The influx of campers has a ripple effect, bringing in revenues for the local economy through increased patronage of nearby restaurants, rental shops and tourist attractions, noted Hong Tao with the China Consumer Economics Society.

　　“Some of the campsites serve as a one-stop shop that offers everything from essential outdoor gear to personalized travel arrangements,“ said Hong.

　　On Chinese e-commerce giant Taobao, a simple keyword search for “camping“ would yield many relevant results, with many of the top sellers like waterproof mats, folding tables, and hammocks flying off the virtual shelves, some logging over 100,000 units sold in total and more than 1,000 daily purchases.

　　A recent consultancy report suggested that there has been a trend toward adding more eye-popping and tech-laden equipment and products, such as foldable outdoor projection screens and in-vehicle fridges, among modern-day campers.

　　Research highlights that the traditional style of “roughing it“ with canvass tents and sleeping bags has given way to “glamping“, a new form of camping that involves more amenities and comforts, as camping has transformed from a budget-friendly alternative to traditional travel to a highly customized activity that caters to different outdoor pursuits.

　　Xu Luyuan, a professor at Guangxi University of Finance and Economics, saw the rise of experience economy like camping as an indication of an exciting shift away from the “Daka“ tourism, where tourists rush through cities and tick off as many attractions as possible within a limited timeframe, in favor of a form that focuses more on immersive experiences.

　　“It meets the growing demand among Chinese consumers for more personalized, experiential leisure pursuits, and helps drive up domestic consumption and charges up the integration of culture into tourism,“ said Xu.