Trending Now: China's Social Media Highlights #23June-29June#

Weibo

New Flight Rules: Unsafe Power Banks Banned Starting 28 June, China’s aviation authority has banned passengers from carrying uncertified or recalled power banks on domestic flights, following several mid-air fire incidents. This comes as travel sentiment remains strong, with 69% of Chinese travellers planning 1–2 international trips over the next 12 months, according to China Trading Desk's data. Read more

Labubu Collectibles Crash in Value Pop Mart's surprise restock of the Labubu blind box series sent second-hand prices tumbling, with full box sets dropping from ¥2800 to below ¥800 overnight. The hype-driven scarcity bubble has popped—resellers are now offloading stock as consumer sentiment shifts. Read more

“First-Launch” Shopping Heats Up City Life Across Chinese cities, brands are embracing “首发经济” (debut economy) strategies—think AI voice assistants, metaverse malls, and luxury pop-ups. But only cities combining local character with originality are winning; gimmicks alone won’t cut it. Read more

Douyin

Budget-Friendly Summer Escapes Trending on Douyin This summer’s most shared destinations on Douyin include Surabaya with its rare blue fire volcano and waterfalls, Georgia’s peaceful mountains, Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island with beach villas for ¥150, and Sabah’s world-famous sunset views. All offer stunning scenery at a fraction of the price. Read more

Solo Trips and Europe’s Comeback Travelling alone is becoming the preferred way to explore the world post-COVID. Switzerland is topping the list for Chinese solo travellers, as 72% of respondents say they plan to visit Europe this year—a 10% increase year-on-year—thanks to rising incomes and eased visa restrictions. Read more

Baidu

Red Alert for Heavy Rain in Haikou Haikou issued a red-level storm warning after nearly 200mm of rain fell in six hours, with more heavy rain and strong winds expected. Travellers are urged to stay alert as Hainan enters peak season, with summer bookings up 62% and five-star hotel reservations rising by 80%. Read more

Zhihu

Why Qingdao Is Pulling Tourists In Travellers are flocking to Qingdao thanks to its clean air, abundant low-cost accommodation, walkable attractions, and strong value-for-money appeal. The city is increasingly seen as a cool, accessible seaside retreat. Read more

Graduation Travel Becomes a Rite of Passage With 58.5% of outbound tourists now aged 18–29, graduation trips are booming. Whether it’s a backpacking trip or a short escape, young travellers are using this milestone to relax, explore, and mark a new beginning.  Read more