐篷休息、野餐，这样可以缓解日常生活的压力。”
To adapt to the new trend, many cities also create more opportunities for tourists. For example, in 2020, Shanghai launched a number of micro-tourism products for half-day and one-day tours, including exploring cultural heritage sites in the city, experiencing rural life and going hiking. Destinations around cities, parks, campsites and resorts are offering new, specialized facilities and services for RV camping, jubensha parties, barbecues and picnics.
为了适应这种新趋势，许多城市也为游客创造了更多微旅行的机会。例如，2020年，上海推出了一系列半日游和一日游的微旅行项目，包括探索城市文化遗产地、体验乡村生活和徒步旅行。城市附近的旅游地点、公园、露营地和度假村，为房车露营、剧本杀派对、烧烤和野餐提供了新的、专业的设施和服务。
“With these programs, young tourists no longer look to get ‘distance’, but are willing to find new ways to experience their cities,” Feng Rao, head of Mafengwo Tourism Research Center, told People’s Daily.
马蜂窝旅游研究中心负责人冯饶在接受《人民日报》采访时表示:“有了这些项目，年轻游客不再追求‘距离’，而是愿意寻找新的方式来体验自己的城市。”
Travel doesn’t mean you need to go far away to find a resting place for your heart. That’s also the mission of the micro-tourism.
旅行并不意味着要去很远的地方，才能为自己的心找一个休憩之所，这种目的微旅行也可以达到。
