
South Koreans are making a beeline for China, especially top urban centres such as Shanghai, as overseas travellers take advantage of China’s visa exemptions. But localities may need to address common complaints to sustain the momentum.
Shanghai appears to have become the new darling for Koreans on a weekend getaway to escape work stress and political turmoil at home, as they swarm the city’s glitzy streets and back alleys.
Koreans, speaking their language and donning haircuts and outfits synonymous with Korean fashion, can be seen snapping photos at Instagram-worthy attractions such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, in the Lujiazui financial district and at the Huangpu River promenade. They just may not be able to post on Instagram because it is among the banned social media apps in China.
China has swung its door wider to foreigners in the post-Covid era to revitalise the economy and burnish its image. Currently, citizens of nearly 40 countries, including South Korea, can stay visa-free for 30 days.
The horde descending upon Shanghai is borne out by immigration and booking numbers.
The city welcomed 4.56 million foreign visitors last year – double the level from 2023 – according to Shanghai government data. The top five countries of origin were South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Australia and Germany.
I was a bit concerned about social order and public hygiene, but Shanghai’s city centre turned out to be as modern as Seoul’s Gangnam
Jay Park, tourist
Shanghai-based Trip.com also said inbound bookings from South Korea for the Lunar New Year break, celebrated in both countries, have soared by 452 per cent, year on year. The platform’s overall China-bound bookings for the festive period increased by more than 200 per cent.
A visitor from Seoul, well-versed in English, identified herself as Jay Park and said she was surprised to discover Shanghai’s modernity.
“Before the trip, I was a bit concerned about social order and public hygiene, but Shanghai’s city centre turned out to be as modern as Seoul’s Gangnam [district], and getting around was easy via the subway,” she said, adding that what she experienced on her short China adventure was different from what was portrayed in some Western media.
Park checked off Shanghai’s iconic locations during her November trip, including Disneyland, the Xintiandi pedestrian-friendly district, the former French Concession and the Bund, the city’s waterfront historic strip renowned for classic edifices and wharves.
Haidilao, known for a wide array of free snacks and attentive services, is another sensational hit, as Park said the Chinese hotpot chain is trending on Korean social media. Other eateries peddling local delicacies such as xiaolongbao, or soup dumplings, are also must-tries.
But she lamented the language barrier, including a lack of English signage in public places, and foreign credit cards are not widely accepted. She also struggled to access foreign websites – a long-standing gripe among visitors.
I won’t say [Shanghai] is the hottest choice, but now that China has scrapped visas, Koreans driven by the wanderlust are thinking about visiting
An Sung-hoon
Architect An Sung-hoon, who hails from Seoul and works in Shanghai, said the Chinese megacity is on the radar for young Koreans seeking “new experiences on a new shore”, and he can encounter his compatriots in locations off the beaten track.
“Many [Koreans] have visited Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, so when they plan their next trip, Shanghai is an alternative. I won’t say [Shanghai] is the hottest choice, but now that China has scrapped visas, Koreans driven by the wanderlust are thinking about visiting,” An and.
He added that Shanghai stands out because of its proximity and frequent flights. “Many young Koreans can’t take long vacations, so they will hop on a short flight after work on Friday evening and land in a foreign city before midnight to make the most out of a weekend,” An explained, noting that Shanghai is a great place for an “on-a-whim weekend” trip.
More than 20 daily flights operated by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern and Spring Airlines shuttle between Shanghai and Seoul, Busan and Jeju.
An said that, other than the usual shopping and dining, Koreans are also drawn to locations in Shanghai that carry significance in Korean history but tend to be less visited by other nationals. Among them are historic sites used by a Korean government in exile in the early 20th century, when the peninsula was occupied by Japan.
He said most foreign visitors may form a positive impression of Shanghai, and broadly, China, on their first-time trips, but cautioned that Chinese cities are relatively new to them, and it remains to be seen whether Koreans will go to Shanghai again after the novelty fizzles. He also cited language, pollution and curtailed internet access as major disincentives to travel.
Written by South China Morning Post
