Episode Details

Tourists row boats along a river in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province.
游客们在云南省文山壮族苗族自治州的一条河流上划着船只游玩。

Summer has always been the peak tourism season in China. But this year's summer tourism season is not only about crowds and sunshine but also about change. Youths, especially Gen Z and college students, are reshaping the way the Chinese people travel. They prioritize quality over quantity, substance over mileage, and experience over exhaustion.
夏季一直是中国旅游业的旺季。但今年的夏季旅游季不仅有熙熙攘攘的人群和明媚的阳光，还有变化的元素。年轻人，尤其是 Z 世代和大学生，正在改变中国人出行的方式。他们更看重品质而非数量，更注重实质内容而非行驶里程，更重视体验而非疲惫不堪。

Gone are the days of whirlwind itineraries packed with low-cost sightseeing. Today's youths seek better, richer experiences. According to travel platform Fliggy, the average travel spending by college students this summer is up by 6 percent year-on-year, with average trips lasting about 2.9 days. Tourism for them is not just about ticking the boxes; it's also about reconnecting with the self and rediscovering the joy of exploration.
那些匆忙而简陋的旅行日程——充斥着低价观光活动的日子已经一去不复返了。如今的年轻人追求更优质、更丰富的体验。据旅游平台飞猪的数据，今年夏天大学生的平均旅行花费同比增长了 6%，平均旅行时间约为 2.9 天。对他们而言，旅游不仅仅是完成任务那么简单，更是与自我重新连接、重新发现探索乐趣的过程。
As temperatures soar, young travelers are chasing comfort along with the quest for natural and historical sites. "Wellness travel" is a new trend. Think blue skies, snow-capped peaks, rolling grasslands and crystal clear lakes. Places like Qinghai province, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Yunnan province, the western part of Sichuan province, and Northeast China, where temperatures remain below 25 degrees Celsius in summer, have become favorite tourist destinations.
随着气温不断攀升，年轻游客们不仅在探寻自然和历史遗迹的同时，也在追求舒适体验。“健康旅游”成为了一种新趋势。想象一下蓝天、白雪皑皑的山峰、起伏的草原和清澈的湖泊。像青海、新疆维吾尔自治区、云南、四川西部以及东北地区这样的地方，夏季气温低于 25 摄氏度，已成为热门的旅游目的地。

Some go even further — literally crossing the equator to experience winter in July. New Zealand, South Africa and Chile have become popular "reverse-season" retreats for Chinese tourists. Countries like Norway and Iceland, where travelers can hike across glaciers, ski on alpine slopes, or simply unwind in a lakeside village are also attracting lots of Chinese tourists.
还有一些人则更进一步——甚至真的穿越赤道，以便在七月体验冬季。新西兰、南非和智利已成为深受中国游客喜爱的“反季节”度假胜地。像挪威和冰岛这样的国家，那里游客可以徒步穿越冰川、在高山滑雪场滑雪，或者只是在湖边的村庄里放松身心，也吸引了大量中国游客。

Today, travel is as much about emotions as it is about destinations. Events such as concerts, sports tournaments, and cultural festivals have become magnets for travelers. From music festivals and football games to dragon boat races and folk festivals, young people's choices are varied.
如今，旅行不仅关乎目的地，更关乎情感体验。诸如音乐会、体育赛事以及文化庆典等各类活动已成为吸引游客的重要因素。从音乐节、足球比赛到龙舟赛和民俗节，年轻人的选择多种多样。

For young people, summer nights, in particular, have acquired added charm. For instance, in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, a night tour through a tropical forest — lit by glowing fireflies — feels like wandering through a living galaxy. At Gexian village, Shangrao city of Jiangxi province, "illuminated parades" turn the place into a dynamic painting, bringing the lanterns to life.
对于年轻人来说，夏日的夜晚尤其增添了几分魅力。比如，在云南省的西双版纳，沿着热带森林进行的一次夜间游览——由发光的萤火虫照亮——让人感觉仿佛置身于一个活生生的星系之中。而在江西省上饶市的阁仙村，那些“点亮的游行”将这个地方变成了一幅充满活力的画卷，让灯笼仿佛有了生命一般。

For young Chinese tourists, participation is everything. Not interested in passive sightseeing, they want to be part of the experience. In Zhejiang province's Anji county, homestays in rural areas offer hands-on activities like farming, cooking, and traditional handicrafts, attracting families and young travelers alike. In Kaifeng, Henan province, an immersive boat tour, dubbed "A Day in the Song Dynasty (960-1279)" invites visitors to put on period attire, play poetry games, and enjoy music and dance along ancient canals. In Kaifeng's Wansui Mountain, a martial arts theme park, more than 80 live performances a day bring visitors "face-to-face" with Song-era heroes.
对于年轻的中国游客来说，参与体验才是最重要的。他们不想只是被动地观光，而是希望亲身参与到其中。在浙江省安吉县，农村的民宿