The 2024 China International Camping Congress takes place in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, in May. [Photo/Tide News]

The 2024 China International Camping Congress took place in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, in May. Zhang Yi, vice-chairman of the congress, revealed that Jinhua's camping equipment manufacturing industry leads the province by a wide margin, according to industry research.

With over 2,000 outdoor sports-related enterprises in Jinhua, the city's exports of tents and camping gear reached 880 million yuan ($123.60 million) from January to July, accounting for 24.1 percent of the provincial total.

An outdoor living experience center is established at Zhejiang Sunshine Leisure Products Co. [Photo/Tide News]

At Zhejiang Primitive Brand Management Co, an entire floor has been transformed into a product showroom, showcasing over 400 products in more than 10 categories. Zhejiang Sunshine Leisure Products Co also established an outdoor living experience center within the company headquarters, featuring nearly 300 types of outdoor chairs.

Jinhua's outdoor sports industry began to gain momentum in 1996, when a multitude of outdoor sports equipment factories were established leveraging the hardware industry. Over nearly three decades, the city has cultivated a comprehensive outdoor sports industry chain.

The industry's growth extends beyond traditional camping gear. For example, Primitive Brand has produced new products including paddleboards and kayaks, catering to the rising interest in water sports, while many brands have developed small fishing rods, folding mahjong tables, and other derivative products.

The 2024 China International Camping Congress in May attracted participants from 13 countries and regions, facilitating procurement and trade agreements worth more than 270 million yuan.

"More than half of the enterprises at the congress are from Jinhua. The huge amount of contracts reflects not only strong industry demand but also the international recognition of Jinhua outdoor sports enterprises," said Zhang.

Editor: Xu Zhitian