China’s draconian Covid-19 measures have forced urbanites accustomed to international travel to the wilderness for escapist pastimes, spawning a booming glamping and outdoor sports industry. The fields, rivers and mountains surrounding the big cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen have become popular destinations for city dwellers seeking temporary relief from the shackles of the “zero-clearing” policy. Spending on camping gear is estimated to grow 20 percent this year. Sporting goods giant Anta Sports’ sales in 2021 will increase by nearly 40% to 49 billion yuan. Before the latest wave of the Omicron outbreak, residents were largely free to travel domestically, although international travel was unavailable. Before the outbreak, Chinese citizens made 3 billion domestic trips a year, a figure that has halved since the outbreak, according to Daxue Consulting.
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