Fresh approach

In some places, such as Shenzhen in Guangdong province, factory tours are also creating new scenarios and formats, incorporating low-carbon and eco-friendly experiences into tourist itineraries.

Last October, Du Yijia, founder of the sustainable innovation platform On the RISE, visited the Longgang Energy Ecological Park to observe how household waste is processed and incinerated for power.

"It was my first time at a waste treatment plant, and it wasn't what I expected. The park was clean and high-tech, not at all like the traditional smelly, garbage-filled sites. Staff members informed me that the plant 'eats'a quarter of Shenzhen's daily household waste," Du said.

The 540,000-square-meter facility processes 5,100 metric tons of household waste daily, generating 3 million kWh of electricity per day on average — enough to power 10,000 households for a month.

During the tour, Du found the waste-sorting section particularly fascinating. Behind enclosed glass, giant mechanical claws grabbed waste and moved it to the next phase in the process.

"It felt like a huge claw machine. The entire procedure was smart and integrated advanced technology and innovation. For example, I learned that slag from incineration can be recycled into bricks," she said.

The educational tour also heightened Du's awareness of the importance of sustainable living. "Even with advanced technology, 2 percent of waste still cannot be processed and ends up in landfills. It made me realize that without controlling waste in real life, our living spaces could become compromised in the future," she said.

Du said that unlike traditional nature or museum tours, factory visits offer immersive experiences that provide deeper insights into processes like waste treatment.

"Our daily sources of entertainment and information are often limited to social media and short videos. Tours like this are wonderful because they help us disconnect from screens and engage with real-life experiences that matter," she said.

After Du shared her experience on Xiaohongshu, it became her most popular post, accumulating around 250,000 views.

Sun, the researcher, said the interactive nature of factory tours aligns well with the content style of China's social media platforms, such as Xiaohongshu.

"The popularity of these tours among young people is closely tied to their presence on social media. The interactive and social dimensions are ideal for image and short video platforms," he said.

However, despite their popularity, factory tours face several challenges. Some facilities are situated in remote areas with limited transport, dining and accommodation options. In addition, many lack professional guides or tailored tour plans, which can diminish the overall visitor experience.

"Furthermore, these lightweight experiences tend to be one-time visits. Tourists are unlikely to revisit the same factory, let alone return a third time," Sun said.

"Therefore, for visitors, it usually isn't a primary reason to explore a new city; for companies, it may not become a core aspect of their business. A more suitable development path remains to be explored," he said.

zhaoruinan@chinadaily.com.cn