Despite growing popularity for outdoor activities involving about 400 million participants across China, the most desirable destinations have closed access to off-trail trekkers. After the number of accidents soared by 41.2 percent year-on-year and pollution and trash threaten the environment of nature reserves, local governments have expanded prohibited zones. However, their one-size-fits-all measures such as encircling nature reserves with razor wire not only fail to deter trekkers, but also jeopardize wildlife by fragmenting their habitats. China's hiking boom started at the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with the number of trekkers having tripled from 2020 to 2024, professional hikers and local officials agree that sound development of the outdoor sports industry depends on people's respect for nature.
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