Since the beginning of summer, rising temperatures across the country have led to a significant increase in outdoor activities, fueling the popularity of emerging travel trends like "Sportcation." On May 15, TONGCHENGTRAVEL (00780) released the "2026 Sportcation Travel Trends Report." The report indicates that as of May 15, search interest for keywords such as stream trekking, hiking, cycling, and rock climbing on the platform has surged by over 180% month-over-month, while bookings for related travel products have increased by more than 70% compared to the same period last month. Short trips lasting 2 to 3 days account for over half of the orders, indicating that Sportcation is gradually becoming a new form of weekend micro-getaway.
In terms of user demographics, data from TONGCHENGTRAVEL shows that young users aged 20 to 35 form the core customer base for Sportcation. Additionally, the "new silver-haired generation," around 55 years old with high time flexibility, is also trying out these experiences. Destinations are diversifying, with Zhejiang, Guangxi, Hainan, Anhui, Guangdong, Jilin, Jiangxi, and Guizhou emerging as popular hotspots for sport-based vacations. The "trio" of stream trekking, hiking, and cycling is gaining traction, making "sports school-style" travel a trending phenomenon.
Sportcation, also referred to online as "sports school-style" travel or "high-energy-friendly" travel, combines sports training, leisure travel, and social interaction. Hiking is one of the most popular activities within this trend. According to TONGCHENGTRAVEL data, as of May 15, bookings for travel products related to ancient trail hiking and mountain hiking on the platform have grown by 126% month-over-month, leading the increase among various sportcation activities. Top destinations for hiking include the Maling Ancient Trail in Tonglu, Zhejiang; the Pu'er Tea Horse Ancient Trail in Yunnan; the Changbai Mountain Scenic Area in Jilin; and the Wugong Mountain Scenic Area in Jiangxi. Some travelers opt for guided hiking tours, with products like the 5-day, 4-night Xishuangbanna + Nannuo Mountain + Jingmai Mountain light hiking quality small-group packages performing well on the platform.
Currently, TONGCHENGTRAVEL has launched a pre-sale for the "22°C Freedom Getaway" hotel package at the Changbai Mountain Wanda International Resort, available for a limited seven-day brand promotion with multiple added-value benefits. Notably, the resort will also host the 5th Changbai Mountain Forest Oxygen Run in June, attracting significant interest from sportcation enthusiasts.
While hiking is a year-round, all-ages-friendly activity, stream trekking has become a summer-specific highlight. TONGCHENGTRAVEL data shows that in the past week, bookings for resort hotels and boutique homestays themed around stream trekking have been robust. Specifically, bookings for such accommodations in Anji, Zhejiang, increased by 82% month-over-month; in Xuancheng, Anhui, by 64%; and in Qingyuan, Guangdong, by 75%.
Platform monitoring also indicates that tropical rainforests are an ideal destination for many sportcation travelers, with sustained high search interest and attention. The Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone currently offers outdoor experiences such as waterfall trekking, rainforest exploration, highline activities, and rainforest hiking. Data from Yanoda shows positive market booking trends, with strong visitor numbers during holidays and weekends, primarily driven by teenagers and young adults aged 12-35, as well as family and educational tour groups. The scenic area plans to launch new activities like canyoning and rafting between June and July, continuously innovating based on existing outdoor offerings.
Furthermore, an increasing number of urban professionals are embracing cycling-centric sportcations on weekends. TONGCHENGTRAVEL data reveals that searches for destinations suitable for cycling around rivers and lakes have surged in the past week. Popular cycling routes include the Qiandao Lake loop in Zhejiang, the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor in Yunnan, the Yulong River route in Yangshuo, Guangxi, and the Lake Taihu loop in Jiangsu. These have driven bookings for surrounding hotels and attraction tickets, increasing by over 110% month-over-month.
**From Niche to Mainstream: Rising Popularity of Overseas Sportcation** As sportcation gains momentum, activities with higher professional barriers and relative niche appeal—such as surfing, rock climbing, yoga, and tennis—are also rapidly growing, becoming key pillars of the trend. TONGCHENGTRAVEL data indicates that as of May 15, search interest for surfing-related travel products on the platform has grown by 136% month-over-month. Popular destinations are concentrated in Wanning and Sanya in Hainan; Qingdao, Shandong; Qinhuangdao, Hebei; Shenzhen, Guangdong; Zhangzhou, Fujian; and Huizhou, Guangdong. Among these, bookings for surfing-themed hotels near Shenzhou Peninsula and Riyue Bay in Wanning have risen sharply, while high-quality resort hotels near Shuangyue Bay in Huizhou have seen a notable booking increase of over 40% month-over-month.
Beyond indoor climbing, outdoor natural cliff climbing has become increasingly popular in recent years. TONGCHENGTRAVEL data shows that in the past week, interest in climbing bases on the platform has significantly increased, with high search and booking volumes for locations such as the Anlong National Mountain Outdoor Sports Demonstration Park in Guizhou, the Yangshuo Via Ferrata Climbing Base in Guilin, and the Wanxianshan National Climbing Park in Henan.
Off-road tourism is another major component of sportcation. On the TONGCHENGTRAVEL platform, as of May 15, search interest for off-road bases and parks has increased by over 56% month-over-month. Popular spots range from beginner-friendly experiences like the Anji Tianmu Mountain Valley Off-Road Base to professional-level sites such as the Ningxia Huke Road Camp and the Beijing Mentougou Longmen Grand Canyon.
A segment of seasoned sportcation enthusiasts is also looking overseas, using annual leave to embark on "sports school-style" trips abroad during off-peak periods. TONGCHENGTRAVEL data highlights Southeast Asian and Australian destinations like Bali, Indonesia; Phuket, Thailand; Sabah, Malaysia; and Cairns, Australia as ideal spots for sportcation. Popular activities include tennis training camps and yoga retreats in Bali, rainforest hiking and climbing in Sabah, and snorkeling trips in Phuket and Cairns. On the platform, search and booking interest for flights and hotels to Bali and Phuket has increased by over 40% month-over-week in the past week, with top source cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing, and Shenzhen.
Analysis from TONGCHENGTRAVEL's research unit suggests that sportcation is not a short-term trend but a long-term shift in urban lifestyle. Its core lies in using sports to drive the travel itinerary—users first select a sport and then decide on the destination, duration, and equipment accordingly. This "sports-driven" decision chain allows for trips ranging from a few days to several weeks, centered on the rhythm of exercise intensity and skill progression.
From a weekend economy perspective, sportcation can be seen as a new scenario and form of weekend travel. The short, low-frequency travel window provided by weekends aligns well with the demand for lightweight sports experiences. More comprehensive sportcation trips typically span public holidays or annual leave periods, with weekends often serving as an "initial gateway"—allowing users to build awareness and habits through short-distance sports experiences before extending to longer, more frequent sportcation patterns.
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