TAIYUAN - During the May Day holiday, wellness tourism gained popularity as a fresh alternative to traditional travel options like cross-border trips and city sightseeing.

Li Yanling from Beijing chose the Fengcheng health and wellness demonstration zone in Jincheng city, North China's Shanxi province, for a relaxing getaway.

"Popular tourist spots are usually overcrowded, leaving us exhausted. This time, we wanted a trip that rejuvenates both body and mind," he said.

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Wellness tourism combines medical services, healthcare, and leisure activities in appealing destinations. Driven by China's aging population and policy support, as well as people's rising health awareness, the sector is expanding rapidly.

The Fengcheng demonstration zone spans 60 square kilometers and features high-end resorts, RV camps, and forest retreats.

"It has already attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors," said Yang Hua, a staff member.

Jincheng has actively promoted wellness tourism, issuing development plans and hosting national industry conferences to explore the integration model of "tourism plus wellness." Beyond traditional hot springs and forest stays, new trends like traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tourism and meditation retreats are rising.

The Wolong Bay resort in Shanxi's Gaoping city blends wellness with TCM, drawing both domestic and international tourists.

"We organize TCM health lectures to enrich visitors' experiences," said resort manager Li Xueye.

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Other areas in China are also capitalizing on this trend. Bama County in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, known as a "longevity haven," draws tourists to enjoy the local healthy lifestyle. Mogan Mountain in East China's Zhejiang province also builds a rural wellness model with boutique hostels and home-stays.

Backed by national policies like the Healthy China 2030 initiative, wellness tourism thrives, with over 3.39 million related businesses operating nationwide -- 173,000 newly registered in Q1 2025 alone.

While middle-aged and elderly visitors dominate the market, the number of younger participants is increasing.

"This slow-paced wellness holiday was so refreshing, and we'll definitely take more trips like this," Li Yanling said.