For the past year, outdoor sports undoubtedly emerged as one of the most frequently mentioned topics in conversations among young Chinese.

According to an industry development report on China's outdoor sports released in October, individuals born in the 1990s have become the largest consumer group participating in outdoor sports, accounting for 36.1 percent. They are followed by those born in the 1980s with a share of 32.5 percent.

The report also revealed a year-on-year increase of 79 percent in outdoor sports-related orders in the first half of 2023, and a surge of 221 percent compared to the same period of 2019.

On Chinese lifestyle-sharing platforms such as Xiaohongshu and Weibo, numerous daily posts share diverse experiences related to outdoor sports. These range from high-intensity activities like sailing and off-roading to more laid-back ones such as camping and city walks, with ice and snow sports taking the spotlight in winter.

Though not the most well-known ski resort in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Tianshan Tianchi international ski resort in Fukang City recently hosted over 2,000 visitors daily, gaining popularity due to its relatively mild temperatures and the rich tourist resources nearby, according to its marketing director.

As outdoor sports gradually evolve into a lifestyle of Chinese people, especially the younger generation, the industry is poised for further growth in the years to come. According to the action plan, the industry's value is targeted to hit 3 trillion yuan (422.5 billion U.S. dollars) by 2025.