China’s Quietest National Day: Beijing Empty, Streets Filled with Tent Campers and Budget Travelers

In Wuhan, during the 2025 National Day holiday, something unusual appeared on the streets and parks: groups of young people no longer dragging suitcases looking for hotels. Instead, they carried tents and sleeping bags, setting up colorful tents in parks, along the riverbank, and even in empty city spaces. The line of tents stretched as far as the eye could see, turning this traditional tourist city into an ‘open-air campsite.’ Some joked, ‘Wuhan’s hotel industry might be crying right now.