What Is Citywalk and Why Is It Popular in China?
What Is Citywalk?
Citywalk is an English expression that literally means “a walk around the city.”
In Chinese, people also use the expression:
城市漫步
chéngshì mànbù
city walking / a leisurely walk around the city
城市
chéngshì
city
漫步
mànbù
to stroll / to walk leisurely
Citywalk doesn't necessarily mean a guided tour or a carefully planned route. You can explore the city alone, with friends, or join a themed walk focused on architecture, history, or local culture.
我喜欢城市漫步。
wǒ xǐhuan chéngshì mànbù.
I enjoy walking around the city.
Why Has Citywalk Become Popular in China?
Although the idea of exploring cities on foot has existed for a long time, Citywalk began gaining significant popularity in China in 2023.
Chinese social media played a major role, especially 小红书 Xiǎohóngshū (Xiaohongshu, or RED), where users share walking routes, photographs, and recommendations for interesting places.
But Citywalk's popularity is about more than just beautiful photos.
A Chance to Slow Down
Life in China's major cities is fast-paced: work, studies, transportation, and constant rushing.
Citywalk offers a different rhythm — going outside, looking around, and simply enjoying a walk. For many young Chinese people, it's a way to escape everyday stress and relax.
慢生活
màn shēnghuó
slow living / a slower-paced lifestyle
散步可以让我放松。
sànbù kěyǐ ràng wǒ fàngsōng.
Walking helps me relax.
Rediscovering the City
One of the main features of Citywalk is the desire to see a familiar city from a different perspective.
You might live in the same neighborhood for years without noticing its beautiful architecture, narrow alleyways, unusual shops, or cozy cafés.
Citywalk encourages people to pay attention to these details and look at familiar places in a new way.
发现
fāxiàn
to discover / to find
我发现了一家很漂亮的咖啡馆。
wǒ fāxiàn le yì jiā hěn piàoliang de kāfēiguǎn.
I discovered a really beautiful café.
An Affordable Way to Spend Free Time
Citywalk doesn't require expensive tickets, hotels, or complicated preparations.
All you need is some free time, comfortable shoes, and the desire to explore. You can choose an interesting neighborhood, grab a coffee, and spend a few hours outdoors.
That's why Citywalk has become an attractive alternative to more expensive trips and entertainment.
Citywalk and Chinese Social Media
The trend became especially noticeable thanks to platforms such as 小红书 Xiǎohóngshū and 抖音 Dǒuyīn.
Users share walking routes, photographs of historic streets, and recommendations for cafés, bookstores, and unusual places.
These posts often feature the word 打卡 dǎkǎ.
Originally, 打卡 meant “to clock in,” for example, at work. But in modern conversational Chinese, it is also used to mean visiting a popular place and checking in there, often by taking photos.
我们去这家咖啡馆打卡吧！
wǒmen qù zhè jiā kāfēiguǎn dǎkǎ ba!
Let's check out this popular café!
Where Is Citywalk Especially Popular in China?
You can enjoy Citywalk in almost any city, but it's particularly interesting in places where modern life meets historic architecture.
Shanghai — 上海 Shànghǎi
Walking through historic streets, neighborhoods with old buildings, small boutiques, and cafés is especially popular here. One well-known destination is Wukang Road (武康路 Wǔkāng Lù).
Beijing — 北京 Běijīng
In Beijing, Citywalk is often associated with exploring hutongs — traditional narrow alleyways where visitors can discover old courtyard houses, small shops, and everyday local life.
Chengdu — 成都 Chéngdū
Chengdu is known for its relaxed pace of life, teahouses, parks, and street food. Here, Citywalk can easily be combined with exploring local cuisine and traditional tea culture.
How Is Citywalk Different from an Ordinary Walk?
At first glance, Citywalk may seem like just a trendy name for an ordinary walk. And to some extent, that's true.
But in China, Citywalk has developed into a distinct urban cultural trend.
An ordinary walk might simply be a way to relax or get from one place to another. Citywalk, however, focuses on exploring the city itself: its history, architecture, atmosphere, and everyday life.
Instead of trying to visit as many attractions as possible, people aim to experience the city more deeply and notice details they would normally overlook.
Useful Chinese Vocabulary for Citywalk
城市漫步
chéngshì mànbù
city walking / a leisurely city walk
散步
sànbù
to take a walk
逛街
guàng jiē
to stroll around the streets / to go shopping
老街
lǎojiē
old street / historic street
小巷
xiǎoxiàng
alley / narrow lane
咖啡馆
kāfēiguǎn
café / coffee shop
书店
shūdiàn
bookstore
拍照
pāizhào
to take photos
路线
lùxiàn
route
放松
fàngsōng
to relax
打卡
dǎkǎ
to check in / to visit a popular spot
A few useful phrases:
我们一起去散步吧！
wǒmen yìqǐ qù sànbù ba!
Let's go for a walk together!
这条街很漂亮。
zhè tiáo jiē hěn piàoliang.
This street is very beautiful.
我很喜欢这里的气氛。
wǒ hěn xǐhuan zhèlǐ de qìfēn.
I really like the atmosphere here.
The Main Idea
Citywalk, or 城市漫步 chéngshì mànbù, is a leisurely walk around a city during which people explore its streets, architecture, cafés, shops, and other interesting places.
In China, this activity has become especially popular among young people thanks to social media, an interest in urban culture, and the desire to slow down from the usual fast pace of life.
Citywalk reflects a broader change in how people approach leisure: sometimes, what matters most isn't how many attractions you visit, but the opportunity to experience a city's atmosphere, notice beautiful little details, and enjoy life's simple pleasures.
For Chinese language learners, it's also an interesting way to explore modern Chinese culture and better understand the lifestyle and interests of young people in China.