Trending Now: China's Social Media Highlights #5May-11May#

Weibo

Image Source: Baidu

Travel Companions A viral topic on Chinese social media highlights the most frustrating travel partners: the “Drama Queen” who makes no plans but complains constantly, the “Chronic Complainer” who vents at every issue, and the “Negative Loner” who avoids group activities and kills the vibe. Read more

Hotel Price Gouging Scandal Reports of hotels suddenly raising prices by up to 3x, or cancelling early bookings to resell rooms at higher rates, sparked anger during the May Day holiday. Authorities have called for stricter regulation to protect travellers’ rights. Read more

$0.04 Hotel in Bangladesh A trending post features a floating hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where rooms can cost as little as ¥0.30 RMB (30 Taka) per night. These “floating inns” attract media interest but see few Chinese tourists due to infrastructure gaps. Read more

Douyin

Online Spending During May Day Data shows online retail sales rose by 9.3% over the holiday, with notable growth in cultural tourism products and hotel bookings. Read more

China’s May Day Travel Market in Review May Day tourism was driven by scenic spots like resorts, pedestrian streets, and rural villages. Domestic travel revenue reached ¥180.27 billion, up 8% YoY. Read more

Xiaohongshu

Deepseek’s May Day Take According to Deepseek’s review, influencers and tourists alike flocked to social-media-famous spots over May Day. Hotel and homestay prices surged 3–4x. Since China relaxed visa policies in 2025, inbound visitors from Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia jumped 173%. Read more

Baidu

“Hot Trips, High Spend, New Experiences” Over 1.47 billion interregional trips were recorded during the 5-day break. Hotel bookings spread across 1,837 global cities. Long-haul, niche, and culturally rich destinations are increasingly in demand. Read more

Zhihu

Hotel Refuses Blind Guest With Guide Dog A visually impaired blogger was denied entry at a luxury hotel despite calling ahead about guide dog policies. The incident triggered fierce debate online about accessibility, prejudice, and the gap between policy and practice. Read more