More young travelers opt for chills over thrills

With the fast-paced nature of modern life, a new trend known as "lying-flat" travel has been quietly emerging in recent years.

From July to August 2023, searches related to lying-flat travel increased by 50 percent compared to the previous year, with travel guides and notes up by 70 percent, according to data from online platforms Meituan and Dianping.

Over 70 percent of the searchers were young people under the age of 30.

"For those dealing with societal pressures and mental exhaustion, lying-flat travel offers a great way to adjust by focusing on slowing down, deeply relaxing, and finding a sense of inner peace during the journey," said Han Yuanjun, an associate researcher at the China Tourism Academy.

Compared with adventure tourism or high-intensity hiking, many young travelers now prefer vacations that offer mental and physical relaxation, Han said. Experiences like riding escalators up mountains align perfectly with their desire for "easy, no pressure" travel, Han added.