A busy pedestrian crossing in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, has become an unexpected tourist hotspot among Chinese travellers, thanks to viral posts on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin.
Alongside it, local treats like roti tisu have also gained fame, attracting curious foodies eager to snap and snack.
00:00A scorching day didn't deter crowds of Chinese tourists from striking a post at the pedestrian crossing in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
00:10Now, one of the city's most unlikely photo attractions.
00:18To most Malaysians, it's just a busy road leading to a McDonald's outlet.
00:23But to Chinese visitors, it's a trending photo spot, proudly shared online.
00:27Similar to the viral Meibang branch in Kota Kinabalu, the Bukit Bintang Crossing has become a must-visit destination thanks to the power of social media,
00:36particularly on platforms like Xiaohongsu, or Red Note in English, and Douyin, China's version of TikTok.
00:43It's unclear how the trend started, but the photogenic crossing, with a splash of yellow lines on the road and red advertisements in the background,
00:51has gained traction among young Chinese travellers.
00:54Here's what some of them had to say, when we asked them why this spot was so popular.
00:59Because in the Chinese internet, a lot of people take pictures here and post it on the internet, different kinds of platforms.
01:09Yes, Xiaohongsu and Douyin, everyone post some pictures here.
01:13Because the red, the yellow, maybe it is bright and beautiful, maybe? I don't know.
01:20Others say they are just there to taka, a Mandarin slang term meaning punch card,
01:26used by Chinese netizens to describe checking in at a popular location for social media clout.
01:32The more viral the posts, the more curious tourists follow suit.
01:36One of them being 18-year-old student Susan Lee from Kunming, China.
01:40I think Malaysia is a very繁華 city, and this景點 is a very, very, very,具有代表性的景點.
01:50The colour is also very good, and the建築 is also very beautiful.
01:53I would like to enjoy the beauty of the Kilong Por, and the beauty of the建築.
01:58Lee added that she loved our national pride of a dish, the nasi lomak, describing it as very tasty.
02:04Aside from the iconic crossing, another Malaysian treat capturing attention online is the towering roti tissue,
02:11a crisp, cone-shaped flatbread that's as photogenic as it is delicious.
02:16TG's Bistro, a restaurant that's just a short walk from the Bukit Bintang Crossing,
02:20has seen a rise in Chinese customers ordering the roti tissue,
02:23often photographing it from every angle before digging in.
02:34As Chinese tourists continue to explore Malaysia guided by trending hashtags and influencer posts,
02:42places like Bukit Bintang's crosswalk and our towering roti tissue prove that even the simplest spots,
02:48when seen through the right lens, can become iconic.
02:51In the age of social media, Malaysia's vibrant streets, rich flavours and unexpected backdrops
02:56are no longer just part of daily life.
02:59They're becoming part of a global visual story, one photo at a time.
