Trending Now: China's Social Media Highlights #14July-20July#

Weibo

Fliggy Partners with Malaysia Tourism for ‘All-You-Can-Eat Durian’ Tours Fliggy and Malaysia Tourism Board launch durian orchard tours, boosted by a new visa-free policy between China and Malaysia, leading to a surge in outbound demand. Read more

Young Chinese Consumers Prioritise Travel Over Saving A generational shift shows younger Chinese spending on travel experiences, reflecting changing values. Read more

“Don’t Buy a Car or House Before 35” Gains Traction This online sentiment resonates with China Trading Desk data showing 76% of outbound travellers aged 18–34, reflecting evolving consumer priorities. Read more

China’s Domestic Consumption Beats Expectations Retail sales rose 5% YoY to RMB 24.55 trillion in H1 2025, driven by strong growth in livestream e-commerce and instant retail. Read more

Seismic Events Impact Sentiment Towards Japan and Alaska Recent earthquakes near Japan and Alaska could impact outbound tourism, despite Japan’s continued popularity as a destination. Read more

Douyin

China’s Economic Resilience Confirmed in H1 GDP growth at 5.3% underscores economic momentum, discussed widely on Douyin. Read more

Cruise Holidays Emerge as a Top Outbound Trend Despite tragic incidents in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, cruise bookings are booming — particularly for Japan and Mediterranean itineraries. Read more

Xiaohongshu

Hokkaido Leads Summer Travel Demand Lavender season in Hokkaido continues to attract Chinese visitors, with Japanese tourism recovering rapidly. Read more

Heat-Driven Inflation and Tourism Boom in Korea Extreme heat has driven food prices sharply higher in Korea, yet hotel bookings from Chinese tourists continue to surge. Read more

Baidu

China’s Foreign Ministry Warns Tourists on Photography Abroad Travellers are reminded to respect local laws after several incidents abroad involving photography near sensitive locations. Read more

Zhihu

Chinese Visitor Decline Hits Thai Tourism Thailand has seen a 5% decline in visitor numbers so far this year, with Chinese arrivals down by over 30% YoY. Read more

How to Travel with Different Spending Attitudes? Zhihu users share tips on handling differences among travel companions, with most preferring to travel in groups according to China Trading Desk’s survey. Read more