Glamping has become the hottest travel trend in China, captivating the attention of those seeking a unique and luxurious outdoor experience.

According to 26-year-old glamping fan Yoga Song, 'Every weekend, the grasslands are filled with tents,' as more people dive into this trendy outdoor getaway.

A blend of 'glamour' and 'camping,' glamping has quickly captured the hearts of young Chinese travelers looking for an elevated camping experience.

In the past year alone, Song has explored over 10 glamping destinations across China, ranging from tranquil rural spots to the peaceful outskirts of cities.

Her first glamping adventure began in April 2021 when she traveled to Zhongwei, a city often dubbed 'Eastern Morocco' for its stunning desert landscapes.

Nestled in the largely untouched Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northern China, Zhongwei offers a stunning mix of the Yellow River, the Great Wall, deserts, wetlands, and ancient villages.

At the time of her visit, the city was already home to trendy boutique hotels and cozy homestays. But Song decided to take a more adventurous route: staying in a tent.

Upon arrival, Song discovered five tents set up just 10 meters from the powerful Yellow River, with breathtaking views of the vast Gobi Desert across the way.

However, things didn’t go as planned. The winds were fierce in Zhongwei, blowing sand and gravel everywhere, forcing all the tourist attractions to shut down.

'That night, the glamping site staff invited us to stargaze,' Song remembers. 'As I stepped outside, the clouds parted, revealing a vast sky filled with stars, a silence so pure it felt unreal.'

Leaving behind the chaos of city life, travelers can immerse themselves in the true essence of northwest China. For Song, glamping here amidst farms and pastures offers a chance to engage in activities like harvesting dates and wine grapes, while goats, yaks, and sheep occasionally wander by the tents.

Comfort in nature

In the world's most populous nation, connecting with nature can range from challenging mountain hikes and desert expeditions to leisurely park picnics or scenic drives on the outskirts of a city.

While young city dwellers yearn for fresh air and outdoor experiences, many are still reluctant to part with comforts like plush mattresses and soft bedding.

Xiaohongshu, China's leading lifestyle platform, plays a major role in fueling the glamping trend, as stylish camping-related content floods users' mobile feeds.

For many young Chinese, glamping has become a must-do activity on their daka lists – a term used to describe 'checking in' at trendy, Instagram-worthy locations.

Across Chinese social media, thousands of detailed glamping checklists, easy meal recipes, and destination guides are dominating the conversation.

Song recalls spotting a Marshall speaker and large handmade rugs inside her Zhongwei tent, adding a touch of luxury to her camping experience.

Natural Camp, the operator of the site, proudly showcases on its official Xiaohongshu account: 'We offer a carefully curated selection of outdoor brands, both local and international.'

Among their offerings are King Koil mattresses – the same luxurious ones found in five-star hotel rooms – and high-end outdoor furniture from the Nordic brand Tentipi.

This trend extends beyond mainland China.

Wade Cheung, marketing manager at Saiyuen, a glamping and adventure park on a Hong Kong island, has observed a 'significant increase' in bookings over the past two years, with more than 10% of visitors returning for repeat stays.

'The ongoing pandemic has encouraged Hong Kong residents to explore the incredible homegrown experiences available right in their own city,' Cheung says.

Located on Cheung Chau Island, the site offers a range of accommodations, from traditional tepees to Mongolian gers, with the most luxurious option being the Sunset Vista – a 300-square-foot dome tent set on a private 2,000-square-foot plot with its own grassland.

The dome tent can host up to four people and features amenities like a private shower and toilet, a barbecue stove, a hammock, and more.

With a bay window offering ocean views and a prime spot for stargazing, Sunset Vista has become incredibly popular among Hong Kong bloggers and influencers.

Recently, the site has attracted visitors who prioritize comfort over nature, reflecting the growing trend of luxury camping.

According to Cheung, the profile of visitors has shifted since the pandemic. Previously, guests loved outdoor activities like camping and hiking, and were impressed by the presence of air conditioners in the tents. Now, air conditioning is considered a necessity by most guests.

'For instance, if a frog is sitting outside the tent, past visitors might have posed for a photo with it, but nowadays, guests might see it as something they need to get used to,' he says.

A trend sparked by the pandemic

Glamping gained significant momentum after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a report by Chinese travel company CTrip, the number of searches for camping activities surged eightfold in 2021.

During the Labor Day holiday in May 2022, data from the travel platform Qunar showed that ticket sales for parks in China offering camping experiences increased by over 50% compared to the same period the previous year.

Bookings for homestays with camping-related amenities, such as RVs and tents, also saw a fourfold increase across China during the holiday, according to vacation rental platform Tujia.

The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly contributed to the growing interest in luxurious outdoor experiences.

The initial outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020 sealed China's borders, keeping Chinese tourists at home. Recent waves of the virus have been estimated to have cut domestic travel by more than half, with people now opting for vacations even closer to home, as the risks of travel have shifted from being locked out of China to being stranded in one's own city.

In an effort to contain the latest Covid-19 outbreaks, China has doubled down on its controversial 'zero-Covid' policy, implementing strict lockdowns and repeated rounds of mass testing.

Shanghai, a megacity, recently emerged from a nine-week, citywide lockdown that kept residents confined to their apartments. In Beijing, a 'soft lockdown' lasting over three weeks has left millions working from home.

There are also echoes of previous epidemics in Hong Kong.

Nearly two decades ago, during the SARS outbreak, Cheung went on his first local hiking and camping trips. It was then that he realized just how much fun Hong Kong is to explore.

The allure of nature

While Song acknowledges that the growth of glamping can be traced back to Covid-19 restrictions, which made people crave time in nature, she believes there’s more to the trend. In her view, it’s about embracing the idea of 'living wildly.'

'Many lifestyles we see on social media are overly polished,' says Song. 'Take Shanghai's coffee culture, for example – it’s almost idealized, setting unrealistic standards for how we should look, speak, and live.'

However, Song notes that people are beginning to realize that these glamorous lifestyles are missing something. The simple act of picnicking, once popular, no longer fulfills the desire to truly connect with nature.

Despite this, Song draws a clear distinction between 'living wildly' and 'living in the wilderness.'

Some of my friends can just head out to any mountain with nothing more than a backpack for camping. That's a bit too extreme for me. I believe basic hygiene and comfort should still be prioritized in outdoor adventures.

The growing popularity of glamping suggests that it’s here to stay, though it’s expected to plateau at a 'stable level' once travel restrictions ease, according to Cheung.

At Saiyuen, approximately 60% of visitors are families, who enjoy bringing their children to a nearby island for a weekend getaway, offering them a little taste of adventure.