Localities aim to hit jackpot with leisure tourism

Zhang Mingquan from Sichuan is already planning his return to the resort in the province's Longmenshan after his visit in late July.

He booked mountain climbing and trail running for himself, and spelunking and swimming for his wife and daughter at the 38-square-kilometer resort.

"The activities were so varied that everyone in my family could find something they enjoy," said Zhang.

Mei Yongyao, director of the Bailu agricultural comprehensive service center, where the resort is located, said that in summer, hundreds come to enjoy mountain climbing, caving and stream trekking every weekend.

"After the July summer break, we always see lots of families with children coming here," Mei said. Bailu town has developed a water park, which attracts large crowds coming to beat the summer heat.

"Next, we plan to develop a natural rock-climbing base to enrich our leisure experiences, and introduce other major cultural tourism projects," he said.

Guided by the goal of establishing provincial and national-level tourism resorts, local authorities in Bailu said they are deepening the integration of culture and tourism through mountain outdoor sports and wellness-focused vacationing.

Building on the vitality seen in Bailu town, the county-level city of Pengzhou has in recent years made major strides in developing its sports industry, laying a solid foundation for outdoor activities in the mountains.

The city has completed 152 outdoor sports projects with a total investment of 21.8 billion yuan ($3 billion), giving rise to a full industry chain that spans competition venues, training bases, boutique lodges and smart trails.

It has drawn elite competitions and mass participation events, including the Tour of China Road Cycling Race and the international Lure Times World fishing tournament, alongside unique local highlights like a panda-themed trail.

At the same time, community-based activities, such as workers' fun runs, have made sports an accessible and lively part of everyday life.

The city has continued to expand its vision through global collaboration.

In January, Pengzhou signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Decathlon, a French sports equipment and sportswear manufacturer and retailer, to establish an outdoor center and a sports education base.

The city's flagship fitness center is also under construction. With an investment of 779 million yuan, the center covers an area of 100,000 square meters and will offer a dry-ski slope, an ice hockey rink measuring 60 by 30 meters, 13 badminton courts, multiple basketball and tennis courts, a swimming pool, martial arts venues, and a youth training center.

Pengzhou's efforts represent part of China's plan to scale up outdoor destinations with international visibility.

In July in Chongli district of Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, the Chongli 168 Ultra Trail attracted more than 10,000 runners to its mountain trails linked by the 2022 Winter Olympics.

As participants ran through Olympic stadiums and alpine valleys, they experienced a rare fusion of nature, sports and Olympic legacy.

"The reason we can attract such a massive following is entirely thanks to the Winter Olympics. From world-class infrastructure to improved transportation, the Games empowered this race to grow to today's scale," said race director Zhang Chaohui.

During the event, Chongli welcomed 170,400 tourists, a year-on-year increase of 77 percent, generating 168 million yuan in tourism revenue, up 93 percent over the same period of the previous year.

At the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan province, local authorities are utilizing the natural cliffs in the Dongba valley to create climbing routes with iron handholds and footholds, lowering the barrier to entry for enthusiasts and first-timers alike.

A five-star self-driving camp in the valley offers hiking, horseback riding, mountaineering and trail running, complemented by lodging, dining and scenic amenities, with a reception capacity of one million visitors annually.