Go2ChinaHow to Use Xiaohongshu (小红书) in China — Guide for Foreigners (2026)
Xiaohongshu (小红书), also known as RedNote or Little Red Book, is China's largest lifestyle and discovery platform. Think Instagram for photos and short videos, Pinterest for saving ideas and travel itineraries, and TripAdvisor for local restaurant and attraction recommendations — all in one app. It works in China without a VPN and has a large and active English-language community.
What Is Xiaohongshu?
Xiaohongshu launched in 2013 as a shopping guide for products sourced overseas. It has since grown into a platform with over 300 million monthly active users, centred on photo-and-video "notes" (笔记) covering travel, food, fashion, skincare, fitness, and daily life.
For foreign visitors to China, Xiaohongshu is unusually welcoming. The platform hosts a significant amount of English-language content created by expats, international students, and foreign travellers already in China. Search "Shanghai hidden gems", "Beijing hutong food", or "Chengdu itinerary" and you will find recent, first-hand posts — often more up to date than anything on Google or TripAdvisor.
Step 1 — Download Xiaohongshu
Download the app
Search "Xiaohongshu" or "RedNote" on the App Store or Google Play. The icon is a red square with a white book. The international and Chinese versions are the same app.
Register with your phone number
Open the app and tap Sign Up. Enter your international phone number with country code. You will receive an SMS verification code — enter it to proceed.
Complete basic profile setup
Enter a username and, optionally, upload a profile photo. You can skip most other fields for now. Your account is immediately usable.
Set your language preference
Tap the profile icon (bottom right) → Settings (gear icon, top right) → General → Language. Select English. The main interface labels, buttons, and menus switch to English. User-generated content stays in its original language, but the search function understands English input regardless of the interface language setting.
Step 2 — Search for Travel Information
Xiaohongshu's search is one of its most useful features for travellers. It handles English searches well and returns a mix of posts and video notes ranked by relevance and recency.
Try these search approaches:
- City + topic: "Chengdu hot pot", "Hangzhou West Lake", "Guilin day trip"
- Activity-based: "China train tips foreigner", "Alipay tourist mode setup", "temple fair Beijing"
- Neighbourhood-level: "Tianzifang Shanghai", "Hutong coffee Beijing", "Taikoo Li Chengdu"
Results show photo posts, short videos, and written notes. Tap any post to see photos, the full write-up, location tags, and comments. Many creators include practical details like opening hours, prices, and transport directions within the post itself.
To save posts you want to revisit, tap the bookmark icon on any post. Saved posts are stored under your profile → Favourites.
Step 3 — Post Your Own Content
Posting is optional but straightforward.
- Tap the + button at the bottom of the screen.
- Select photos or a short video from your camera roll, or shoot directly in the app.
- Write a caption — English is fine. Add a location tag using the location field (tap the map pin icon).
- Add relevant topic tags with the # symbol to make your post discoverable.
- Tap Publish.
Posts from foreign visitors consistently generate genuine engagement from local users curious about perspectives on their own cities. Location-tagged travel posts in particular tend to reach readers looking for recommendations.
Privacy Considerations
Xiaohongshu is a Chinese platform and operates under Chinese data and content regulations. A few things worth knowing before you use it:
- Your account is linked to your phone number. There is no anonymous sign-up.
- Posts are public by default. Change visibility to private under post settings if you want to save content only for yourself.
- Location data: If you tag locations in your posts, your movement can be inferred from your post history. Avoid tagging precise accommodation locations if privacy matters to you.
- Content moderation: Some topics have restricted reach on the platform. For typical travel content this is rarely relevant, but worth knowing.
- No VPN required: Unlike Instagram or Google, Xiaohongshu is not blocked in China. Your normal data connection works fine throughout mainland China.
Xiaohongshu vs Instagram
Both are photo-and-video platforms, but they serve different purposes and have different strengths for travellers.
| Xiaohongshu | ||
|---|---|---|
| Works in China | Yes, no VPN needed | No, blocked — VPN required |
| English content | Large and growing | Primarily English-language |
| Travel discovery | Excellent — detailed local posts with practical info | Good for inspiration, weaker on practical detail |
| Location tags | Chinese cities, streets, and venues are well-mapped | Uses Google Maps data, which is blocked in China |
| Content format | Photo notes + short video, long captions common | Photo, Reels, Stories |
| Shopping integration | Strong — product links in posts | Available in some markets |
For travellers going to China, the practical case for Xiaohongshu is simple: it works where Instagram does not, and the travel content is sourced from people who were recently at the same places you are visiting.
Field Notes — Using Xiaohongshu as a Foreigner
- Searching in English works well for major cities and tourist areas. For smaller towns or regional specialities, adding the Chinese name (which you can get from Google Translate before your trip) dramatically improves results.
- Many Xiaohongshu posts include a short written summary at the end with key details — price, address, transport. Look for posts with a high save count, as these tend to be the most reliable and detailed.
- Restaurant posts on Xiaohongshu often have more recent photos than Dianping (the main Chinese review app) and Yelp or Google are useless inside China.
- If you post content in English, you will often receive comments from Chinese users practising their English — a genuinely friendly dynamic that is uncommon on other platforms.
- The Xiaohongshu algorithm surfaces content based on your location. If you are in Chengdu, your home feed will start showing Chengdu content even if you have not searched for it. This makes it useful for discovering things nearby without actively looking.
- Xiaohongshu has a direct messaging feature. If you comment on a post and the creator replies, you can continue the conversation in DMs — useful if you have specific questions about a place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xiaohongshu available in English?
Partially. The app added an English interface, but most posts, comments, and search results are in Chinese. Search with English keywords still surfaces useful travel content, and built-in translation features help with posts.
Is Xiaohongshu the Chinese version of Instagram?
It is the closest equivalent — photo and short-video lifestyle content — but with stronger search, reviews, and shopping features. Many travelers use it like a visual search engine for restaurants and attractions in China.
Can foreigners register on Xiaohongshu?
Yes. International phone numbers work for registration. The app also works outside China, so you can set it up and browse before your trip.
Is Xiaohongshu useful for China travel planning?
Very. It is where Chinese travelers post detailed first-hand guides — restaurant queues, photo spots, ticket tips. Search your destination in Chinese (paste the Chinese name) for the best results.
Is Xiaohongshu blocked outside China?
No. Xiaohongshu works internationally — you can download, register, and research your trip from home before you fly.
Recommended Apps
Xiaohongshu is one of many apps worth setting up before your China trip. See the full list.
Explore all China apps →Real Experiences from Other Travelers
Everyone's situation is different — visa type, phone carrier, and timing all affect outcomes. See what others have reported and adjust based on your own circumstances.