Xiao Hong Shu (RedNote) hashtags and topics
How topics (话题) work on Xiao Hong Shu (RedNote), how many to add, where to put them, and how keywords drive search inside the app.
Updated
Quick answer: On Xiao Hong Shu, hashtags are topics (话题). Add them by typing # in the body and picking a topic from the list, or with the topic button under the text. A note can carry up to 10 topics; 3–5 relevant ones is the common recommendation. Topics help, but keywords in the title and body drive most of Xiao Hong Shu's search.
Specs at a glance
| Recommendation | |
|---|---|
| Name in the app | Topics (话题) |
| How to add | Type # in the body and choose from the list, or tap the topic button |
| Maximum per note | 10 |
| Recommended | 3–5 relevant topics |
| Placement | End of the body is common; inline works too |
| Also available | @-mentions and a location tag |
Topics are picked, not typed
On Instagram you can type any #word. On Xiao Hong Shu, typing # opens a list of existing topics with their view counts; choosing one turns it into a tappable topic. Picking an established topic puts your note on that topic's page, where people browse. A topic nobody follows does little.
How many topics to use
The app allows up to 10. Most creator guides recommend 3–5: one or two broad topics for reach, and two or three specific ones that match the note exactly. Ten loosely related topics dilute the signal. (Older guides that say only one topic is allowed are out of date.)
Keywords matter more than hashtags
Xiao Hong Shu works like a search engine for lifestyle decisions — where to eat, what to buy, how to style something. Its search reads the title and body text, so write the words people would search for naturally into both: the city, the product type, the problem you solve. Topics support that; they do not replace it.
Mentions and location
You can @-mention other accounts (for example, a collaborator) and add a location tag, which is useful for cafés, shops, hotels and events. Paid creator collaborations must be registered through Pugongying (蒲公英), Xiao Hong Shu's official creator marketplace, which adds a visible sponsorship label — unregistered paid posts are treated as rule-breaking marketing.
Topic checklist
- Title contains your main keyword.
- Body mentions the keyword and related terms naturally.
- 3–5 topics chosen from the topic list, mixing broad and specific.
- No links, QR codes, WeChat IDs or phone numbers.
- Paid collaboration? Registered through Pugongying.
- AI-generated images or text? Declared with the in-app AI content label, as China's AI content labelling rules require since September 2025.
How Space Avocado helps
In Space Avocado you can give each channel its own caption and hashtags — Chinese topics for Xiao Hong Shu, English hashtags for Instagram — on the same post. When the note is due, the iOS app hands media and text to the Xiao Hong Shu app, where you pick the topics from the list and publish. See Xiao Hong Shu and WeChat planning.
Frequently asked questions
How many hashtags can I use on Xiao Hong Shu?
Up to 10 topics per note. Three to five relevant topics is the usual recommendation.
How do I add a hashtag on Xiao Hong Shu?
Type # in the note body and choose a topic from the list that appears, or use the topic button below the text field.
Do hashtags help Xiao Hong Shu search?
Topics put your note on topic pages, but Xiao Hong Shu search mainly reads the keywords in your title and body. Use both.
Do I need to label sponsored posts on Xiao Hong Shu?
Yes. Paid creator collaborations must be registered through Pugongying (蒲公英), which adds a sponsorship label to the note.