Short and sweet

The rising trend toward 'micro vacations' is prompting innovation in the tourism sector, Yang Feiyue reports.

The popularity of "micro vacations" has prompted tourism players to innovate in a bid to draw local travelers.

Like many others, the fluctuating domestic COVID-19 situation has been a perpetual source of frustration for Shuai Chengrui every time he tries to take time off to embark on a trip.

"It might seem like I'm overreacting, but whenever I saw news about the emerging cases, it was like my hands were tied behind my back and I was being restrained from booking flights and hotels," the 31-year-old Beijing resident says.

A travel enthusiast, Shuai is used to enjoying numerous trips to distant getaways and holidaying in foreign climes each year.

Over the past two years, however, he has spent most of his free time traveling across the city, especially to its suburban areas, to find fun and blow off steam.

He will drive around 40 kilometers to the countryside with his family and friends, either to explore some attractions which are off the beaten track or try special local cuisines that he finds on social media platforms, such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu (also known as Little Red Book).