When the Start of Summer (li xia), one of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese calendar, began on May 5, participation in outdoor activities began to rise with the seasonal shift. The "sportcation", a travel model combining fitness, leisure travel and social interactions, has gained popularity, reports travel portal Ly.com.
According to the 2026 Sportcation Travel Trend Report released on Friday by Ly.com, as of May 15, the search volume for keywords including river tracing, hiking, cycling, and rock climbing on the platform jumped more than 180 percent month-on-month. Booking interest for related travel products rose significantly, particularly for two-to-three-day trips.
Dubbed "high-energy friendly travel" by Chinese netizens, sportcations have become a new choice for weekend getaways.
The report stated that while younger users aged 20 to 35 are the main customer group for sportcation trips, those aged around 55, who have more flexibility, are also joining in this new trend. Sportcation destinations are diversified across the country, including Zhejiang, Hainan, Anhui, and Guangdong provinces.
Hiking is one of the most popular choices for sportcation enthusiasts, with ancient trails and mountain hiking packages standing out for their stunning scenery and exciting adventures.
Another ideal destination is tropical rainforests. The Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting Li and Miao autonomous county, Hainan province, offers outdoor activities such as rainforest stream hiking, and will introduce new programs such as rafting this summer.
A growing number of urban office workers are embracing cycling-centered sportcations on weekends. According to Ly.com, since May 15, searches for scenic rivers and lakes ideal for cycling have surged over the past week.
The most popular cycling routes include the Qiandao Lake loop in Zhejiang province, the Erhai Lake ecological corridor in Yunnan province and the Yulong River route in Yangshuo, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. This trend has driven booking momentum for related travel products, including nearby hotels and scenic site tickets.
Surfing, rock climbing, yoga, tennis, and other sports that require certain expertise are also quickly on the rise, according to the report.
