Visiting the Farmyard（1）农家院之游

Andrea: Now that it’s summer, there are some beautiful places outside of Beijing wher you can go to enjoy getting out of the big city and into the countryside to enjoy some peace and quiet, fresh air and good food.

(Gets on a car)
(Inside car)

Andrea: Today we’re on our way to Huairou District, which is about an hour and a half outside of Beijing to visit a 农家院。(Nónɡjiāyuàn.)

(Mountains and farm scenery)

Andrea: Most people choose to pay a daily, per-person fee which includes three meals and one night of lodging, kind of like all-inclusive resort, just a bit more rustic. Now you can also just book a room. This 农家院 has five rooms with various bedding arrangements according to your group size. First of all, let’s ask if they have a room available.

(Andrea approaches host at the farm.)

Andrea: 你好。有地方住吗？(Nǐhǎo. Yǒu dìfɑnɡ zhù mɑ?)
Host of farmyard: 有。(Yǒu.)
Andrea: Good. They have a room. Now let’s check and see how much it is. 住一天多少钱？(Zhù yìtiān duōshǎoqián?)
Host of farmyard: 一百块。(Yìbǎikuài.)
Andrea: Good deal! 100 yuan for three meals and one night of lodging.
Host of farmyard: 请跟我来。(Qǐnɡ ɡēnwǒlái.)
Andrea: Let’s go to check out the room.

(Wide shot of farmyard)
Andrea: The best time to visit a 农家院 is during the summer or early autumn before it gets cold and all the fruit is in season. But, if you happen to come in the winter, this bed is a great amenity. It’s a traditional Chinese “Kang” - bed stove. The bed itself is made of brick. Obviously with a small mattress on top of it you can sleep somewher comfortably.

(Sitting on bed)
Andrea: Now the English word is just the same as the Chinese word, but make sure you use the sharp tone when saying it in Chinese, “Kang”.

(Walks out of room outside rows of rooms and talks to host of farmyard)
Andrea: Well, we’ve seen the bedrooms, let’s check out the bathrooms.

Andrea: 你好，她是你的孙女儿吗？(Nǐhǎo, tāshì nǐde sūnnǚér mɑ?)
Host of farmyard: 是。(Shì.)
Andrea: 她几岁了？(Tā jǐsuìle?)
Host of farmyard: 两岁。(Liǎnɡsuì.)
Andrea: 很可爱！她叫什么名字？(Hěn kěài! Tā jiào shénme mínɡzi?)
Host of farmyard: 张米山。(Zhānɡ mǐshān.)
Andrea: 你好，张米山。(Nǐhǎo, Zhānɡ mǐshān.)

Andrea: China has a one-child policy in urban areas. But couples in rural areas are allowed to have two children if the first one is girl.　

Andrea: 请问，洗手间在哪？(Qǐnɡwèn, xíshǒujiān zàinǎ?)
Host of farmyard: 在那儿。(Zài near.)
Andrea: 好，谢谢。(Hǎo, xièxiè.)

Language points:

Yǒu dìfɑnɡ zhù mɑ?
有地方住吗？
Do you have any rooms available?
Zhù yìtiān duōshǎoqián?
住一天多少钱？
How much does it cost to stay per day?