China's travel infrastructure drives new trends

China's advanced internet, telecommunication and transportation infrastructure are creating a new generation of travelers, and their demand is driving new trends that should be utilized by the global travel industry, US travel media outlet Skift reported.

As well-developed cashless payments systems like Alibaba's Alipay and Tencent's WeChat Pay are widely adopted in every corner of Chinese life, bookings for transportation, hotels and payment at shops can be done on smartphones easily and securely, according to the report.

It said the country's convenient high-speed railway network, which has overtaken flying as people's top choice because of lower costs and punctuality, makes Chinese outbound travelers favor destinations such as Europe. For these trips they can have a familiar experience of train travel, rather than long-distance driving or flying.

In addition, the report said travel companies should learn to use social media, such as WeChat and Weibo, to advertise, thereby reaching more people under 35 years of age.

It also found Chinese travelers, despite their increasing interest in foreign countries' local cuisines, still care about the availability and quality of Chinese food while travelling abroad.

To overcome language barriers, Chinese travelers usually use translation apps such as Dict.cn and Youdao to communicate, the report said. And free Wi-Fi service is important for them, so they can share photos, check maps and access apps.