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WELLNESS tourism is gaining popularity during the holidays as a new alternative to traditional travel options such as cross-country travel and city tours.
Li Yanling from Beijing chose the Fengcheng Health and Wellness Demonstration Zone in Jincheng City, North China’s Shanxi Province, for a relaxing vacation.
“Popular tourist spots are usually very crowded and leave us exhausted. This time, we wanted a trip that could refresh our bodies and minds,” she said.
Wellness tourism combines medical services, health care and recreational activities in attractive destinations. Driven by China’s aging population and government support, as well as increasing public awareness of health issues, the sector is growing rapidly.
The Fengcheng demonstration zone covers 60 square kilometers and includes luxury resorts, RV camps and forest retreats.
“The zone has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors,” said Yang Hua, a staff member.
Jincheng has actively promoted wellness tourism by issuing development plans and holding national-level industry conferences to explore the “tourism plus wellness” integration model. In addition to traditional hot springs and forest accommodations, new trends such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tourism and meditation retreats are emerging.
Wolong Bay Resort in Gaoping City, Shanxi Province, combines wellness with TCM, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
“We organize TCM health lectures to enhance the experience for visitors,” says Li Xueye, the resort’s manager.
Other parts of China are also tapping into the trend. Bama County in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, known as a “longevity paradise,” attracts tourists to enjoy the healthy lifestyle of local people. Mogan Mountain in East China’s Zhejiang Province is also developing a rural wellness tourism model through boutique hostels and homestays.
Supported by national policies such as the Healthy China 2030 initiative, wellness tourism is booming, with more than 3.39 million related businesses operating across China. In the first quarter (Q1) of 2025 alone, 173,000 new businesses were registered.
Although middle-aged and elderly visitors dominate the market, the number of younger participants is also increasing.
“This relaxing wellness vacation is very refreshing, and we will definitely take more trips like this,” said Li Yanling. [antaranews/photo special]
