← Selected workBrief
A Chinese destination wants to communicate with international visitors.
The challenge is not simply translating Chinese into several European languages. A tourism message that sounds natural in Italian may need a different rhythm, vocabulary or emphasis in French, German, Spanish or English.
The task: take selected Chinese tourism communication about Zhangjiajie and create localized versions for five European-language audiences. The destination and factual information remain consistent, while the language, rhythm and communication style adapt to each audience.
01 / Original Chinese
张家界位于湖南省西北部，地处武陵山脉腹地。
武陵源风景名胜区以独特的石英砂岩峰林景观闻名，由张家界国家森林公园、天子山自然保护区、索溪峪自然保护区和杨家界组成。
Publicly available official tourism information, used as source material. Not original copy written for this portfolio.
02 / Working translation
Zhangjiajie is located in northwestern Hunan, in the heart of the Wuling Mountains.
Wulingyuan Scenic Area is known for its distinctive quartz sandstone peak forest landscape and includes Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve and Yangjiajie.
This version stays close to the Chinese source and is used as a working reference before localization.
03 / Five European voices
- Italiano
- English
- Français
- Deutsch
- Español
01Italiano
Zhangjiajie: tra le montagne di Wuling
Nel nord-ovest dell'Hunan, nel cuore dei monti Wuling, Zhangjiajie custodisce uno dei paesaggi più caratteristici della provincia. L'area panoramica di Wulingyuan è famosa per le sue caratteristiche formazioni di picchi in arenaria quarzosa e comprende il Parco Forestale Nazionale di Zhangjiajie, la Riserva Naturale del Monte Tianzi, la Riserva Naturale di Suoxiyu e Yangjiajie.
Italian tourism communication can favour an evocative opening before moving into the factual description. The geographical information remains faithful to the source.
02English
Zhangjiajie, in the heart of the Wuling Mountains
In northwestern Hunan, at the heart of the Wuling Mountains, Zhangjiajie is known for the distinctive landscape of Wulingyuan. The scenic area is famous for its quartz sandstone peak forests and includes Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve and Yangjiajie.
English keeps the message direct and internationally accessible, with a clear geographical introduction and restrained promotional language.
03Français
Zhangjiajie, au cœur des montagnes de Wuling
Située dans le nord-ouest du Hunan, au cœur des montagnes de Wuling, Zhangjiajie est connue pour les paysages singuliers de Wulingyuan. Cette région pittoresque est célèbre pour ses formations de pics en grès quartzique et comprend le parc national forestier de Zhangjiajie ainsi que les réserves naturelles du mont Tianzi, de Suoxiyu et de Yangjiajie.
The French version uses a more flowing sentence structure while retaining the geographical and descriptive precision of the source.
04Deutsch
Zhangjiajie im Herzen des Wuling-Gebirges
Zhangjiajie liegt im Nordwesten der Provinz Hunan, im Herzen des Wuling-Gebirges. Das Landschaftsgebiet Wulingyuan ist für seine charakteristischen Quarzsandsteinformationen und markanten Felsformationen bekannt. Dazu gehören der Zhangjiajie-Nationalpark, das Naturschutzgebiet Tianzi Shan sowie die Naturschutzgebiete Suoxiyu und Yangjiajie.
German allows the information to be structured more explicitly, making the geographical relationship between Zhangjiajie, Wulingyuan and the individual areas immediately clear.
05Español
Zhangjiajie, en el corazón de las montañas Wuling
En el noroeste de Hunan, en pleno corazón de las montañas Wuling, Zhangjiajie es conocida por el paisaje singular de Wulingyuan. Esta zona paisajística destaca por sus formaciones de picos de arenisca cuarzosa y comprende el Parque Forestal Nacional de Zhangjiajie, la Reserva Natural de Tianzi, la Reserva Natural de Suoxiyu y Yangjiajie.
Spanish can use a more fluid and descriptive rhythm while maintaining the factual structure of the Chinese source.
Independent localized portfolio copy. Not official translations published by any tourism authority.
04 / One message, five adaptations
Same destination. Different voices.
01 / FactsThe destination, geography and named locations remain consistent.
02 / RhythmSentence structure changes according to the target language.
03 / EmphasisThe same information can be introduced through slightly different communicative priorities.
04 / VoiceLocalization makes the copy sound native to the target audience rather than translated from Chinese.
05 / Localization decisions
01 / Preserve the facts
Tourism localization must remain faithful to the source.
02 / Adapt the rhythm
A sentence that works naturally in Chinese may need a different structure in a European language.
03 / Respect local conventions
Tourism communication has different stylistic expectations across languages and markets.
04 / Avoid false equivalence
Multilingual communication is not about making five versions identical. It is about making five versions equally natural and faithful.
06 / What this project demonstrates
Multilingual Localization
Adapting one Chinese source for several European-language audiences.
Cross-cultural Communication
Understanding how communication conventions change across markets.
Content Adaptation
Reshaping structure and tone without changing the underlying information.
Chinese → Europe
Working from Chinese source material with a European communication perspective.
Languages
Italian · English · French · German · Spanish
Services used
Source material: publicly available tourism information from the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Hunan Government. Independent portfolio exercise; not commissioned work.
Next projectOne product. Five European voices.
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