Factory tours have emerged as a new trend in China’s summer travel market, according to a report released by online travel platform Tongcheng Travel on Wednesday.

Data from Tongcheng Travel showed that bookings for factory-related travel products have increased more than 36% year on year, with family trips accounting for 68% of these orders.

Factory tours have become a new form of educational travel. Some industrial sites, such as Jiangnan Shipyard, allow students to observe large-scale manufacturing processes and gain a closer look at China’s industrial development.

The trend is also attracting international visitors. Travel platform HopeGoo reported that bookings for Chinese inbound factory tours have surged more than ninefold year on year this summer.

Many overseas tourists are combining factory visits with trips to shopping destinations such as Huaqiangbei electronics market in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province and Yiwu commodity market in Zhejiang Province.

Tongcheng Research Institute said the popularity of factory tours reflects tourists’ growing interest in travelling with learning. With more smart manufacturing companies opening their facilities to visitors, factory tours are expected to gain wider popularity in the future.