Why China is the Next Big Stop for Southeast Asia Backpackers

China's inbound scene is heating up and the numbers back it. in Q1 2025 the SCIO reported 35.02 million inbound tourist visits, up 19.6% against 2024... that's insane! China has always been somewhere I wanted to to visit but I still haven't crossed it off the list because of visa requirements needed on a Brazilian passport, however, this has also changed!

Visa rules have loosened a lot, which removes headaches for millions of travellers, China also extended and broadened it's visa-free entry trials in 2024-2025, which reports of 70+ countries covered and millions arriving visa-free in the past year.

Flights are rebuilding too, as of late 2025, international seat capacity to and from China is up roughly 10-12% vs last year, this means more routes and better availability across Asia than ever before.

Why are backpackers Actually Going?

Let's be honest, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia have been ambushed by travellers over the recent years. Although it's always been amazing and always will be, we need new content and people have realised China has A LOT to offer. It's 'new' it's massive, and it's got a mix of chaos and culture that feels untouched.

It's huge, diverse and still slightly unpredictable, which is exactly what travellers want again. You can be hiking the rice terraces one day, riding a high-speed train through the neon skylines the next. Plus, visa-free access and a surge of cheap flights from across Asia means it's practical to visit. The country which once felt out of reach is suddenly easier to explore than ever, and backpackers are paying attention. It's different, it's raw and there's been very little content..

China vs the Rest of Southeast Asia

Now I can't say this from personal experience but from what I have been told by Nathan and what I have read online, China hits different. The biggest pro? It's fresh, it's untouched. You wont be relying on TikTok videos for your itinerary. Massive cities, different food, completely new rhythms. It's that contrast whats pulling travellers up north.

On the flip side, it's not as laid-back as Southeast Asia, the language is brutal and connectivity is scarce outside of urban areas whilst also being restricted. Payment systems, foreign bank cards will most likely not work, you will be forced to use digital wallets (which isn't always a bad thing) and the real kick in the teeth is the size of the country. It's HUGE. You will need to plan accordingly.

But whether the pro's outweigh the con's or the con's outweigh the pro's, China has opened up it's arms for us all to see what it's got to offer and it's something I WILL be doing.

Daily Cost Rundown (Realistic Backpacker Targets)

We found some figures from a trustworthy source, Nomadic Matt and to keep this part simple for you, I won't go into a lot of detail, I'll just give you daily / weekly averages.

• Dorm rooms £9-£10 per night (major cities £19 per night)
• Budget hotel room £27 per night (£35-£45 in major cities)
• Food £5.50-£8.50 per day (£25-£35 in major cities)
• Transport £5-£10 per day.
• Attractions £8-£23 per day.

Looking at an all-in cost smaller cities, a realistic giro could be £35-£45 per day and in the major cities you're looking more around £75.00. Although these cost are considerably more than places like Thailand and Vietnam, it's definitely worth the next experiences, even if it's just for 3-4 weeks.

China has updated its arrival process - read our latest article China Arrival Card 2026: New Entry Rules for Travellers

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