Trending Now: China's Social Media Highlights #1 Dec - 7 December#

Weibo | Russia Visa-Free Surge and In-Flight Behaviour Under Scrutiny

Source: Global Times

Russia Grants 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Citizens Until September 2026

Following President Putin’s decree, Chinese nationals can now travel visa-free to Russia for up to 30 days for tourism and business, setting the stage for a significant uplift in China–Russia leisure and business traffic. Read more ->

Russia Searches Up Eightfold Within an Hour of Policy Announcement

Travel platforms report 8× spike in Russia flight searches and nearly 5× increase in bookings, with Moscow, Murmansk, St Petersburg and Vladivostok emerging as top choices; New Year and Spring Festival flows are expected to hit record highs. Read more ->

Spring Airlines Japan Returns to Tokyo After Passenger Refuses to Pay Seat-Selection Fee

A dispute over an ¥800 (approx. ¥36 RMB) seat-selection fee escalated into a prolonged onboard argument, leading the Tokyo–Shanghai flight to divert back to Narita and illustrating how individual behaviour can trigger costly safety-driven operational decisions. Read more ->

Douyin | Cambodia Visa Waiver, Double 12 Buying Lists and Interest-Driven Culture Travel

Cambodia Announces Trial Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Travellers in 2026

From 15 June to 15 October 2026, Chinese citizens can enter Cambodia visa-free for 14 days with e-arrival cards, reinforcing Mekong-region tourism links and Yunnan–Cambodia product collaboration. Read more ->

“Can’t Miss Double 12 Shopping Lists” Fuel Year-End Consumption Buzz

Creators are sharing Double 12 must-buy checklists, positioning the festival as both a “stock-up season” and a “best-value window” to grab high-rated products at bottom prices. Read more ->

Interest-Led Culture & Tourism Consumption Reshapes “14th Five-Year” Experiences

Policy and commentary pieces emphasise that travellers now seek deeper, interest-driven experiences, from creative study tours and lifestyle aesthetics to local cuisine, pushing cultural–tourism integration into rural revitalisation and experiential upgrades. Read more ->

Xiaohongshu | First Snow in Seoul, Border Tensions and Russia Route Inspiration

Seoul’s First Snow Turns Into a Rare Heavy Blizzard

Despite traffic disruption, users are documenting snow dancing, night walks and cityscapes under heavy snow, reinforcing Seoul’s status as a photogenic winter city-break favourite. Read more ->

Afghanistan–Pakistan Border Clashes Highlight Regional Instability

Posts summarise fresh clashes, stalled mediation efforts and the roles of India, Iran and China’s security concerns, underlining how regional conflicts could reshape political and security dynamics across Central and South Asia. Read more ->

Visa-Free Russia: Community-Curated Routes for “Moscow + St Petersburg + Murmansk”

With visa-free travel confirmed, Xiaohongshu users are rapidly sharing itineraries, safety tips and photo spots for classic Russia combinations, lowering the information barrier for first-time visitors. Read more ->

Baidu | GBA Airport Boom, “Japan Alternatives” and Systemic Shock to Japan Tourism

Source: 21st Century Business Herald

Greater Bay Area Airport Cluster Enters Major Expansion Phase

Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong airports are collectively upgrading runways and terminals, accelerating the emergence of a world-class airport cluster and strengthening the region’s global hub function. Read more ->

“Japan Alternatives” Dominate Year-End Outbound Choices

Data show Korean hotel bookings up over 240% year-on-year, with Seoul, Jeju and Busan leading, while Vietnam, Indonesia and parts of Europe see 100–300%+ growth, signalling a rapid rebalancing of Chinese outbound demand. Read more ->

Over 40% of China–Japan Flights Cancelled in December Amid Diplomatic Tensions

More than 1,900 flights are cancelled, creating an estimated ¥430 million monthly spending gap, with Hokkaido and other regions facing over 200,000 room-nights in cancellations and a systemic hit to local tourism economies. Read more ->

Zhihu | Russia Visa-Free Risks and Airline “Locked Seats” Controversy

Source: Travel Talk

“30-Day Visa-Free to Russia: What Should Travellers Really Watch Out For?”

Zhihu users point out that beyond the romance of Russia travel, visitors must be alert to legal uncertainty, potential extortion and emergency-response challenges, framing visa-free not as risk-free but as requiring higher situational awareness. Read more ->

Ten Airlines Interviewed Over High “Seat Lock” Ratios—What About Consumer Rights?

With average economy seat-lock rates close to 38.7%, many users argue that excessive locking and paid seat selection erode fairness and transparency, calling for clearer regulation and more consumer-friendly pricing. Read more ->