Travel Companions A viral topic on Chinese social media highlights the most frustrating travel partners: the “Drama Queen” who makes no plans but complains constantly, the “Chronic Complainer” who vents at every issue, and the “Negative Loner” who avoids group activities and kills the vibe.

China's 2025 May Day holiday saw a record-breaking 10.9 million border crossings, as outbound travel surged 28.7% year-on-year. Asia-Pacific hotspots like Japan, Korea, and Singapore led the rebound, while curiosity in off-the-beaten-path destinations such as Uzbekistan and Hungary spiked. With mobile payments via WeChat Pay and Alipay booming overseas, Chinese tourists are embracing seamless, app-driven journeys. This holiday marked a pivotal shift: travel is now borderless,

As China's e-commerce giants gear up for the 2025 618 Festival, the rules of engagement are shifting. No longer driven solely by price cuts, consumers are seeking curated discovery, emotional connection, and digital rituals that blend entertainment with intentionality. This article unpacks how Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin are redefining mid-year sales—from early seeding strategies and livestream storytelling to value-driven promotions and “planned spontaneity.” Dive into the new

When we first launched the China Travel Dashboard in 2023, we set out to solve a specific problem: how to bring clarity and real-time intelligence to one of the fastest-evolving sectors in global travel — Chinese outbound tourism. What began as a tool for marketers quickly became essential for a broader set of stakeholders: financial planners, airport operators, supply chain strategists, and luxury retail managers, journalists  —  all trying to navigate the shifting tides of

Pop Mart is redefining youth consumption in China by turning blind box collectables into powerful expressions of identity, emotion, and social belonging. With its unique mix of surprise-driven retail, artistic IP storytelling, and highly shareable brand experiences, Pop Mart has captured the hearts of Gen Z—and offers vital insights for brands seeking to engage this digitally native, trend-sensitive generation. Discover what drives young consumers to obsess, spend, and share—

In the 1990s, as Beijing loosened Mao-era restrictions on travel, millions of Chinese left the country for the first time, triggering a rush by companies offering group trips where these new travelers could move smoothly from charter flight to private bus to all-inclusive hotel. For decades, Chinese vacationers could be seen following umbrella-wielding guides around Kyoto, Paris or Venice—including frequent stops at shops offering everything from Eiffel Tower trinkets to $10,

Spain Declares National Emergency On April 28, a massive blackout hit Spain and Portugal. Spain has initiated a level-three national emergency response. Despite disruptions, China Trading Desk forecasts 160,000 Chinese tourists to visit Spain in the next three months, up 55% YoY.

China’s “pan-young generation” (post-90s and post-00s) buy rationally, but spend passionately—on identity, culture, and emotional fulfilment. From AI companionship and second-hand fashion to niche communities and symbolic storytelling, this generation demands more than products—they want meaning. For brands, the takeaway is clear: win their loyalty through cultural fluency, emotional relevance, and format-native storytelling.

Subramania Bhatt (Subbu), Founder and CEO of China Trading Desk, recently joined CGTN’s internationally broadcast podcast Chat Lounge to analyse the meteoric rise of Labubu, a China-made designer toy that has sparked a global craze from Asia to North America.