During this year’s Golden Week, many Chinese tourists chose not to stay in hotels or homestays.
Instead, they camped near scenic spots, highway rest areas, and beaches.
Some slept in cars, others brought portable stoves and coolers.
Rising accommodation costs, limited room supply, and tighter travel budgets pushed travelers to seek cheaper and more flexible options.
Online, this has been called the “camping economy” — part of a wider shift toward low-cost, self-managed travel.
According to data from several platforms, short-term hotel bookings dropped while sales of tents, folding beds, and portable cooking gear increased sharply.