A tourist recently shared their experience in Malaysia, stating that the country reminded them of China two decades ago.
The post on the social media platform XiaoHongShu quickly went viral and sparked mixed reactions.
According to the user, most of the cars in Malaysia are Japanese-made, and petrol prices are significantly lower than in China.
I also observed a lack of electric vehicles, particularly Tesla, on the roads. However, I also noticed the presence of Chinese brands in advertisements across the city,” he added.
The tourist further highlighted Malaysia’s affordability, mentioning that the cost of living is roughly 30% lower than in China.
I was surprised by the relatively cheap hotel prices, with a stay at a 4-star hotel costing just over RM300,” he said.
One aspect he enjoyed was the availability of durian, describing it as delicious.
He mentioned buying three small durians for RM83, sharing them with two other Chinese travelers, and eating them by the roadside.
The tourist also expressed excitement about trying the famed Musang King durian.
Mixed reactions online
However, the post was met with backlash, with many netizens criticizing the comparison, arguing that Malaysia has its own unique identity and development path.
“Prices are not at all, it’s not objective to compare street food stalls with proper restaurants in China,” one wrote.
“Prices are 30% lower? Completely disagree, the prices here are not low,” another wrote.
“I think Malaysia is both cheap and delicious.”
