Megarally comes to China this summer

The annual rally of the 80-year-old International Federation of Camping and Caravanning will make its first appearance in China from May 30 to June 8.

Dubbed "the Olympics of camping and caravanning", the huge 10-day gathering for outdoor and RV enthusiasts sponsored by the Belgium-based Federation International de Camping, Caravanning et de Autocaravaning, will be held at a campsite in Yanqing county, close to the well-known tourist attractions of Badaling Great Wall and Longqing Gorge.

RV activists from around the world can either plant their their own recreational vehicles for a few days or rent a vehicle as they fire up their barbecues or visit the wall and gorge.

Visitors will be able to entertain themselves with various activities, including a music festival, dragon-boat racing and other activities featuring Chinese folk culture. The organizing committee has also designed trips to explore the ancient city and prairie of Yongning. In addition, visitors can take a helicopter for a bird's-eye view of the beautiful mountains near the capital.

The campsite is well equipped for comfort and safety, including showers, medical services, bicycle rental stations and restaurants, the committee said.

The annual FICC rally, which was established in 1932 and has its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, is one of the most important gatherings of campers and caravan fans around the globe, a fact that is not lost on the Beijing Tourism Development Commission.

The capital, as well as cities across the nation, have seen a surge in RV travel and camping interest in recent years, and the rally will meet the new and growing tourist demand, the commission said. It also intends to promote more campsites across the city to give residents more options for weekend getaways.

According to the organizing committee, more households are embracing the new tourism as China's economy blossoms. Trips in RVs are becoming an affordable holiday option for Chinese families, Shang Hui, a staff member from the committee, said.

The Yanqing Longwan International Motor-caravanning Campsite, as the rally's venue is officially known, is mostly complete and nearly ready for the onslaught of visitors. All work will be completed by April. Trial operations will kick off in early May, organizers said.

The rally is jointly sponsored by the FICC, the Beijing Tourism Development Commission and the China Tourism Association.

Venue: The Yanqing Longwan International Motor-caravanning Campsite, Yanqing

Dates: May 30 to June 8

Tickets: www.visitbeijing.com.cn

- Zheng Xin