As the National Day break, also known as the "Golden Week" is upon us, Culture Express proudly presents an 8-episode series of recreational trips. In the opener of the series today, CCTV news anchor Julian Waghann takes you on a special road trip in an RV.

Fishing gear, beer, cigarettes, barbeque skewers, and sunscreen, all in the quintessential Western chariots of leisure transportation.

No matter if it's white-haired retirees travelling for a warmer winter, or families with kids heading for an adventure in the surburban park, you are probably familiar with the idea: a motor vehicle equipped with living space and the amenities found in a home. In Chinese, it's called 房車(chē) (fáng chē), which literally means a “house car”.

RVs have a long and glorious history in the West. In the recent decade, Chinese with a love of the outdoors are learning to embrace the American and Western RV culture. Since the holiday has arrived... Why not step on board and travel with us?

"RV is about being spontaneous and making choices on the go for those who want to stay in the relative comfort of your own home. Now RVs are getting more and more popularity in China because you can travel and relax on holidays without having to worry about making hotel reservations in advance. These compact RVs are specially popular, because they drive like a regular sized vehicle, and also, they are not subjected to large-sized vehicle restrictions on the Chinese city roads... I think RVs are gaining Chinese people's favourites nowadays because they speak to the Chinese value centered on the family. You can pretty much drag your entire family inside this vehicle with no problem. So let's take a look on what's on the inside."

"This place really feels like home away from home... Here you got the living space and a table big enough for 4 people, and on this side you got a flat screen TV... And this side you have the kitchen space... a sink... nice water pressure... and of course, an electric stove on the side... got a full kitchen setup here... Plenty of storage places all around the cabin. Down here you have a fridge... drinks... freezer on the inside... and... here I think it is the bathroom let's check it out... a bathroom and a shower... and here it's a full size bed, large enough for two people, probably not as comfortable as your queen bed at home, but I'm gonna give it a try anyway."

In western countries, the RV Lifestyle is particularly popular among senior citizens. Many of them have often sold their homes and travel to warm climates in the winter. That's why RV manufacturers are optimistic about China: With the country's first generation of modern entrepreneurs getting set to retire, for the first time in Chinese history there are people with money AND time.

Guan Jingzhao, regional manager of Centech Specialty Vehicle Co.,said,"China is a developing market with an expanding middle class who we believe have a large interest in pursuing the RV lifestyle. We must admit that there is much more to be done to build the infrastructure in China to support RVs. However, China appears to be interested in making those changes."

The fact is, now there are even RV communities in Beijing. Members head out with family or friends to mountains or lakes for a relaxing weekend. It's these entheusiasts that have led the push for better roads, service areas, campgrounds with water and electricity hook-ups, and even government regulations.

Many see RVs only as luxurious items at auto shows, but for a group of 5-6 individuals, renting an RV for 15-hundred yuan per day seems reasonable, not to mention the thoughtful designs and gadgets for travellers.

Guan Jingzhao said,"There are indeed a lot of functions packed in this vehicle, probably more than you can imagine. For example, the multi-functional window. If you want to take a nap, just lift the window shade. In summer the screened layer can be pulled down to guard against mosquitoes, and basically, you can open it to any angle.

The broadside is equipped with larger collapsible shades that can adjust to the movement of the sunshine. This is the most necessary part of an RV in my opinion."

In coastal provinces such as Shandong, Zhejiang and Fujian, as well as popular tourist regions like Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces, small, local companies are starting to invest in building campgrounds for those travellers in RVs. Maybe it won't take long before one can actually afford a vehicle like this with family and friends, and enjoy a worry-free road trip in China. After all, it's a terrific feeling to get out of the steel-and-concrete cities and embrace nature.