Old towns across China shine in nighttime tourism during National Day holiday

Various old towns across China have rolled out night tour programs during the ongoing week-long National Day holiday that started on Thursday, adding festive cheer to the holiday and drawing droves of visitors.

In Anju, a thousand-year-old town built along the Fujiang River in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, the river surface is turned into a stage for lanterns, fireworks, and molten iron fireworks, presenting a dazzling view for visitors.

“The combination of fireworks, lights, and the flowing waters is very beautiful. I usually came to Anju Ancient Town during the day, but this time I made a special trip at night for the fireworks show. It is very stunning and breathtaking, so it’s a trip worth taking,” said Yang Xia, a visitor.

In east China’s Fujian Province, the Changting Old Town has been crowded with visitors during the holiday. In addition to watching Chinese-style art performances, they can also take a cruise along the Tingjiang River to enjoy the picturesque nighttime scenery on both banks.

“I feel like I had stepped back into ancient times. The scenery is fantastic and the atmosphere is lively. So it’s really worthwhile to travel here during the National Day holiday,” said Ye Baoxuan, another visitor.

Meanwhile, the Bencha Ancient Town in east China’s Jiangsu Province has staged themed nighttime performances such as fish lantern parades, intangible cultural heritage acrobatic shows, and water-based live-action performances, offering visitors an immersive audiovisual experience.

“These performances have made this place very lively, so it’s nice to unwind with my family here,” said a visitor named Lin.

China’s outdoor gear industry is experiencing a sustained export boom, with many manufacturers reporting full order books extending into 2027 as overseas demand for camping and leisure gear continue to rise.

In recent years, the sector has developed rapidly, with faster product iteration and growing overseas market share. Many companies have already received orders scheduled through well into 2027, signaling strong industry momentum.

Unlike previous years when the peak season began in late September or early October, Letu leisure Products Company in Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China’s Zhejiang Province entered its busy period much earlier this year, with folding outdoor awnings rolling off production lines one after another and packed for storage.

“Our company currently has an order volume of 500,000 sets, and production has been scheduled through January 2027. Our daily output has risen form 3,000 sets to about 4,000 sets,” said Gao Hongfang, deputy manager of production of the company.

Over the past two years, Letu has continued investing in research and development in the outdoor awning segment, adding practical features such as solar lighting and wind-resistant reinforcement. Its export value grew from over five million yuan (about 750,000 U.S. dollars) in 2015 to 160 million yuan in the first half of this year.

Zhejiang Youyi Feinuo Umbrella Industry Co., Ltd in Shaoxing City is targeting the growing trend of glamping and expanding its product matrix. Its orders have already been booked through June next year.

“We offer products like mattresses, beach mats and carpets, and we provide customers with one-stop or packaged combination sets,” said Xu Jianshu, executive general manager of the company.

At another manufacturer in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Hengyang Umbrella Co., Ltd, production boards display real-time scheduling data, with daily output of more than 2,000 outdoor products. Batches of finished goods are inspected, packed and prepared for shipment worldwide.

“At present, our main business is still export-oriented. Our main markets are Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East. Now we also have markets in Africa and Southeast Asia,” said Han Haojie, general manager of the company.

Many domestic outdoor gear manufacturers are undergoing transformation. In the past, most of them focused on contract manufacturing, but now they are placing greater emphasis on independent research and development. Adapting actively to consumer habits in different overseas markets, the manufacturers have increased investment in innovation to build their own brands and lead market demand with their original designs.