From drones to camping gear, cameras to cars, more young Chinese tourists are opting to rent rather than purchase big ticket items for their travels. During the bumper National Day holiday from October 1 to 8, rental orders surged as travelers looked for affordable and flexible ways to enjoy their trips.
According to Didi Car Rental, bookings rose by 212 percent during the holiday. On Aizujii, a leading electronics rental platform, orders for devices have tripled since September. DSLR camera rentals increased by 420 percent year-on-year, while drone rentals climbed 350 percent.
Data from the Development Research Center of the State Administration for Market Regulation showed that China’s rental sector grew by 32 percent in 2024, reaching 4.2 trillion yuan (US$589b) in transactions and serving over 750 million users.
Behind the boom lies a major shift in consumer behavior among younger generations, from “owning” to “accessing” and from “long-term possession” to “instant gratification,” said Xu Mingyuan, a researcher at Chongqing Technology and Business University, in an interview with the Chongqing Daily.
Old Version
