A panoramic view of Qingdao, ChinaQingdao has surged into Thailand's top 10 most-booked China destinations, according to Traveloka data from January to August 2026. The coastal city, known for its German-colonial architecture, climbed 11 places to become the eighth most popular choice among Thai travellers, who book it at more than twice the rate of other markets. Dalian also saw a significant rise, moving up 13 places.
Jieyang, serving the Chaoshan region, has drawn a disproportionately large share of Thai bookings, being chosen more than three times as often as other regions. Chengdu remains a favourite, ranking third and booked at one and a half times the five-market rate.
This trend is not isolated to Thailand. Across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, travellers are exploring a wider range of Chinese cities. Traveloka reports that transactions to Yicai's 15 "new first-tier cities," such as Chengdu and Qingdao, have grown more than twice as fast as those to traditional destinations like Shanghai and Beijing.
"China is no longer one itinerary for Southeast Asian travellers," said Alex Jung, Head of Marketing at Traveloka. The company is enhancing partnerships with Chinese airlines to offer more flight options and promotional fares, including discounts during their 10.10 Epic Sale from 1 to 10 October.
Traveloka, Southeast Asia's leading travel platform, continues to expand its offerings, making travel to China more accessible for Thai and other Southeast Asian travellers.
This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.
