An appetite for outdoor sports and activities has been swelling across China, giving rise to a range of once-obscure hiking activities while significantly boosting tourism and consumer spending.

River tracing, or mountain stream climbing, is a popular sport that combines hiking and climbing. It allows trekkers to trace the flow of mountain streams by plodding upstream to the sources. In Suiyang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, a 3.8-kilometer route featuring beautiful natural landscapes has drawn many explorers.

The activity has gained popularity this summer as staying near the water helps hikers stave off the heat.

"This kind of hiking tourism is extremely popular with young people these days. It is pleasantly cool," said Xu Xingci, a tourist from China's Taiwan region.

In southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, rich with precipitous terrain, canyoning has gained a following among outdoor enthusiasts. The activity is challenging yet rewarding as hikers carefully cross canyon walls using a variety of tools and techniques,

An international canyoning competition involving sports such as swimming, rafting and rock climbing attracted nearly 200 participants to Chongqing in late July.

"I have participated in the event for three consecutive years. I bought a new helmet, a pair of canyoning shoes, and a waterproof camera for this year's competition," said Xiao Kang, an outdoor sports enthusiast.

Interest in another climbing activity known as via ferrata is also on the rise. Climbers traverse steep cliffs with the help of steel handrails, footrests, cable systems and other tools.

"There are adult-only routes and parent-child via-ferrata routes, both are quite challenging," said Zeng Yi, a Chongqing tourist.

In the famous Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in central China's Hunan Province, the via-ferrata project receives up to 1,200 climbers a day.

"Via-ferrata climbing has increased by 110 percent compared with the same period last year," said Luo Kewen, a manager at the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area.