Explore streets, neighborhoods to know a city better

Forget about "military-style travel" during which people tend to visit as many places as possible in the least amount of time. A more relaxed and leisurely alternative, such as "Citywalk", is becoming the norm among urban youngsters.

Unlike military-style travel, Citywalk is about "roaming" around a city on foot, soaking up the atmosphere and finding unusual things that even a resident of the city might not have noticed before. It can be a special event where people embark on a journey led by tour guides or simply explore the streets.

Such walks generally avoid famous scenic spots and shopping centers, and take you to places where you can have real interactions with the local people, eat at small but authentic restaurants, and gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the city.

Citywalkers have shared their carefully planned routes on social media platforms, generating thousands of followers. On social media platform Xiaohongshu, there are more than 270,000 posts about Citywalk, while videos about Citywalk have attracted millions of views on short video platform Douyin.

Their posts usually include how long the walk is going to take, and interesting places and eateries along the way. Some posts are more like a food tour, with walkers carefully planning out routes with certain places known for their snack offerings in mind.

While some said Citywalk is a good way to have a dialogue with the city they live in, others are skeptical about the idea, saying it is simply a new, fancy term for walking.

Nan Xi, who recently moved from Beijing to Shanghai got to know about Citywalk after she checked out social media platforms to find interesting things to do on the weekends. "I think Shanghai is a city perfect for Citywalk. There are big trees along the streets and shops selling different wares, which is ideal for couples and friends to walk together and take photos," she told news website 36Kr.

Therefore, she and her husband chose a popular Citywalk route in Jing'an district. They began the walk at 3 pm and walked until dusk. Apart from appreciating the views on the streets and buildings along the way, they also visited some small shops.

Afterwards, she signed up for a two-and-a-half-hour Citywalk priced at 88 yuan ($12.31) per person. A tour guide narrated the history of the buildings and streets along the way. "If it were me walking alone, I would simply find the streets artistic, but the tour that day helped me gain a better understanding of how Western culture blends in with the local culture in Shanghai," she said.

Another surprising benefit of the walk was that she has made friends with two of her fellow walkers.

Lin Yi, a manager for qyer.com, an online platform for self-guided tours, said Citywalk can help travelers learn about local culture and live as local people do, feeling the vibes of a city.

People who participate in Citywalks usually have similar tastes, and can have in-depth discussions with each other, he said.