“Camping+” trends are gaining momentum, unlocking a vast outdoor‑consumption market.

2026-05-27

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, many camping sites are rolling out a variety of festive activities to attract visitors, with the “camping plus moon‑gazing” model proving particularly popular. Industry insiders note that in recent years, local governments have placed greater emphasis on tourism consumption, prompting the market to introduce an array of camping options and outdoor leisure pursuits. Coupled with consumers’ increasingly diverse perceptions of outdoor recreation, these factors have collectively fueled robust growth in the outdoor camping sector. Against this backdrop, listed companies are rushing to enter the field, seizing opportunities presented by the expanding outdoor economy.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, many camping sites are rolling out a variety of festive activities to attract visitors, with the “camping plus moon‑gazing” model proving particularly popular. Industry insiders note that in recent years, local governments have placed greater emphasis on tourism consumption, prompting the market to introduce an array of camping options and outdoor leisure pursuits. Coupled with consumers’ increasingly diverse perceptions of outdoor recreation, these factors have collectively fueled robust growth in the outdoor camping sector. Against this backdrop, relevant listed companies are rushing to enter the market, seizing opportunities presented by the booming outdoor economy.

“Camping + Moon Gazing” Trend Gains Attention

As the summer heat gradually subsides and crisp autumn arrives, many travelers are opting for self‑drive trips. “This Mid-Autumn Festival, my friends and I plan to drive from downtown Hangzhou to Qiandao Lake, camping along the way at the Ideal Garden Campground,” Ms. Li, who works at a technology company in Hangzhou, told a reporter from the China Securities Journal.

Fliggy’s “2024 Mid-Autumn Festival Travel Trend Report” shows that, as of September 4, domestic hotel bookings for the 2024 Mid-Autumn holiday have increased by approximately 50% compared with the same period in 2019. With the holiday relatively short, traveling close to home has become the top choice, and the “high-speed rail plus car rental for self-drive tours” option is the preferred mode for travelers within the same province or between neighboring provinces. Meanwhile, trips tied to traditional customs—such as moon-gazing excursions during the Mid-Autumn Festival—are particularly popular, with search interest up about 60% year over year.

Reporters noted that many camping sites have scheduled a variety of moon‑gazing activities during the Mid-Autumn Festival. For example, the Kuan CAMP site in Changping, Beijing, will host lantern‑riddle guessing and mooncake‑eating events throughout the holiday.

iResearch noted in its report that, amid mounting work and study pressures, people are increasingly eager to reconnect with nature and enjoy a relaxing leisure trip. As a novel form of tourism, camping allows travelers to immerse themselves in the natural world, relieve stress, and—thanks to its social dimension—strengthen bonds among family members and friends.

Creating new growth drivers for the outdoor industry

Policy guidance and support have played a crucial role in fostering the long-term, positive development of the outdoor camping industry. Last October, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments issued the “Action Plan for Promoting the Construction of Outdoor Sports Facilities and Enhancing Services (2023–2025),” which calls for supporting the development of camping sites and encourages qualified tourist attractions, resort areas, rural tourism destinations, urban recreational belts, suburban parks, and sports parks to designate camping and leisure zones, provided they comply with relevant planning regulations and environmental impact assessment requirements.

The “Measures for Creating New Consumption Scenarios and Fostering New Growth Drivers in Consumption,” issued in June this year, proposes developing a number of high-quality outdoor sports destinations to guide and expand spending on sports and leisure. It also encourages the use of open spaces such as old industrial buildings, urban parks, and lawn plazas to establish creative markets and camping‑style leisure areas.

With policy support, the number of businesses involved in outdoor sports has increased significantly. According to a report by the China Business Industry Research Institute, as of March 2024, China had more than 279,000 outdoor‑sports‑related enterprises. In 2023 alone, the country saw the addition of 67,000 such companies, a year-on-year rise of 92.78%. During January–February 2024, over 7,000 new enterprises were registered, up 3.9% compared with the same period in 2023. Geographically, Zhejiang and Guangdong currently share the top spot, each home to 41,000 outdoor‑sports‑related firms.

Meanwhile, a surge of “outdoor + new business models” has emerged, creating new growth drivers for the outdoor industry. Industry insiders note that local governments are fostering deep integration between outdoor sports and sectors such as culture, sports, tourism, technology, transportation, hospitality, and commerce, accelerating the rollout of innovative formats like “outdoor + music festivals,” “outdoor + events,” “outdoor + tourism,” and “outdoor + water-based activities.” By linking scenic spots and resort areas through activities such as hiking, cycling, and self-drive tours, these initiatives are boosting consumer demand for outdoor gear and equipment.

Listed companies are making significant strategic deployments.

Driven by growing demand, numerous listed companies are bullish on the outdoor economy, spurring the evolution of traditional camping gear and apparel toward greater functionality, lighter weight, environmental sustainability, and specialized outdoor products.

Sanfu Outdoor focuses on the research, development, production, and agency distribution of high-performance, professional outdoor sports equipment. In the first half of this year, its brands X-BIONIC and CRISPI generated operating revenues of RMB 109 million and RMB 39.4539 million, respectively, representing year-on-year growth of 39.31% and 34.24%.

“In the first half of 2024, the outdoor industry as a whole maintained a favorable growth trajectory,” Sanfu Outdoor noted in its 2024 interim report. The 2024 Asia Sports Goods and Fashion Expo, held in mid-January, attracted more exhibitors and visitors than in previous years, with the number of participating brands increasing by over 100%. Overall, consumer trends in the outdoor sector for 2024 point to greater accessibility, diversification, and professionalization of outdoor activities, alongside rising expectations among consumers for high‑quality gear and immersive experiences.

Founded in 2003, Mogeidi has built a distinctly Chinese outdoor brand rooted in China’s Hengduan Mountains, renowned for its hiking, mountaineering, and camping gear and apparel. In the first half of this year, the company launched several series of hiking and mountaineering products—including the “Snow Wing,” “Light Wing,” and “UL” lines—catering to diverse outdoor scenarios such as day hikes, high-altitude campsites, high-altitude snowline treks, and lightweight long-distance hiking. These offerings encompass tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses, backpacks, trekking poles, hardshell jackets, down jackets, and more.

Yangzhou Jinquan primarily engages in the R&D, design, manufacturing, and sales of outdoor products. Its main offerings include tents, sleeping bags, outdoor apparel, and backpacks. The company notes that governments across various regions are placing greater emphasis on reviving tourism, with markets rolling out a range of camping initiatives and outdoor leisure activities. Meanwhile, consumers’ perceptions of outdoor sports are becoming increasingly diverse, and demand for personalized travel experiences is growing stronger. These converging factors are collectively driving robust growth in the outdoor camping industry. (Reporter: Luo Jing)

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Dual-Scenario Interaction Design for Vehicle Camping: A Patent Application by China FAW

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Dual-Scenario Interaction Design for Vehicle Camping: A Patent Application by China FAW