More Southeast Asian flock to China’s Chongqing thanks to social media

A new trend leads tourists to Southeast Asia to the Chinese city of Chongqing – Viral clips of social networks of monorails crossing a residential building, perched buildings at the top of a hilly land and a pedestrian bridge on the 13th floor.

The flight reservations from Southeast Asia to Chongqing increased by more than six times during the Dragon Boat Festival holidays, which fell on May 31 of this year, compared to the previous year, Fliggy, in CNBC, the Chinese online online travel platform.

“In 2025 only, we captured an increase of almost 12 times of Chongqing’s demand, compared to the demand of other cities,” said Sarah Wan, director general of Klook for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, in an email. Demand has doubled for other popular cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, and tripled for Chengdu, she added.

Chongqing drew online attention for its duality – it houses natural attractions such as the three gorges and the Dazu rock sculpturesAnd a futuristic architecture that inspired its nickname, “Cyberpunk City”.

This is partly because young adults turn to social media for recommendations when planning their holidays, with 79% of millennial travelers and generation z Klook Travel Pulse Research Posted in February.

This was the case for NGO Chong Yu, a first cycle of 24 years at the National University of Singapore, and his friends, who wanted to visit the city after having “exploded” on Douyin and Tiktok for its “Magic 8D”, referring to the way the buildings are seated in the hilly regions of Chongqing which adds a dimension to the landscaping of the city.

The Major of Chinese and Chinese studies, which is part of a student exchange program in Beijing, went to Chongqing during a weekend in March. He said he had found the unique landscape of the most memorable city.

“”[It] Takes a climb at the top of the mountain to go from one road to another, the first floor of a building could be the 15th floor of another, “NGO said.

Apart from social media threshing, an improvement in amenities and a variety of activities have contributed to the growing popularity of the city.

The wide range of activities available for tourists means that “there is something in Chongqing for everyone,” said Edmund NGO, South-East Asia regional director in Tip.com, in an e-mail in CNBC.

“The elderly people have long appreciated Chongqing for its beautiful landscapes, including the Yangtze river and three gorges, while young travelers have seen many places become viral on social networks,” he added.

But it takes more than good views to have a good holiday.

Although Chongqing has become more crowded since the last visit to the undergraduate NGO in 2018, “the control of the city crowds is great,” he said, “so getting around was quite ordered, which impression.”

The municipality focused on the more practical rendering for travel, said Gao Ling, director general of the Chongqing Municipal Culture and Tourist Development Commission in an interview by Mandarin by CNBC.

The municipality has invested more in transport systems for those who travel in and outside the city. With more options to and from other major cities such as Beijing and Chengdu via Air and Train, the city aims to facilitate entry into Chongqing for tourists, Gao said in an interview with CNBC made of Mandarin.

Earlier this year, Chongqing also created one -window service centers in the main transit centers such as its Jiangbei International Airport and Chongqing North station, Gao said. The centers offer storage offices and information offices for travelers.

Young Asians in the Southeast may be invited to visit, in part because of the proximity of the region to China, said Gao.

Among the countries of Southeast Asia, Trip.com has seen the most reservations in Chongqing in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, which all love without visa in China. Likewise, Klook noted that tourists from Singapore and Malaysia direct sales sales In the region, with tourists from Thailand and Indonesia fueling demand.

The number of hotels in Chongqing of Thai travelers has also increased by more than five times, according to data provided by Fliggy.

According to the Klook Travel Pulse Research Study, continental China is the main “essential destination” for travelers of generation Y and generation Z – just behind Japan. The attraction for young people in the country can be attributed in part to cultural experiences such as photo sessions and live performances incorporating songs and dance, said Elvis Yap, travel experience and a design planner for China at the Tournée -based Tournasty Travel touring agency.

The themed photo sessions, in which travelers dress in traditional outfits, have also exploded on social networks, feeding demand, said Yap. Foreign and local tourists publish photos of themselves on social networks, dressed in traditional han clothes, with a wig and heavy makeup, which are all included in the service that tourists buy.

Another popular example is “Gong Yan”, a meal and a banquet show with several courses, during which customers can dress in traditional outfits. It is “much more dynamic”, with “high -level cultural arts” performances combined with culinary experience at an affordable price, said Yap, citing the strength of the Singapore dollar against the Yuan.

But social media is not the only factor-hospitality in China has also improved, with more attractive services offered in hotels and attractions, he added.

“The other Asian countries must monitor the level of competition that Chinese hotel institutions provide,” said Yap.