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People enjoy skating at Longtan Park in Beijing on January 16, 2025. Photo: IC

China plans to build around 100 high-quality outdoor sports destinations in order to promote the high-quality development of the outdoor sports industry, according to a circular jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the General Administration of Sport re-cently, as reported by the People's Daily on Tuesday.

By 2030, around 100 high-quality outdoor sports destinations with enhanced facilities, services, management and international influence will be built. It is an important measure to increase the number of outdoor sports participants and boost the outdoor sports industry so that it may become a new economic growth point, the circular said.

The circular also stated that efforts should be made to utilize high-quality outdoor sports resources in a reasonable way, strengthen the construction of outdoor sports facilities, promote the upgrading of outdoor sports products and services, and improve the system of outdoor sports events.

It further encourages regions with long snow season and high-quality snow in Northeast, North, and Northwest China to focus on developing winter sports. Northwest and Southwest China will act in supporting roles by fostering mountain-based outdoor activities, including trail running, rock climbing, and rafting.

The growing enthusiasm for outdoor sports is already evident. Data from the General Administration of Sport shows that by the end of 2021, China had recorded over 400 million outdoor sports participants. The industry is trending toward mass participation, accessibility across all age groups, and a shift toward lighter and more social outdoor activities. Popular pursuits such as hiking, rock climbing, cycling, winter sports are expanding rapidly, attracting a younger demographic due to their low barrier of entry and social aspect.

The 2025 Asian Winter Games will begin in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Friday, bringing global attention to winter sports. Meanwhile, tourist enthusiasm in via ferrata climbing routes in East China's Zhejiang Province is also surging. In 2024, this newly introduced type of climbing routes at destinations such as Yandang Mountain were fully booked, with some requiring advance reservations, as reported by the People's Daily.

"These examples underscore the rapid development of outdoor sports," Luo Le, a Beijing-based sports scholar, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The circular also stressed the need to deeply integrate the outdoor sports industry with tourism, culture, health and education. Feasible means should be explored so that foreign capital can participate in the construction of high-quality outdoor sports destinations through sole proprietorships and joint ventures. 

"This policy is primarily aimed at fostering outdoor sports development, marking a positive trajectory from late 2024 to 2025," Luo said. 

"Encouraging people to participate in outdoor sports not only fulfills the intrinsic value of sports, but also highlights the unique appeal of outdoor activities - blending sports with tourism."

He hailed the success of events like the Village Super League (VSL), which illustrates the power of sports-tourism synergy. 

"It's not about high-level competition but about integrating tourism with activities like hiking and trekking to create an immersive experience," Luo said.

Since 2023, community-level sporting competitions such as the Village Basketball Association, VSL, Village Volleyball, and dragon boat races have captivated people across the nation. Official data shows that in 2023 alone, over 246,000 community sports events were uploaded to the national fitness information platform, attracting more than 71.83 million participants, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The circular also underscores the importance of international cooperation in outdoor sports competitions. It calls for aligning domestic events with international standards, improving event infrastructure and organizational services, and attracting elite global athletes and teams. Additionally, it highlights the need to strengthen collaboration with BRI countries for outdoor sports events.

"Local tourism boards can also focus on attracting foreign tourists by creating internationally distinct outdoor sports destinations, which will broaden their appeal beyond domestic travelers," Luo suggested.

In addition, safety management for outdoor sports should be enhanced, said the circular. 

Moving forward, the National Development and Reform Commission and the General Administration of Sport will work with relevant authorities to guide the planning, design, and construction of high-quality outdoor sports destinations. They will also coordinate efforts to mobilize local governments and stakeholders to support the sustainable development of the outdoor sports industry, the People's Daily reported.