xiéchéng: 携程 - Trip.com / Ctrip (China's largest travel agency)

Keywords: 携程, xié chéng, Ctrip, Trip.com, China travel, book flights China, book trains China, Chinese travel app, OTA China, 在线旅游, Feizhu, Qunar, travel to China.

Summary: 携程 (Xiéchéng), known internationally as Trip.com, is the undisputed leader in China's online travel industry. It is a one-stop-shop “super-app” and website for booking flights, high-speed trains, hotels, and tours in China and across the globe. For any beginner learner planning to travel to or within China, understanding and using 携程 is practically essential for a smooth journey. The name itself, meaning “to carry your journey,” perfectly reflects its role as a portable, all-in-one travel solution.

Pinyin (with tone marks): xié chéng

Part of Speech: Proper Noun (Company Name)

HSK Level: N/A (as a brand name). The individual characters are 携 (xié - HSK 5) and 程 (chéng - HSK 4).

Concise Definition: Xiéchéng is China's largest online travel agency (OTA), operating internationally under the brand name Trip.com.

In a Nutshell: Think of Expedia, Booking.com, and Skyscanner rolled into one dominant platform, and you have 携程. It's not just a service; it's a fundamental utility for modern Chinese life. If you need to go anywhere, you'll almost certainly use the 携程 app or website to book your tickets and accommodation. The name beautifully combines “carry” and “journey,” implying that your entire travel plan is something you can easily carry with you, right in your pocket.

携 (xié): To carry in the hand; to take along; to bring with. The left side is the hand radical (扌), which is found in many characters related to actions done with the hands (like 打 dǎ - to hit, or 找 zhǎo - to look for). It signifies portability and convenience.

程 (chéng): A journey, trip, distance, or process. It suggests a sequence of events or a path from a starting point to a destination.

Combined Meaning: The two characters combine to create a modern, aspirational brand name: “Carrying the Journey” or “Portable Trip.” It perfectly encapsulates the company's value proposition: making complex travel arrangements simple, manageable, and accessible from a mobile device.

The Engine of China's Travel Boom: 携程's rise is synonymous with the explosion of domestic and international tourism by China's growing middle class. For decades, personal travel was a luxury for a few. 携程 made it accessible to hundreds of millions, fundamentally changing how Chinese people explore their own country and the world.

Symbol of a Mobile-First Society: While Westerners might use a mix of websites like Expedia, Kayak, and airline sites to book a trip, China is a mobile-first, app-driven society. 携程 is a quintessential “super-app.” Its deep integration—from booking a flight, to reserving a hotel, to buying a ticket for a scenic spot, all within one ecosystem—is a hallmark of China's modern digital landscape.

Comparison to Western “Networking”: In the West, we have many travel booking options, and brand loyalty can be fickle. In China, 携程 has achieved a level of market dominance and integration that has no true Western equivalent. It's not just a company; it's the default infrastructure for personal and business travel. Asking “Did you book on 携程?” is as common as asking “Did you Google it?” in the West.

Verbal Shortcut: People often use “携程” as a verb, meaning “to check prices on Xiéchéng.” For example: “你携程一下看看价格” (Nǐ xiéchéng yīxià kànkàn jiàgé) - “You should check Xiéchéng to see the price.”

Formality and Connotation: The term is neutral and used in all contexts, from casual chats between friends to formal arrangements for a business trip (出差 chūchāi). It's seen as a reliable, if sometimes corporate, tool.

Ctrip vs. Trip.com: Remember that 携程 (Xiéchéng) is the name used within mainland China. For the international market, the company uses the name Trip.com. While they are the same parent company, the apps and websites are distinct. As a foreigner, using the Trip.com app is often easier as it's fully localized in English and accepts international credit cards more readily.

Pronunciation: Both characters are 2nd (rising) tone: xié chéng. A flat or incorrect pronunciation might cause confusion, though context usually makes it clear.

去哪儿 (Qùnǎ'r) - “Where to go?” A major travel platform that is now part of the 携程 group, often perceived as offering budget-friendly options.

飞猪 (Fēizhū) - “Flying Pig.” The travel brand from tech giant Alibaba. It is 携程's main independent competitor.

旅游 (lǚyóu) - Tourism; travel for pleasure. The general noun for the concept of tourism.

旅行 (lǚxíng) - To travel; a journey. Refers to the act of traveling or the trip itself. This is the correct word to use for “my journey.”

订票 (dìng piào) - To book a ticket. A general verb you would use in conjunction with 携程.

酒店 (jiǔdiàn) - Hotel. Literally “wine shop,” but now the standard word for hotel.

机票 (jīpiào) - Airplane ticket. (机 jī = machine/plane, 票 piào = ticket).

高铁 (gāotiě) - High-speed rail. The ubiquitous bullet train system in China. Booking tickets on 携程 is the most common method.

在线旅游 (zàixiàn lǚyóu) - Online travel. The industry term for the sector in which 携程 operates, often abbreviated to OTA (Online Travel Agency) in English.