Photo by Maksim Romashkin via Pexels
Bangkok has claimed the top spot among overseas destinations for Chinese travelers during the 2026 Golden Week holiday, according to rankings released by Tongcheng Travel and reported by ASEAN NOW. Kuala Lumpur came in second and Seoul third, with Singapore, Bali, and Ho Chi Minh City also making the top 10.
The bigger story may be who is missing: Japan. Japan ranked first in Tuniu's overseas destination list in 2025 but has fallen out of the top 10 entirely for this year's National Day holiday. Chinese visitor arrivals to Japan fell 56.4% year on year in the first half of 2026, per Japan National Tourism Organization figures, after Beijing urged citizens not to visit Japan starting in November 2025 amid political tensions.
The Southeast Asia shift
The rankings reflect a broader swing toward Southeast Asia. Airlines increased flights from China to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Laos by a combined 20% for the holiday period, and China's Civil Aviation Administration expects 31.19 million passenger journeys between September 25 and October 7, up 3.6% from last year. International flight bookings for the period are up 22.5% year on year.
Bangkok won on value, familiarity, and ease: direct flights, street food, temples, shopping, and a nightlife scene Chinese travelers already know — at prices well below Japan. The calendar helped too: this year's September 25–27 Mid-Autumn Festival break let some travelers stitch annual leave into a 13-day holiday.
What it means for your Bangkok trip
If you're in town during the holiday week, expect crowds at the Grand Palace and other headline attractions — go early in the day and book popular experiences ahead of time. A guided Grand Palace and temples tour is the easiest way to beat the lines with context, and an evening Chao Phraya dinner cruise is a calm counterpoint to the daytime bustle.
Where to go
For a blowout meal, book Sorn, Bangkok's two-Michelin-star Southern Thai fine-dining room. For a night on the river, the Meridian dinner cruise pairs a buffet with the illuminated skyline — reserve the Meridian dinner cruise here. And for something you can only see in Bangkok, catch Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium — tickets here.
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