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Shanghai City Parks Seek Balance: Draft Guideline Addresses Camping Boom

Private campground developers are set to gain new insights and potential advantages following the recent release of a draft guideline aimed at regulating camping sites in Shanghai, China.

This development comes amidst the soaring popularity of city camping and the subsequent managerial challenges experienced across various parks, according to a report by Shanghai Daily.

Devised by Shanghai’s culture and tourism authorities, the draft guideline promotes the establishment of camping sites within tourist hotspots, resorts, rural communities, country parks, and theme parks. It highlights the necessity of proper licensing, the definition of managerial roles, the implementation of mechanisms to foster the organized and sustainable growth of camping sites, and strict adherence to health and safety protocols.

The guideline also calls for the public to follow civilized, eco-friendly, and safe camping habits. This includes restricting noise and properly clearing and sorting trash.

Operators and management agencies of camping sites are urged to prevent tourists from creating noise that disrupts the lives of nearby residents. Additionally, the guideline addresses the selection of camping site locations, operation, safety management, and environmental protection.

According to the Shanghai Greenery and Public Sanitation Bureau, there are 53 parks in the city that allow visitors to pitch tents. On sunny weekends, the lawns at some parks become completely occupied by tents, resulting in some areas becoming bare.

With 53 parks in Shanghai permitting tent pitching, and an increasing number of visitors camping out, issues such as overcrowded lawns and increased maintenance burdens have surfaced. The guideline’s release underscores the need for more regulated camping experiences, an opportunity that private campground developers are ideally positioned to seize.

Deng Jianping, the director of the bureau, stated in a recent radio program, “The surge of campers has triggered a lot of problems.” The director also said that overuse has led to withered lawns and maintenance difficulties.

Some tourists have additionally disregarded regulations by bringing portable gas stoves into parks. Tents have also posed safety hazards as children and seniors have stumbled over ropes used to secure them. These issues, along with the increased amount of trash left behind by campers, have led to additional cleaning work and significant maintenance costs.

Gongqing Forest Park in Yangpu District, a popular camping site, has experienced between 50,000 and 60,000 visitors per day on weekends due to the pleasant spring weather. Prime camping spaces fill up in the morning, leaving some lawn areas bare after being trampled on. Similar issues have occurred at Century Park and Guyi Garden, a historical Jiangnan-style garden in Jiading District.

Zhou Weihong, a deputy to the Shanghai People’s Congress, suggested designating specific areas for campers and providing clear regulations for managing camping sites and campers’ behavior.

Some parks, such as Pujiang Country Park in Minhang District, have already implemented new methods to minimize the impact of camping. They have paved a 500-meter-long artificial lawn that is free to campers and can accommodate up to 200 tents. A park staff explained that this approach requires only regular clearing of the lawn, resulting in lower maintenance costs.

In this year’s cherry blossom season, the Chenshan Botanical Garden in Songjiang District also rolled out 50 tents managed by a third party, offering catering and performance services.

For private campground owners and operators, the draft guideline may serve as a useful reference for establishing their own policies and best practices. These guidelines can provide a framework for effective management and growth. By aligning their operations with the proposed regulations, these developers could set a high standard for their facilities, attracting more visitors and potentially increasing their revenue.

By ensuring a safe, clean, and enjoyable environment for campers, private campground operators can set themselves apart from less regulated public alternatives, attracting more customers and potentially boosting revenue.

Featured image from Carrie Fereday.

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Seth Peak
Seth Peak
March 20, 2024 4:14 am

Shanghai’s new guidelines are all about finding that sweet spot between enjoying the great outdoors while keeping our parks and rural areas pristine. By following these rules and supporting private campgrounds, we’re creating a sustainable and fun outdoor scene for everyone to enjoy. Let’s make it happen together!

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Hi, you might find this article from Modern Campground interesting: Shanghai City Parks Seek Balance: Draft Guideline Addresses Camping Boom! This is the link: https://moderncampground.com/asia/china/shanghai-city-parks-seek-balance-draft-guideline-addresses-camping-boom/