Cover image via Douyin
A recent TikTok video by a Chinese national has ignited discussion after she shared a scathing review of her trip to Kuala Lumpur, calling it her "worst travel experience ever"
In a video uploaded on Douyin last Sunday, 8 June, the tourist from Shanghai described the capital as having a "strong sense of disconnection and chaos", adding that she also encountered verbal and physical harassment.
Her main criticisms centred on what she saw as a stark contrast between modern high-rises and run-down areas, a "chaotic" urban planning, overwhelming noise pollution, and troubling safety concerns.
"It feels like a relatively underdeveloped place where a few skyscrapers were suddenly forced up… Only the PETRONAS Twin Towers and maybe one or two shopping areas are bustling — the rest of the city feels rundown," she said.
She further criticised the city's aesthetics, remarking, "The urban planning and construction are messy and utterly devoid of beauty."
Image via Douyin
The tourist also expressed frustration with the city's sidewalks, describing them as narrow and often disappearing without warning, leaving her and her friend in dangerous situations
"My friend and I basically had to walk one behind the other [on a sidewalk].
"It was very difficult for two people to walk side by side. And as we walked, the pavement would just disappear, forcing us to find a path, with motorcycles whizzing by. It really felt incredibly unsafe," she recounted, showing footage of her experience as a pedestrian in the city.
She also detailed uncomfortable and disturbing encounters with men on the street. In one part of the video, she described being harassed in public.
"The moment we stepped outside, I thought I was in India — a group of men stared at us. At the KLCC area, men whistled at us, and even pushed their friends towards us," she said.
She then recounted an incident involving a homeless man who suddenly stood up and shouted at them, trying to make physical contact. The tourist said she and her friend had to run away in fear.
Image via Douyin
She also claimed she was misled by a ride-hailing driver, who took her and her friend to a night market that was closed that day, without giving prior warning
She said the driver only admitted it was closed after they arrived, and then offered to drive them back, but for an additional fare.
Despite her mostly negative experience, she does mention one bright spot: her hotel.
She praised its value for money: for roughly 300 yuan (around RM200), she was able to stay in a hotel with a rooftop infinity pool and a view of the PETRONAS Twin Towers, amenities she said would cost three times as much at high-end hotels in China
Image via Douyin
At the time of writing, her video has gone viral in Malaysia after being reuploaded on TikTok and Reddit
Many netizens agreed with her criticisms, urging fellow Malaysians and the city council to take note and make improvements.
"Unpopular opinion, but she is not wrong. Everything is relative," said a Reddit user bluntly, while another person added, "It is so baffling to me that Thailand has a better pavement/sidewalk than us, Malaysia."
One netizen wrote at length, agreeing with the tourist's criticisms and arguing that the Malaysia Tourism Board has not done enough to market or present Kuala Lumpur appealingly, noting that most tourists miss out on the better spots known to locals.
Meanwhile, another Reddit user speculated that the tourist may have stayed near the ICC Pudu area, which they described as less ideal due to the presence of extreme poverty, beggars, and its reputation as a known red-light district.
Image via Reddit
Speaking to SAYS, the tourist said she no longer wishes for her video to be shared.
She explained that her original intention was simply to express her dissatisfaction with the exaggerated portrayal of Kuala Lumpur by Chinese social media.
She clarified that her content was aimed at a domestic audience, mostly university students, and that she never intended for the video to spark international debate.
As a small content creator with fewer than 2,000 followers, she said the unexpected attention has led to widespread misunderstandings, online harassment, and even personal attacks.
"There have been many misinterpretations, including assumptions that I was criticising all Malaysians, which I never intended. My explanations have often been ignored," she said, adding that she has since disabled comments due to the volume of cyberbullying.
The tourist stressed that she does not want the situation to escalate into a conflict between Chinese and Malaysian citizens. She plans to release a follow-up video to clarify the misunderstandings and address the concerns raised by Malaysian viewers.
