A natural opportunity for growth

Chinese enthusiasts' newfound passion for outdoor sports and related leisure activities is providing fresh momentum to, and fueling, sports industry growth, turning urban waterways, ski resorts and mountain campsites into hot destinations.

An Olympic champion and a busy sports administrator, retired skating legend Yang Yang takes pride in the role she enjoys the most — being an active mom with her son and daughter, either taking them to cycle along the Huangpu River near their home in Shanghai, or enjoying laughs as they slide around on their butts, or bellies, at the ice rink she operates.

Leaning on the pure joy and relaxation of sporting activities, especially outdoor pastimes, as a healthy way of life is among the most important lessons she's taught her children as a caring mom and, perhaps, China's most decorated winter sports athlete ever.

"I think, just like the case with my children, to spend time on outdoor activities, either hiking, biking or camping, has been a trending choice for family holidays and an educational tool for the youth," said Yang, who won China's first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal in 500m short-track speed skating at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games in Utah.

"With more accessible and affordable facilities being built, I think the outdoor sports sector will explode, for sure, in the next few years," Yang said during the 2025 China Outdoor Sports Industry Conference held in Dali, Yunnan province, over the weekend.