Development of outdoor recreation in Beijing, China between 1990 and 2010

• Outdoor recreation sites in Beijing grew at an annual rate of 20.3% in 1990–2010.
• Relieving stress, spending holidays, and accessing nature were top motivations.
• Increased private car ownership and income facilitated the growth.
• Lack of planning and lack of public participation were major problems.

Less developed countries face the challenge of meeting the rising demand for outdoor recreation opportunities in metropolitan areas. It is important to understand the developing process of outdoor recreation and identify the influencing factors in order to overcome the challenge. This study analyzed the growth of outdoor recreation in Beijing, China from 1990 to 2010 using information collected from official reports, field investigations, and an online survey. The results showed that the number of outdoor recreation sites in Beijing increased at an annual rate of 20.3%, growing slowly from 1990 to 2002 and accelerating from 2002 to 2010. Increased private car ownership and per capita income had strong influences on the growth of outdoor recreation sites. The study also found that the government played an active role in developing outdoor recreation in Beijing, especially in rural areas. Shortage of time and inconvenient transportation were residents’ main reasons for not participating in outdoor recreation activities. In the process of developing outdoor recreation in Beijing, lack of planning and lack of public participation in the decision-making process were identified as the major issues. These problems should be avoided by other less developed countries who wish to develop outdoor recreation in their metropolitan areas.