Rise of bed-car travel: service areas and campsites' capacity to accommodate needs improvement

An October 29, 2026 report shows that bed-car travel is trending on social media; tourists use their cars as temporary residences, seeking freedom and flexibility and saving on accommodation costs, but daily needs such as washing, toileting and sewage disposal are difficult to guarantee. Chongqing's Lengshui Fenggu campsite launched a 59.9 yuan "wooden platform/lawn pitch + public bathroom" product in August, selling 1,279 units in a single month; on weekends and holidays, overnight vehicles with "bed-car" attributes account for about 20% to 30% of overnight vehicles in public parking areas. Industry operators point out that bed cars lack a clear definition and charging standards, and management difficulties such as illegal modification and irregular sewage discharge still need to be regulated. Current progress is concentrated on campsites launching supporting products to accommodate the new flow of visitors, while industry standards have not yet been clarified.