"Traveling buddy" (a Chinese slang term for travel companions or outdoor enthusiasts) is a term used to refer to outdoor enthusiasts.It specifically denotes those who enjoy self-guided travel, general exploration, hiking, trekking, and similar activities. The term originates from the homophonic pun of "travel" (lǚ) friend and "green" (lǜ) friend, and first spread from the Sina Travel Forum."Green" here refers to environmental protection and not polluting the environment. Therefore, a "travelling buddy" specifically refers to an "enthusiast," meaning a person, not travel itself. Hence, interpreting "travelling buddy" as a homophone for travel may be a misunderstanding. A "travelling buddy" is also an enthusiast.
It is a noun used for self-reference or as a respectful form of address for others. Since donkeys can carry loads and endure hardship, the term is often seen as a source of pride among enthusiasts. Travelling buddies generally refer to tourists who travel on foot or by bicycle.
They bring their own tents, cooking utensils, and various outdoor survival tools. They are often able to discover beautiful scenic spots that others have not been to or rarely visit. However, they may also encounter unexpected difficulties or emergencies along the way. The term also specifically refers to travelers who aim to experience landscapes, culture, and local life or for artistic inspiration, rather than those traveling for vacation purposes. It has become a popular way of travel across all social strata in recent years. Areas such as western Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet have become havens for travelling buddies, among which the areas around Lijiang—with relatively low altitudes, high oxygen levels, and beautiful natural scenery—have become one of the first places travellers explore, followed by Sichuan and then Tibet.
But nowadays it more commonly refers to backpackers—those outdoor enthusiasts who carry backpacks and travel with tents and sleeping bags, engaging in trekking and camping.
Simply put, a "travelling buddy" is an outdoor sports enthusiast. The main outdoor activities popular in China include hiking, trekking, mountaineering, rock climbing, rafting, off-road mountain biking, and more. Most of these activities associated with travelling buddies carry an element of adventure and fall under extreme or sub-extreme sports, offering significant challenges and thrills. Because they allow people to embrace nature, challenge themselves, build willpower and teamwork, and improve wilderness survival skills, they are especially popular among young people.
With the improvement of living standards, outdoor sports have become increasingly popular, and travelling buddies have gained growing attention.