Camping 101: Your Guide To Camping In China

China is huge and begs to be explored up close and personal, so get some ideas on how to see it in the raw.

China is not often considered a hotspot for camping. But, why not? Probably because camping in China is a relatively new concept, or maybe it’s simply because the country has few official campgrounds. But as China adopts more and more new customs every year, and more locals have extra cash to spend on leisure, camping is starting to grow in popularity. It doesn’t hurt that the vast majority of camping gear used around the world, from bargain-bin buys to high-end equipment, is manufactured inside China and now sold in outdoor and sporting goods stores around the country (with cheap copies and knock-offs of these tents, sleeping bags, backpacks and more readily available, as well as plenty of the real brand-name stuff, too).

The Bad News

Another minor holdback is that while blogs and tour books often mention several camping areas around the country, near to many popular natural areas and tourists destinations, the vast majority of these places are more like “experience parks”, with tents, equipment, and even assistants to prepare camp food for visitors (and sometimes “mood music” piped in through rock-shaped loudspeakers for young couples). And, the cost for a night of this kind of “camping” is usually equivalent to, or higher than, staying in a decent hotel room

Still, at least it is a start, and surely some patrons will soon want a more honest camping experience, and clever entrepreneurs will inevitably rise to meet their demands

Additionally, as China has become addicted to cars, there is a small but growing industry for RVs and motorhomes, meaning that there will soon have to be RV parks to use them in. Click here to learn about “what is probably the most comprehensive overview of China RVs on the web.” (Their description, not mine).

The Good News

While all of this sounds grim for camping opportunities, fortunately China is HUGE. This means that by getting out of the cities and towns there is still plenty of opportunity to commune with nature in a more intimate setting. The best way to get camping in China now is to take matters into your own hands.

Although lots of areas have “no camping” policies, the main reason for such rules is to prevent squatter dwellings and the pollution, lack of hygiene and garbage that come with these sad situations. Legitimate, responsible campers know that there should be no lasting signs of their stay after they break camp, and will always remove any trash and never build a campfire in any area with a high potential for forest fire.

Therefore, the key to successful backcountry camping in China is to make sure that you pitch a tent out of view from any villages or roads, otherwise there may be considerable attention from locals wanting to hawk snacks and souvenirs, or local cops who are overzealously working to protect their precinct from this “dangerous and subversive activity.” Typically, all they will do is say that camping is not allowed, that you can only stay for one night, and don’t do it again. Sharing a cold beer or warm drink with them is usually the best way defuse the situation. Then, honor your word and move on in the morning.

To avoid any possibility of confrontation, another option, and definitely the best one for sleeping under the stars is to find a farmer and ask for permission to camp on his property, usually just a few RMB will cover the “tent fee.”

Official Camp Sites

Still, there are a few places where camping is officially allowed, or at least commonly tolerated.

Probably the best place to sleep in nature is on the Great Wall. This is actually one of the most popular camping trips in China, and there are even a couple of outfitters who will guide you if you prefer. Great Wall Adventures and China Hiking will both get you on the Great Wall for a night or two.

This camping trip provides a fantastic opportunity to see the Wall when it is tourist-free and bathed in morning and evening light, plus by hiking a few kilometers into the “wilderness” you can see some of the less traversed parts of this relic. The same trip can be done on your own if you are adventuresome; just check out trip planners to help brainstorm your own ideas.

Near another one of China’s best tourist destinations, the Guilin and Yangshou areas, there is the Yangshou Mountain Retreat that allows campers to rent a tent space and then take in the area’s astounding scenery. It seems to be the most legit “campground” in the country so far.

Go Backpacking Instead

Part of the fun of travel in rural China is that just getting somewhere is an adventure. Whether it is the hair-raising bus rides, crazy train stations, wacky taxi drivers or simply being lost in the middle of nowhere when a friendly local comes to the rescue, there is always a story for later.

For this reason, traveling in China with the express purpose of camping, particularly for foreigners, sort of misses the point. To really achieve all that there is to see on a trip into China’s interior, be it to ethnic Tibet and the Himalayas, Xinjiang, Sichuan, or anywhere else, cities included, a rugged and simple backpack that will hold some clothes, a camera, a small sleeping bag, and a tiny tent is all that is needed to get out in warmer weather and into your own adventure.

Hiking an amazing trail in a remote part of the country is priceless, but just getting to the trailhead is a trip in and of itself, so camp/backpack your way there and camp/backpack your way out. This gets back to the roots of camping: traveling light and being self-sufficient wherever you go, while enjoying the surroundings.

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