Innovation appeals to the young at Red tourist sites

Like Cai, an increasing number of young Chinese have begun to mine the historical nuggets of Red tourism, which has been known in the past as a rather dreary, didactic pursuit, something for the middle-aged and elderly. Nowadays, more innovative methods have been introduced to stir the feelings of tech-savvy, curious youth.

Red tourism means traveling to sites that record major events of the CPC during revolutionary times, visiting museums and exhibitions and exploring the history of New China.

Visits to Red sites have grown significantly this year, which marks the 100th anniversary of the CPC. The number of visits last year was about 100 million, despite the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It is expected to surpass 900 million by 2024, reaping revenues of more than 1 trillion yuan ($155 billion), 10 percent of the country's total tourism revenue, according to a report from the Tongcheng Research Institute.

Netizens' attention to Red tourism has grown by about 80 percent from the beginning of this year alone. And about 60 percent of customers buying Red tourism travel packages at Tongcheng-Elong, an online travel agency, range in age from 20 to 39. This indicated strong interest in the sector by younger adults, it said.

"Unlike their parents, the younger generation grew up with the rapid development of China's national power, which enables them to view the world confidently. With that cultural confidence, they show greater interest in Red history," said Cheng Chaogong, chief researcher at the institute. "They tend to favor in-depth experiences that tell real stories and help them think."

Wang Qi, a 23-year-old college student in Baoding, Hebei province, toured the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, which she recalled as "most impressive and having a novel design".