Labor Day holiday, numerous young people seeking tranquility and different travel experiences have made their own travel plans. For example, Xiaoru, born after 1995, carefully planned her trip a month in advance, aiming for a leisurely journey away from the crowds.
This phenomenon is not an isolated case. A survey by the Social Survey Center of China Youth Daily showed that more than half of the respondents tend to choose relatively unpopular travel destinations. This trend is also reflected in the data released by several travel platforms recently.
In the “2024 Labor Day Holiday Travel Consumption Report” released by Tongcheng Travel, more and more small cities have attracted tourists’ attention during this year’s Labor Day holiday, with a significant increase in hotel bookings in some third-tier and lower-tier cities. Data released by Ctrip also indicates that, compared to first- and second-tier cities, the growth rate of travel orders is much faster in the third- and fourth-tier, and even county-level markets.
Despite the novelty and the allure of avoiding crowds in “reverse tourism”, reality doesn’t always meet expectations. Xiaoru’s experience is a clear example. She thought choosing Cangzhou in Hebei as her destination would provide a relaxing trip, but instead she found herself in a sea of people, still unable to escape the crowds.
Not just Xiaoru, many who chose “reverse tourism” encountered various unpleasant situations over the holiday. Some were stuck in the crowds of unpopular cities, others found shopping and dining inconvenient in overly remote areas, while others felt unfairly treated due to inadequate hospitality services.
According to the analysis by the Ctrip Research Institute, during this year’s Labor Day holiday, with the rapid rise in popularity, the reception capacity of some scenic areas was challenged, which also caused dissatisfaction among many tourists.
With the rapid development of domestic and international travel markets and the diversification of travel consumption demand, the quality and service level of the domestic tourism market are facing more challenges. In the future, improving the quality of the travel experience will become a keyword in tourism development.
In the midst of such a travel boom, my friends and I tried a new type of travel – “reverse tourism,” or what we call visiting “unpopular counties,” but this adventure left us rather disappointed.
As a travel enthusiast, holidays and weekends have become the time for me to discover beautiful new spots. For the Labor Day holiday, through rigorous strategy research, we selected a modern and quiet county as our destination. Enthusiastic netizens praised its natural beauty, and we were full of anticipation for this place dubbed a “blogger’s private relaxing spot.” The homestay booking went smoothly, appearing both elegant and affordable.
We arrived at our destination full of hope, admiring the unique landscape of Guangxi along the way, but faced confusion upon arriving at the homestay. Since we arrived early, the room was not ready, and the owner suggested we switch rooms. However, the new room was poorly ventilated and had a musty smell. After some debate, we reluctantly agreed to move back to our reserved room later.
The rafting plan for the following day was disappointing due to the surge in festival prices and the crowdedness, and the return trip was further troubled by a dispute over fees with the driver due to overtime. The rafting itself did not live up to the fun described by internet celebrities but became an unpleasant part of the trip.
This experience taught us that the beautiful scenery and experiences in travel are not always as expected, and the market’s practice of “shearing sheep” is inevitable. Faced with the temptations and challenges of the tourist market, as consumers, we need to be better prepared and informed to fend off potential pitfalls and unpleasantness.
During our holiday leisure time, what we look forward to is a pleasant and relaxing trip. The usual choice is always popular scenic spots, where the hustle and bustle always attract crowds of tourists, but the crowded scenes often leave a bitter aftertaste. Therefore, this time we decided to change our route and look for those lesser-known tourist treasures, hoping for a tranquil and leisurely journey.
Our gaze finally settled on Cangzhou City in Hebei Province. This city is not well-known, yet it harbors profound cultural heritage and praiseworthy local cuisine. After several recommendations on social media, we were attracted by its description of “beautiful scenery and few people,” and we embarked on our niche trip with joy.
Our journey began on a clear morning in May, brimming with anticipation of a wonderful start. However, the unexpected happened. First, the popular hotpot chicken restaurant we intended to visit was surprisingly crowded, forcing us to change our plans. The long queue outside forced us to settle for less and turn to local shops recommended by the locals. The difficulty of parking also hit us hard, making us frantically search for parking spaces on the streets and alleys.
Despite some initial setbacks, our first impression of Cangzhou was still pretty good. The Garden Expo Park we visited was vast and peaceful, with few visitors compared to the noisy popular spots, which made us feel relaxed and happy – this tranquility and harmony were what we had been looking forward to.
However, our visit to Nanchuan Old Street the next day left us stunned—the difficulty of parking wasted nearly an hour searching for a spot. This time, we truly felt the atmosphere of “Cangzhou really has 100 million people.” Our original plan of a leisurely stroll and enjoying the night market food faced an overwhelming crowd, leaving us with no choice but to sigh in disappointment.
Moreover, the conflict we encountered with the driver on the way back made the originally calm journey turbulent. Due to a scheduling issue, the driver insisted on additional compensation, and the standoff was eventually settled with our extra payment after persuasion from other tourists.
This series of events left us with mixed feelings about the “reverse tourism” experience. In pursuit of tranquility and authentic experiences, the unexpected adversities also became a memorable part of our journey. When planning niche travels next time, we will be more cautious to achieve the ideal travel state we envision.
Many cities’ old streets have a commercial atmosphere lacking uniqueness, and Nanchuan Old Street is no exception. My friend and I walked slowly against the crowd, but not long after, we decided to change our route and visit the famous “Qingfeng Lou.” Despite the throngs of people, the day’s itinerary eventually came to an end, and we chose to return to our hotel to rest. It was only through social media that we learned Cangzhou had become a popular tourist city in Hebei Province. We couldn’t help but sigh; the travel guide we had prepared beforehand seemed no longer relevant, and the previously “off-the-beaten-path” destination had become bustling with crowds.
This year’s May Day holiday, I initially had no plans to travel, partly because I have a young child, and partly because I vividly remember the congestion of holiday travel in the past. However, when friends appeared and invited us to join them on a trip to a nearby small town, our child’s excitement led us to decisively join in. Due to the hasty decision, finding accommodation was difficult, and multiple attempts to book were unsuccessful. Fortunately, we found a relatively pleasant local residence that had been simply transformed into a “homestay.” The old residents of the town told us that in previous years the town was quiet, but since last year, the number of visitors had surged.
The small town hasn’t been meticulously developed; it still retains the rural charm and offered us a great place to relax. During the day, under our supervision, our child took part in activities like mountain climbing and river tracing, experiencing the joy of authentic rural life.
However, it was only as night fell that we truly experienced the inconveniences brought about by this “off-the-beaten-path” location. Being accustomed to city life, dining at 7 or 8 PM was normal for us, and this was not planned for during our initial night stay in the town. On the first day, we stayed out until evening before returning to the homestay, then chose to rest in our rooms due to fatigue, planning to have dinner after recovering. By the time we were ready to eat, it was late at night, and the homestay owner along with other eateries in the town had already finished for the day. Eventually, after some searching, we settled for a restaurant that had already closed for the night. Reluctantly, the restaurant owner rekindled the fire and prepared a few simple dishes for us. We learned in our conversation that due to the sparse population and limited business, as well as the early bedtime habits in the countryside, the restaurants would close after seven in the evening.
Learning from this experience, on the second day we ate dinner early in the evening before going out for a relaxing walk, enjoying the tranquil rural night.
For those passionate about backpacking, the May Day holiday is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to relax and seek adventure. Setting off alone on an unknown path is exciting, yet also full of challenges. Such experiences leave us with deep memories and make us more cautious and confident in future travels.
For this trip, I chose a destination not far from the city where I work, praised by an experienced traveler for its tranquility and beauty. A two-day and one-night itinerary seemed just right. Whether relying on past camping experience or taking ample gear, I set off on the journey with great anticipation.
However, walking on the mountain road, I quickly found the evening glow fading, and passersby became scarce. Where I had expected to encounter fellow travelers, I now felt an unsettling solitude. As the night fell, I continued with a slight nervousness, comforting myself with the thought that there would be companions ahead.
Upon reaching the planned rest stop, I was surprised to find it was merely a basic camping site with no other lodging facilities. In this desolate place, one misstep could lead to isolation. Fortunately, after I had set up my campsite, two fellow travelers arrived, which somewhat eased my tension.
At night, when all is quiet, the rustling grass and stirring wind outside startle the heart. Unable to sleep, I can only rely on self-comfort and the presence of occasional companions to calm my mind. As dawn breaks, I quickly set off on my way home, solely to escape the unease of traveling alone.
After returning to the city’s bustle, I shared this tumultuous experience with the fellow traveler who had recommended this place. Unfortunately, such encounters are rare. Upon reflection, it might be precisely this rarity that makes the journey so unforgettable. For the future, I have resolved that, with each solitary expedition, I will double my preparations and always prioritize safety to avoid being troubled by unforeseen circumstances on the road.
