Chinese Travellers

"European destinations had to totally rethink their content strategies during COVID-19, and in the early period after reopening when Chinese arrivals were slower than expected," said Gary Bowerman, director of Check-in Asia, a consultancy specializing in the Asia-Pacific region.

🍷 Why D2C is no longer optional for wine brands in China


I was talking to a large European wine producer this week about China. It was a great discussion, lots of great questions.

Their challenge? Absolutely no presence or brand awareness in China. Zero.

The conversation mirrored so many others I have had recently.

It started something like this "Should we find a distributor first, or build our own presence?"

My answer?

The China market has flipped on its head in the last 5 years, you need to flip the script as well.

The pandemic did a lot more than just change how Chinese consumers drink, it fundamentally rewired how they buy wine.

What we're seeing now in China is a permanent recalibration.

70% of all alcohol purchased in China is now bought through ecommerce and social commerce channels.

That’s huge.

In Australia it’s 11%, the US around 5%, and UK 21%.

Chinese consumers discovered that buying wine directly online isn't just convenient, it's so much better.

Better selection, better information, better prices.

And here's what makes China unique.

The infrastructure is built. And it works.

The combination of sophisticated ecommerce platforms, hyper efficient logistics networks, and seamless social commerce means you can reach consumers in Tier 3 cities as easily as Shanghai.

Anywhere in China in under 48 hours 😲

That's not an exaggeration, it's the reality of China's digital ecosystem today.

Social media + social commerce + ecommerce is more than a disruption.

It's transformed the whole market from top to bottom.

But here's where it gets really interesting, and where most brands miss out.

Going D2C doesn't mean abandoning offline channels. It means entering the market from a position of strength.

When you've already built brand awareness, proven consumer demand, and established direct channels, distributors come to you.

And when they do, you're negotiating with data, with proof of concept, with leverage.

Compare that to the traditional approach. Pushing your product at distributors cold, negotiating the price down, accepting the terms they offer, hoping they'll prioritize your brand, watching your margins evaporate.

It would be wrong to say that offline channels are dead, far from it.

But the pathway to offline success now runs through digital.

Build your D2C presence first. Prove your brand can resonate with Chinese consumers. Then let the distribution opportunities come to you.

That's not just a smarter strategy. In today's China market, it just might be the only strategy that makes sense.

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I'm Iain Langridge 毅安 and I use my experience to launch, grow, and manage premium consumer brands in China.

Follow or DM me to find out more.

#chinamarket #chinabusiness #chinawinemarket #chinawine #wine #premiumwine In2Asia Wine

Photo: Jing'an Temple, West Nanjing Road, Shanghai

China's official 2026 public holiday calendar has just been released today! What do tourism brands need to know?
1️⃣ Following last year’s extension of the Chinese New Year holiday from seven to eight days, in 2026, the public holiday for Chinese New Year will be extended by yet another day, to nine days.
2️⃣ There will be a three-day weekend for Mid-Autumn Festival in late September, followed by three working days before the National Day holiday begins on 1 October. It’s likely that many Chinese travelers will opt to take those three days as annual leave, effectively creating a 12-day Golden Week, which will create excellent opportunities for long-haul trips and in-depth travel.
3️⃣ Chinese New Year and Dragon Boat Festival are both fairly late this year, with Chinese New Year starting from the middle of February, and Dragon Boat Festival near the end of June.
4️⃣ While Chinese New Year gets yet another day in 2026, the other public holidays will be the same length as in 2025, including the five-day holiday for Labor Day in May.

Airlines and rail operators rush to add capacity as family travel demand surges.

Number of valid Chinese ordinary passports surpasses 160 million: NIA Xinhua | Updated: 2025-07-30 12:49 BEIJING -- The number of valid ordinary passports held by Chinese citizens has surpassed 160 million, an immigration official announced at a press conference on Wednesday.

From first-tier saturation to small-town sensation: As coffee and milk tea brands crowd China’s major cities, the next growth wave is brewing in emerging-tier markets (tiers 3–5). These markets blend affordability, aspiration, and digital storytelling, redefining what “everyday indulgence” means for millions of new consumers.

☕ Emerging cities: China’s new beverage growth engine: With first-tier markets reaching maturity, emerging-tier cities are the new battlefield. Local brands like Mixue, Good Me, and Luckin Coffee thrive with “affordable indulgence”, using localized flavors, youth-driven marketing, and savvy social promotions to capture fast-growing small-town demand.

🧋 Milk tea rules, coffee rises: Milk tea still dominates thanks to its sweet, comforting, and low-cost appeal (RMB 5–10), but coffee is quickly catching up as a badge of aspiration.

💛  “Affordable happiness”: In emerging-tier cities, a drink isn’t just a beverage — it’s a daily dose of joy and self-care. Social media conversations around “happiness from a cup of milk tea” surged 833%, reflecting a culture of slow living and small pleasures, where novelty and emotional connection matter more than brand loyalty.

🌟 Good Me’s winning formula in emerging markets: Once known for milk tea, Good Me smartly entered coffee through a familiar route, replicating Luckin’s coconut latte at a friendly RMB 8.9. Its partnership with Daniel Wu added an aspirational touch, proving that “affordable can be aspirational” when marketing aligns with relatable dreams and everyday sophistication.

Emerging-tier markets are no longer followers. They’re trendsetters in their own right, blending value consciousness with emotional satisfaction. Brands that democratize indulgence, embrace digital storytelling, and adapt to local sentiment will define the next chapter of China’s beverage boom.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gCX8xRe5

#ChinaConsumerTrends #BeverageMarket #EmergingMarkets #DaxueConsulting #Daxuestories

The Chinese travel retail powerhouse said by plunging full-heartedly into the health and wellness sector, it is aligning with a recent national initiative to boost health-related consumption.

Worried language barriers might cost you a deal at the Canton Fair?

Weixin/WeChat helps you communicate clearly no matter what language you speak.

Whether you’re chatting with suppliers, confirming specs, or reading product brochures, translation tools in Weixin/WeChat help you stay on the same page.

👉 Discover the translation tools hidden in plain sight by reading the guide below.

#WeChat #Weixin #CantonFair #DigitalChinaAcces

Can someone use my hand to pay while I’m asleep? 😴

That’s just one of the questions people often ask when they first hear about Weixin Palm Technology, the touchless payment innovation developed by Tencent Youtu Lab and Weixin Pay.

From how it distinguishes a real hand from a fake one, to whether twins could ever trick the syste, every detail of this technology is designed for both convenience and security.

Swipe through the carousel to view the FAQs and understand why it’s far more advanced than it looks. 👇

#Weixin #WeChat #WeixinTech #WeixinPay #Fintech #Innovation

Influencer marketing is usually an essential part of any travel brand’s strategy to reach Chinese outbound tourists. But what impact can you expect influencers to have on Chinese consumers’ travel plans, and how do you ensure that this marketing is effective? Here's what our latest researc

How does Chanel navigate China’s complex luxury market?

By blending cultural relevance, exclusivity, and a selective digital approach, Chanel has crafted a strategy that speaks to both Gen Z trendsetters and long-time elite clientele.

🎎 Blending tradition & trend: Chanel localizes with Lunar New Year limited editions 🎊 while tailoring digital campaigns for Gen Z on WeChat, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu. Meanwhile, VIP clients enjoy ultra-exclusive Salons Privés for private shopping.

🏙️ Quality over quantity: Unlike rivals, Chanel has just 18 boutiques in mainland China—focusing on Tier-1 and select Tier-2 hubs like Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. Each boutique placement reinforces its prestige positioning.

📲 Engaged but exclusive: Chanel leads on WeChat with AR try-ons, mini-programs, and immersive storytelling. Yet it resists selling fashion online—keeping handbags & couture offline to preserve aura while digitizing customer service.

🔒 Authenticity as luxury: To combat fakes, Chanel introduced NFC microchips in handbags—offering scannable authenticity verification. This reassures Chinese buyers and signals a commitment to safeguarding credibility in a counterfeit-prone market.

Chanel’s China playbook shows how cultural insight, selective presence, and digital innovation can power luxury success, without diluting exclusivity.


Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g7dkwgRg


#LuxuryStrategy #Chanel #ChinaLuxuryMarket #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories

The carrier has been profitable for more than a decade.

🏨 Crazy Hotel Concepts in China = Big Business 😉
In China, hotels aren’t just a place to sleep. They’re a destination themselves.
From cartoon-themed family hotels 🐼 to luxury pods with futuristic design 🚀, the craziest concepts are exploding in popularity. Why?
👉 Because of Xiaohongshu (RED / Little Red Book).
On RED, young Chinese travelers discover, review, and share every corner of these hotels:
📸 Instagrammable lobbies and rooms
🎥 Short videos of themed experiences
🔗 Direct booking links inside the app
A hotel doesn’t need 5 stars anymore. It needs to be shareable. If it looks good in photos and goes viral on RED #xiaohongshu, it sells out.
More information about Xiaohongshu https://lnkd.in/egGkdcg5
This is the new tourism economy in China:
Social-first: A hotel succeeds if it’s trending.
Experience-driven: Design > size. Stories > stars.
Youth-led: Gen Z and millennials are rewriting what hospitality means.
⚡ The old formula “location + service” is being replaced by “design + content.”
👉 If you’re in hospitality, understand this: in China, your marketing team isn’t selling rooms — your guests on #rednotes are.

⚡ In 2025, the craziest idea wins. And Xiaohongshu makes it profitable. | 60 comments on LinkedIn

Digitally savvy, brand loyal, and with substantial disposable income, China’s affluent retirees are a force to be reckoned with.

In Chinese, the word for snack is “点心”, which literally translates into “touching the heart”. Such reflects the integral role of snacking and snack foods in the lives of Chinese, a historical phenomenon persevering into the present day.

South Korea has emerged as the top outbound destination for Chinese travelers in terms of the volume of international flight tickets booked, data from online travel agency Qunar showed on Monday, citing the data over the past weekend (November 15–16).

Chinese tourists are shifting toward Southeast Asian destinations.

China Market Update – November 2025 As we counsel destination and brand partners across Asia, this month’s China Market Update reveals a profound shift happening beneath the surface of trade tensions and policy friction. While headlines focus on tariffs and aviation restrictions, China’s elite trave

In search of new definitions of success, Chinese youth are moving to lower-tier cities to become coffee shop owners, artisans, and digital nomads.

NEW: Q3 2025 WeChat Rankings Report for Tourism

Fireworks and foliage captured Chinese travelers’ attention on WeChat in Q3 2025, while travel brands around the world got ready for the Golden Week travel rush. Our latest report reveals new developments and trends, as well as tried-and-tested content strategies.

Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eqPWksbW

Congratulations to the top-ranking tourism brands:
Japan National Tourism Organization
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Philippine Department of Tourism
Tourism Malaysia
Destination Canada
Macao Government Tourism Office
Hong Kong Tourism Board
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
Destination Ontario
Tourism and Events Queensland
Destination British Columbia
AirAsia
All Nippon Airways
Air Macau Co, Ltd.
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines
Royal Caribbean International
Adora Cruises
Viking
Airport Authority Hong Kong
Changi Airport Group
Kansai Airports
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Palace Museum
M+
Victoria and Albert Museum
Van Gogh Museum
Marriott International
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Rosewood Hotel Group
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Bulgari Hotel Group
Avis Budget Group
Hertz

Ever sent a smiley emoji on Weixin/WeChat and wondered why the chat suddenly went quiet? Turns out, some emojis in China don’t mean what you think they do.

Here are three that often get lost in translation — and what they really say on Weixin/WeChat.

💬 Which Weixin/WeChat emoji have you seen cause the most confusion across cultures? Drop it in the comments — let’s compare notes!

#WeChat #Weixin #ChinaBusiness #DigitalChinaAccess | 27 comments on LinkedIn

Travel today is less about arrival and more about intention – where each journey is shaped by curiosity, convenience, and the pursuit of meaning along the way. 
 
A 60% rise in car rentals and a surge in local experience bookings reveal a shifting mindset: travelers are seeking journeys that engage the senses, not just check off the itinerary. 
 
Follow us for more insights on travel.


#Fliggy #travel #insights #GoldenWeek

What remains when everything is AI driven and even the influencers become virtual?


Social commerce.

The future of ecommerce globally is social.

And nowhere is this more evident than in China, where social commerce has exploded into a $500+ billion market.

Here are 5 insights that are reshaping how we should think about digital commerce

1. Community drives conversion.

WeChat groups, Xiaohongshu communities, and Pinduoduo's group buying model prove that shopping is inherently social.

When friends recommend, people buy. The trust factor multiplies when commerce meets community.

2. Entertainment + commerce = retention

It's called "shoppertainment" for a reason.

Gamification, interactive features, and engaging content keep users on platforms 3x longer than traditional ecommerce sites.

Dopamine meets purchasing power.

3. Integration is everything.

Discovery, social proof, payment, and delivery happen within one ecosystem.

No app-switching. No friction.

4. Data-driven personalisation is occurring at scale.

AI powered recommendations combined with social behaviour data create personalised shopping experiences.

The algorithm doesn't just know what you want, it knows what your community wants.

5. Forget static product pages. Live streaming is the new storefront.

Chinese consumers are buying everything from luxury handbags to fresh produce through live streams.

KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) have become much more than just influencers, Chinese consumers see them as trusted shopping companions providing vital insights into products, services, and experiences.

For brands, this can drive conversion rates up by 20-30%.

Social commerce is leading a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour.

For example, Nike has leveraged Tmall's data insights and social listening in China to create hyper localised product drops and personalised experiences. Their "React City" campaign used social data to design city specific sneakers, creating massive buzz and sell outs within minutes.

Obviously, we can’t all be Nike, but we can all be like Nike.

Their example illustrates the power of social and how brands can tap into that to achieve incredible success in China.

Whether you are a sports clothing, natural skincare or premium wine brand, it’s not hard to see how social engagement can unlock success in a market that rewards deep connection and genuine resonance.

While Western markets are still figuring out Instagram Shopping and TikTok Shop, China has already written the social commerce playbook.

The question you should be asking isn't whether social commerce has a role to play in China, but rather whether your brand is ready to take your shot.

Photo: Shameless Labubu placement

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I'm Iain Langridge 毅安 and I use my experience in China to launch, grow, and manage premium consumer brands.

#socialcommerce #digitalmarketing #chinamarket #chinabusiness In2Asia Export

Once a commodity business defined by “weight + labor cost,” China’s gold jewelry sector is being rewritten by Laopu Gold, the brand now hailed as the “Hermès of Gold.”

💰 The rise of China’s “Hermès of gold”: Laopu Gold has rewritten the rules of China’s luxury jewelry market, achieving record-breaking 459M RMB per-store efficiency and a 1600% stock surge.

🏺 From commodity to cultural artifact: Laopu pioneered the concept of heritage gold jewelry, blending imperial craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. Its collections turn gold from a material investment into a symbol of national artistry and identity.

💎 Redefining luxury pricing in gold: Instead of selling gold by weight, Laopu prices by craftsmanship and story, commanding prices 60%+ higher than mass-market peers.
By embedding cultural value into its products, Laopu transforms gold into an emotional luxury, aligning itself with Hermès and Tiffany in strategy, but not in origin.

🏛️ Crafting luxury through space and scarcity: With only ~40 boutiques in China’s most prestigious malls, Laopu embodies luxury through limitation. Each store merges Chinese Old Money aesthetics with bespoke service, creating immersive experiences that build exclusivity and deepen loyalty among high-net-worth clients.

Laopu Gold is defining what Chinese luxury means in the post-logo era. By uniting heritage, artistry, and scarcity, it proves that the future of global luxury may well be written in Chinese gold.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g8wJ2z7R

#LuxuryInChina #ChineseLuxury #LaopuGold #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories