Why Shanghai is now more popular than Hong Kong or Tokyo for young Koreans
Shanghai’s architecture, food and coffee culture make it a magnet for South Koreans, who are enjoying visa-free entry to China in 2025
Koreans have dubbed it the “night owl getaway” – a weekend city of shimmering towers, acclaimed cuisine and a vibrant urban energy.
According to government statistics, Shanghai welcomed 4.16 million international visitors through mid-August, marking a nearly 38 per cent increase amid a strong rebound in inbound travel.
Koreans accounted for 423,000 arrivals, a surge of 130.7 per cent from last year, making them the city’s largest foreign visitors. Roughly one in four flights from Korean airports to China land in Shanghai.
The surge comes after China announced in November 2024 that Korean travellers could visit for up to 30 days without a visa. Online travel platform Klook reported reservations for Shanghai tours went up by 88 per cent, day tours by 549 per cent and mobility services by 538 per cent during this summer holiday season, especially among solo travellers.
According to Hotels.com, searches by Koreans for accommodation in Shanghai soared 240 per cent year-on-year for the coming Chuseok holiday.