Off-the-wall journeys

A forest full of animatronic dinosaurs.[Photo by Erik Nilsson/China Daily]

"As Chinese people's living standards keep rising, and the tourism industry becomes hot, traditional sites can't cater to individuals' interests," Zhan says.

"So weird or unique tourist products have begun to mushroom. They're gradually becoming the new hot destinations for young people.

"From the perspective of tourist psychology, everyone is curious and longs to explore the world, to hunt for novelty - especially young people. That's the niche market where weird tourism is expanding to occupy. But I don't think older generations seek the unusual."

She points out Chinese youth value individualism and need to discharge work stress. Peculiar tourism supplements and diversifies travel packages. And it combines local cultures with commerce, enhancing native economies.

Its proliferation is summoned by marketization, she says.

"These (lower-tier cities') travel resources were previously over-looked," Zhan says.

"These sites create gimmicks to bring outsiders to these places."

Demand commands more than scenic and historical destinations, Beijing Union University's Tourism College's assistant dean Zhang Lingyun says.

"I don't think every city should make sightseeing their tourist industry's pillar. Not all cities and towns have these tourist resources."

But Zhang doesn't believe inventing outlandish attractions is the way to create inroads to outlying destinations.

"Second-and third-tier cities with no special tourist sites can lure people from metropolises by providing them cleaner air, healthier organic food and relaxed atmospheres, instead of just creating something weird."

Yet, given China's travel industry's direction and diversification, the proliferation of weird tourism sites has perhaps become the new normal.