Didn’t you go to Xi’an? How come you complained about back pain on your very first day back?

Don’t remind me. I followed a college student’s travel guide I found online: I left at six in the morning, visited five attractions in one day, and even had a nighttime climb planned. By the next day, I could barely lift my legs.

You really went all out. College students love this kind of “special forces tourism”—taking hard-seat trains, staying in cheap hotels, and walking 30,000 steps a day just to spend less and check off more attractions.

The guide even said, “See the Terracotta Warriors in two hours.” I actually followed it, but I spent the whole time rushing and couldn’t even see things clearly.

So there’s not necessarily anything wrong with the guide itself; it’s just not necessarily right for you. Young people have more stamina and care more about saving money and being efficient. At our age, traveling comfortably may be more important.

I understand now. I saved 100 yuan on the hotel, but the next afternoon I couldn’t go anywhere and slept in the room for four hours.

Next time, plan just one or two places a day, find a good restaurant for a proper meal in between, and go back to the hotel to rest if you get tired. Traveling isn’t a work assignment you have to complete.

Exactly. From now on, I’ll first see whether an itinerary suits me, and only then look at how much money it can save. Vacations are hard to come by—I don’t want to spend money making myself miserable again.