This year’s Golden Week—China’s extended National Day holiday—delivered more than scenic views and family reunions; it exposed raw frictions in the tourism market. While upscale hotels and guesthouses jacked up rates twofold or more, drawing complaints from budget-strapped travelers, an unlikely hero emerged: roadside tent rentals at around 130 RMB ($18) per night. These humble setups turned into prime bookings at hotspots like Mount Tai and Huangshan, offering a lifeline when traditional lodging felt out of reach.
The Accommodation Crunch: Skyrocketing Prices Meet Traveler Backlash
The holiday kicked off with a travel frenzy—over 23 million passenger trips on day one alone, fueling sell-outs at popular sites. But the boom bred opportunism: quick-stay hotels climbed to 800-900 RMB, while scenic-area spots topped 1,000 RMB, some surging up to 10 times normal rates. One infamous case saw a resort slash prices mid-holiday on October 3 after rooms sat empty—proof that gouging doesn’t always pay.
Travelers vented frustration online, opting for “zero-cost” escapes like parks or cultural spots to dodge the squeeze. Enter tent camping: for a 300 RMB deposit, duos snag a spot inside the park for 130 RMB—cheaper than a decent meal elsewhere, and far below inflated benchmarks.
Prime Perks in the Wild: Convenience Over Comfort
These tent rentals aren’t just cheap; they’re strategically savvy. Perched at vantage points on Mount Tai or Huangshan’s peaks, they let guests wake to sunrises without dawn hikes— a perk mountain-base hotels can’t match. Demand spiked so high that even standalone mats rented out, with campers bedding down al fresco to cut costs further.
Chat with renters, and sentiments echo simplicity: “It’s shelter from the chill when hotels are booked solid,” or “Saves enough for extra meals—practical magic.” For many, especially youth favoring affordable vibes, it’s a win: community over luxury, experience intact.
A Wake-Up Call for the Tourism Sector
This tent surge spotlights deeper woes—a supply-demand mismatch in a post-boom era, where explosive growth (eight-day “super” holidays drawing billions in trips) clashes with pragmatic spending. Hotels face fierce rivalry, but overpricing risks alienating the masses who now prioritize value and stories over stars.
Lessons abound: Keep hikes reasonable to avoid backlash; deliver tangible fixes like these tents, which blend utility with novelty; innovate beyond walls to tap unmet needs. While no-frills, they affirm that in crunch times, solving the basics trumps extravagance.
Mixed Emotions: Innovation or Indictment?
The tent boom evokes duality—kudos for ingenuity easing real pains, yet sorrow that holidays hinge on such stopgaps. As one camper noted, it’s “willpower wrapped in canvas.” Props to operators bridging the gap, letting more folks chase dreams without breaking banks.
Fingers crossed for next year: fairer pricing, diverse options. Until then, these pop-ups prove resilience in the rush.
References
- WARC: China’s Hotels See Golden Week Boom (Oct 2025)
- Global Times: Over 23 Million Passenger Trips on First Day (Oct 1, 2025)
- AFR: China Is on the Move for Golden Week (Oct 8, 2025)
- Reddit: Huangshan Bunk Bed Accommodation/Tent Rental (Aug 15, 2025)
- Trip.com: To Journey Huangshan Camping (2025)
- Travel Daily News: Golden Week 2025 Drives Surge in Outbound Travel (Sep 24, 2025)
- Facebook/Global Times: China’s Golden Week Opened with Record Travel (Oct 1, 2025)
