Chinese Donkey Friends in Tibet – Evidence from the Cyberspace Community

The aim of this paper is to provide insights into Chinese backpacking tourism in Tibet. Chinese backpackers, also referred to as “donkey friends” in China, are distinctively Generation Y born in the 1980s and 1990s. They grew up at a time when China shifted political power to Deng Xiaoping’s explorations with capitalism and greater openness. Aided in part by the diffusion of the internet and web-based donkey friend associations, backpacking flourished in China. Through a virtual ethnography of a leading internet travel forum, it has been found that Tibet appeals to Chinese backpackers mainly because of its natural environment. Backpackers in Tibet emphasize the “donkey friend” spirit and self-actualization as an important part of their trip. There is a gap between supply and demand for donkey friends’ travel in Tibet, particularly in terms of accommodation facilities. Attention should also be paid to managing the relationship between the local community and backpackers.