I’m writing from Dali, nicknamed ‘Dalifornia’ for its laid-back vibe that feels worlds away from Beijing. Here, tech workers escape the pressure cooker of megacities like Beijing and Shanghai, finding solace in vintage stores and café culture.

The city’s unique atmosphere is shaped by its mountainous surroundings, where ancient tea fields wrap around hilltops like green fingerprints on Earth. But what truly sets Dali apart is Xiaohongshu, a platform that transforms travel content from envy-inducing to genuinely useful.

Unlike Instagram, Xiaohongshu acts as a powerful discovery engine. You can search for vintage stores or cafes and get turn-by-turn directions within the app. Unlike Western platforms, users are keen to share precise information on costs, routes and even which tourist spots to avoid, making travel more accessible than ever.

The rise of 'city walks' is a testament to this ethos. Detailed itineraries for everything from vintage shopping to local cuisine enable strangers to explore new cities almost entirely through the guidance of online communities. No itinerary needed—just your phone and a thirst for adventure.

Yet, amid all these innovations, toxic influencer culture still persists. But in China, people are increasingly sharing how they can recreate the very experiences that others post about. It’s a shift towards collective empowerment in travel.