Traveloka Data Shows Southeast Asians Exploring More of China
Southeast Asian travelers are exploring a wider range of destinations across China, according to new data from Traveloka.
Travelers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam continue to book China’s major gateways, with Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shenzhen among the four most-booked destinations. At the same time, cities beyond these established destinations accounted for a growing share of Traveloka transactions year-on-year.
Qingdao recorded the largest rise within the top 20 destinations. Bookings to the port city increased year-on-year across all five markets, moving it up six places to tenth.
The trend is also reflected in the Q2 Traveloka SEA Index. Kunming, Chongqing and Harbin were among the other cities that recorded notable gains.
China’s Travel Map Is Expanding
Traveloka’s data covers combined flight and accommodation transactions from January 1 to August 31, 2026, across its five Southeast Asian markets. The movement compares with the same period in 2025.
| Rank | Destination | Tier | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shanghai | First-tier | — |
| 2 | Guangzhou | First-tier | — |
| 3 | Beijing | First-tier | — |
| 4 | Shenzhen | First-tier | — |
| 5 | Chengdu | New first-tier | — |
| 6 | Chongqing | New first-tier | ▲ 2 |
| 7 | Kunming | — | ▲ 2 |
| 8 | Xiamen | — | ▼ 2 |
| 9 | Hangzhou | New first-tier | ▼ 2 |
| 10 | Qingdao | New first-tier | ▲ 6 |
| 11 | Fuzhou | — | ▼ 1 |
| 12 | Nanjing | New first-tier | ▲ 1 |
| 13 | Xi’an | New first-tier | ▼ 2 |
| 14 | Wuhan | New first-tier | ▼ 2 |
| 15 | Changsha | New first-tier | ▼ 1 |
| 16 | Zhengzhou | New first-tier | ▼ 1 |
| 17 | Harbin | — | ▲ 3 |
| 18 | Nanning | — | ▼ 1 |
| 19 | Jinan | — | — |
| 20 | Haikou | — | ▼ 2 |
Traveloka’s findings point to a broader shift in how international visitors are exploring China. Xinhua has reported that overseas travelers are increasingly looking beyond Beijing and Shanghai, supported by easier transport and a wider range of tourism products and experiences.
New First-Tier Cities Gain Ground
China’s domestic research provides another perspective on the cities gaining prominence. Yicai’s 2025 Cities’ Attractiveness Index classifies Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Xi’an and Wuhan among 15 “new first tier” cities. The ranking considers factors including commercial resources, connectivity, urban vitality and future potential.
Traveloka’s data provides a Southeast Asian consumer perspective on the trend.
From January to August 2026, combined flight and accommodation transactions to the 15 cities in Yicai’s group grew more than twice as fast as transactions to Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou across the five Southeast Asian markets.
The new first-tier group also increased its share of Traveloka’s China bookings by 5 percentage points.
Search activity rose across all five markets during the same period. Singapore and Malaysia recorded the strongest growth. Search activity and transactions are separate measures, but both indicate continued interest in travel to China.
Traveloka Expands Chinese Airline Partnerships
“China is no longer one itinerary for Southeast Asian travelers”, said Alex Jung, Head of Marketing, Traveloka. “The familiar gateways remain important but travelers in each market are showing interest in a different mix of destinations. Traveloka brings this local understanding together with strong airline and accommodation supply, making more of China easier to discover and book in one place.”
In response to the demand, Traveloka said it has been working more closely with Chinese carriers to provide promotional fares and a wider selection of routes.
The airlines include China Southern, China Eastern, Air China, Xiamen Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Spring Airlines.
Traveloka was founded in 2012 and operates across Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
The company said its platform has recorded more than 140 million app downloads and offers access to more than 2 million hotels worldwide. Traveloka also provides flights, hotels, activities, travel insurance and eSIM services through its app, along with 24/7 live chat support.
Traveloka was named Best Travel App at the Sensor Tower APAC Awards.
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