China's emotion-driven consumption market is projected to exceed 4.5 trillion yuan ($663 billion) by 2029, encompassing sectors such as designer toys, blind boxes and handicraft experiences.

Paying for experiences that generate positive emotions has become a defining feature of spending among young Chinese consumers.

At a family farm in Beizhai subdistrict, Laoshan district, Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Wang Shan rents a 60-square-meter plot at the farm's "shared vegetable gardens," where seasonal vegetables grow in neat rows.

Wang values not only the fresh produce but also the opportunity to relax outdoors with family members on weekends, often sharing the harvest with friends.

Farm operator Lei Ming said the farm launched the rental program in 2008, allowing renters to take part in the entire farming process, from sowing and field management to harvesting. Lei returned to run the farm full-time in 2015 after sensing growing urban demand for rural experiences.