Qingdao has entered Thailand's top 10 most-booked Chinese destinations, according to Traveloka data covering January to August 2026. The coastal city, famed for its German-colonial architecture and Tsingtao Brewery, climbed 11 places to rank eighth among Thai travelers, who book it at more than twice the rate of other markets. This shift underscores a broader trend of Southeast Asian travelers venturing beyond the traditional gateways of Beijing and Shanghai.
Rising secondary cities
Dalian, another northern port city, also saw significant gains, moving up 13 spots in the same period. Jieyang, which serves the Chaoshan region in Guangdong, has attracted a disproportionately large share of Thai bookings—chosen more than three times as often as other regions. Chengdu remains a perennial favorite, ranking third and booked at one and a half times the five-market average.
The trend is not confined to Thailand. Across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, travelers are increasingly 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 travelers," said Alex Jung, Head of Marketing at Traveloka.
Jung's comment reflects a maturing market where repeat visitors and younger demographics seek authentic, less-crowded experiences. This diversification is reshaping how airlines and travel platforms plan their China networks.
Airline partnerships and promotions
Traveloka is enhancing partnerships with Chinese carriers to offer more flight options and promotional fares, including discounts during its 10.10 Epic Sale from 1 to 10 October. The platform's push aligns with broader industry moves, such as the recent codeshare expansion between Malaysia Airlines and China Southern, which adds five routes and improves connectivity for Southeast Asian travelers.
For travel professionals, the data signals a need to adjust product portfolios. Tour operators and agents should consider building itineraries that feature secondary cities, leveraging direct flights and visa-free policies that have boosted arrivals. As noted in our analysis of China's slower outbound growth era, destinations must adapt to a more discerning traveler.
Hoteliers and destination marketers in cities like Qingdao and Dalian have an opportunity to capture this growing demand. The rise of these cities also complements the accelerated expansion of luxury hotel groups in China, driven by visa-free travel.
Traveloka, Southeast Asia's leading travel platform, continues to expand its offerings, making travel to China more accessible for Thai and other Southeast Asian travelers. The company's data offers a clear signal: the era of the single-itinerary China trip is over, and a more granular, city-by-city approach is now essential.
