A Chinese tourist recently sparked debate online after sharing a harsh review of her trip to Kuala Lumpur, calling it the worst travel experience she has ever had.
In a video posted to Douyin on 8 June, the woman from Shanghai described Malaysia’s capital as feeling disconnected and chaotic. She mentioned facing verbal and physical harassment, along with urban challenges that made her feel unsafe and disoriented.
Photo via Douyin
She said the city appeared to be caught between two worlds, with gleaming skyscrapers like the PETRONAS Twin Towers standing in sharp contrast to rundown areas and erratic urban design. Her impression was that Kuala Lumpur felt like an underdeveloped place with a few skyscrapers forced into it.
Noise pollution and poor city planning were major complaints. The sidewalks, she noted, were narrow and often disappeared suddenly, forcing her and her friend to walk in single file or find alternative paths while avoiding fast-moving motorbikes.
But it was not just the infrastructure that unsettled her. She also described the behaviour of people on the streets as disturbing. She said she was openly stared at, whistled at and harassed by groups of men even in popular tourist areas like KLCC. One alarming incident involved a homeless man who reportedly lunged toward her and her friend, prompting them to run away in fear.
The experience did not end there. She claimed that a ride-hailing driver misled her into going to a night market that was closed. Only after arriving did the driver reveal the closure and offer to take them back, but at an extra cost.
Still, her trip was not entirely negative. The one thing she praised was her hotel. It offered an affordable stay with a rooftop infinity pool and a stunning view of the Twin Towers. She said it was a bargain compared to similar options in China.
The video has since gone viral after being reuploaded on Malaysian TikTok and Reddit, where many users surprisingly agreed with her perspective. Some locals admitted that the sidewalks and city planning do need improvement, while others criticised tourism bodies for failing to highlight the better parts of the city.
One Redditor speculated that the tourist may have stayed near ICC Pudu, an area known for its visible poverty and red-light activity, which could have influenced her overall impression of Kuala Lumpur.
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As Malaysians continue to discuss whether her criticisms were fair or exaggerated, one thing is certain. Honest tourist feedback, even when uncomfortable, can highlight problems we often ignore.
Should we wait for foreign visitors to point out what needs fixing, or is it time we addressed these issues for ourselves and future generations?
