Trending Now: China's Social Media Highlights #15September-21September#

Weibo

MBTI Travellers: P-types vs J-types China’s outbound travellers may be spontaneous “P-types” or meticulous “J-types”, mirroring MBTI personality traits. China Trading Desk Q3 Travel Sentiment reveals 78% of Chinese travellers book their trips less than a month in advance—proof that last-minute planning now dominates. Read more

Terminal Cancer, Global Bucket List A young woman with terminal cancer chooses to spend her final days travelling the world. Her story resonates deeply with female travellers—especially in Japan, where over 60% of Chinese visitors are women. Read more

Underrated Global Destinations that Surprise Weibo users are listing underrated destinations that exceeded expectations—like Palau’s jellyfish lakes, Georgia’s snow-capped hikes, and Croatia’s tranquil waterfalls. Read more

Travelling with Friends: China’s Preferred Travel Style According to China Trading Desk, 29% of outbound travellers prefer to travel with friends. This trend is supported by high sentiment engagement around the phrase “I want to travel with my friends”. Read more

Xiaohongshu

First Wave of National Day Travel Planners Xiaohongshu users are already posting niche outbound travel guides ahead of the October holiday—highlighting destinations like Oman, Cambodia, Iceland, and Australia, in addition to regional favourites like Vietnam and Singapore. Read more

Mum Goes to Study Abroad Post-Retirement As young Chinese show less enthusiasm for studying abroad, middle-aged and retired learners are filling the gap. “Silver Study Abroad” has seen a massive jump, with over 20% of overseas learners now aged 50+. Read more

Baidu

Datong Becomes a Budget-Friendly Exit PointDue to cheap international flights, Datong is emerging as a new hub for outbound youth travellers. Government subsidies and travel agency charters make it an ideal “smart frugal” choice. Read more

Zhihu

What Is It Really Like to Visit India? Following India’s recent visa announcement for Chinese tourists, Zhihu users are sharing their honest takes—ranging from cultural awe to logistical frustrations. Read more

Chinese Tourists Robbed in France Multiple theft incidents targeting Chinese tourists in Paris have been reported. Discussions are surfacing about whether safety risks are partly behind a 40% drop in Chinese outbound travel since 2019. Read more

Would You Travel Alone If No One Joined You? Despite the romanticism of solo travel, only 9% of Chinese outbound travellers prefer to go alone, according to recent data. Most still seek companionship abroad. Read more