TAIYUAN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- On a midsummer evening, the humid wind sweeps through Zhongtiao Mountain in north China's Shanxi Province, drawing a growing crowd to a teahouse nestled halfway up a slope.

Near the window is a booth with lotus motifs. Gathered around a lengthy wooden table are several young people, who appear to be in their early twenties, engrossed in conversations about their college lives.

"Our visits here extend beyond tea drinking. We momentarily escape the city's skyscrapers to relish the ambience and expansiveness of this mountain setting," said Li Moran, a young woman in her twenties, at the teahouse.

This is a trend that is on the rise in China's cities, as urban residents turn to alpine retreats for relaxation. With the popularity of mountain leisure, camping, and increased outdoor gear sales, more city-dwellers are discovering the calming effect of mountain escapes.

In the mountain teahouse, guests can enjoy sips of cold steeped tea for refreshment in the summer, or brew tea near a small stove on the table during the winter. These delightful beverages are accompanied by an array of delectable bites and fruit assortments.

This establishment embodies contemporary Chinese aesthetics, concealed within the lush green surroundings. The fusion of vibrant decor and tea artistry blends into a hit among the youth, offering an ideal rendezvous spot.

"It was quite unexpected that a teahouse would become a sensation among the younger crowd," said Xie Rui, founder of the teahouse.

Since the teahouse's trial operation at the end of last year, patrons aged 18 to 30 have formed a substantial majority. Their posts, featuring imagery and videos from the teahouse, have become popular across various social media platforms.

A stone's throw away from the teahouse, sprawling camping grounds beckon. On pleasant summer nights, tents of all sizes dot the mountainside, their twinkling lights creating an enchanting vista.

A mere half-hour drive separates the campsite from the urban hubbub, and it offers private kitchen barbecues, bonfire parties, and panoramic vistas of the city lights.

"Urban campsites are mushrooming, prompting me to invest in camping gear. It's a way to unwind and savor the poetic allure and traveling experience nearby," said local resident Wei Dapeng.

To elevate visitors' outdoor experiences, many campsites offer equipment rentals and catering services, all easily accessible via popular group purchasing apps and short video platforms.

The surge in the "mountain economy" has galvanized sales of outdoor gear. At French sports brand Decathlon's outlet in the city of Jinzhong in Shanxi, outdoor camping essentials command prime shelf space. The product experiential zones bustle with customers exploring tents, waterproof mats, and collapsible furniture.

The summer outdoor sports leaderboard released by major e-commerce platform JD.com in July featured camping wagons and folding chairs, while sales in the quick-dry sun-protective clothing category soared by 230 percent year on year. Camping and watching stars at night is one of the favorite activities of children in parent-child camping projects, boosting the demand for astronomical telescopes.

According to data from Tianyancha, a leading corporate information provider in China, prior to 2014, the country housed a mere few hundred camping-related enterprises. Since 2021, over 90,000 such enterprises have been registered, with more than half emerging within the past year alone.

"Youngsters' willingness to invest in the mountain ambience signifies a shift in consumer preferences," said Zhou Qingjie, a professor at Beijing Technology and Business University.

To nurture the mountain culture tourism sector, robust supporting services and product offerings are imperative. A gradual transition towards structured management will amplify tourists' outdoor encounters, Zhou added. Enditem

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