China’s economic slowdown is changing how people travel — and not in the way you might expect. Once known for luxury shopping and lavish vacations, many Chinese tourists are now choosing “poor travel” (穷游): no hotels, instant noodles, and sometimes even sleeping in 24-hour McDonald’s.
During the May Day holiday, viral photos from Hong Kong showed mainland tourists camping overnight in fast food restaurants and sparking backlash from local residents. At the same time, minimum-spend disputes in restaurants and packed budget hotels are painting a new picture of travel in a post-COVID China.
In this video, we explore how economic anxiety, youth unemployment, and social media are fueling this minimalist travel trend — and what it reveals about deeper shifts inside Chinese society.
🔍 Topics covered:
Why Chinese tourists are traveling on extreme budgets
The “Special Forces Tourism” craze on TikTok/Douyin
Impact on Hong Kong businesses and local backlash
What China’s consumption downgrade says about its economy
How young people are reshaping the idea of vacation
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