Trending Now: China's Social Media Highlights #21July-27July#

Weibo

India Reopens Tourist Visas to Chinese Travellers After a five-year hiatus, India resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from 24 July 2025. Search traffic for Delhi skyrocketed tenfold on Chinese travel sites, with Hong Kong–Delhi flights becoming the hottest ticket. Read more

Rise of the “Travel Worker”: The Digital Nomad Wave The buzzword “travel worker” is trending as Chinese professionals increasingly embrace remote working lifestyles. From content creators to coders, an estimated 10 million people are part of China’s domestic digital nomad movement. Read more

“Use-and-Toss” Products Are Emptying Young Wallets Gen Z consumers are embracing the “disposable economy” — from single-use skincare to throwaway travel clothes. Xiaohongshu reports 1.9 billion views on “次抛” (disposable) products, while Douyin sees over 1.17 billion video plays on the topic. Read more

Hainan Set to Expand Duty-Free Access with Port Closure Reform Starting 18 December 2025, Hainan will initiate its port closure reform—not to restrict access, but to boost openness and international trade. Visitors can expect smoother travel and access to more duty-free products, with annual quotas likely increasing. Read more

Douyin

The Meaning of Travel Isn’t in the Itinerary On Douyin, a viral video shows a Chinese traveller exploring Rio de Janeiro without a plan, proving that spontaneous, independent travel is on the rise. According to China Trading Desk, 64% of Gen Z travellers (18–24) now prefer “free & easy” over guided tours. Read more

Xiaohongshu

Typhoon Vamco Tragedy Hits Thai Tourism Confidence Tragedy struck Thailand as Typhoon Vamco killed two Chinese tourists in Phuket and Krabi. The incident triggered public concern and could partly explain the 34.13% drop in Chinese arrivals to Thailand in H1 2025. Read more

India’s “Token” Visa Openness Despite headlines celebrating India’s visa resumption, Xiaohongshu users call it a mirage. Complaints range from high bank balance requirements (¥100k over 6 months) to limited visa centres (only Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou), making travel inaccessible to most. Read more

Baidu

Summer Travel Season Falters Despite Rising Bookings Data shows outbound travel bookings surged over 60% year-on-year, yet industry voices question whether this really constitutes a “旺季” (peak season). Factors such as price sensitivity and indirect flight routing may be dampening enthusiasm. Read more

Embassy Urges Evacuation Near Thai–Cambodian Border On 24 July, the Chinese Embassy issued a consular warning after military clashes erupted on the Cambodia–Thailand border. With shelling reported on 26 July, Chinese nationals are urged to leave conflict zones immediately. Read more