Zhang Peng treks a glacier attraction in Subei Mongolian autonomous county, Gansu province, in 2018. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Designing a new path

Each trekker has his or her own reasons.

For 24-year-old Chen Minlin, the reason was simple. "Completing different trekking routes is like collecting cards in childhood-a lot of fun," he says.

He has a passion and energy for sports, and during his college years, he once cycled the National Highway 318. That's why, after graduating as a graphic design major in 2018, rather than hunting for a job that fits his specialty, he chose to work as a trekking team leader and tour planner for Youxiake.

He says that they plan trekking tours for people with varied levels of physical strength to help them immerse themselves in the activity.

Chen has led nearly 90 trekking teams to the mountainous areas in Guangdong province.

He soon discovered that leading a trekking team is different from guiding normal sightseeing tours.

"I have to cooperate, get along with, and ensure the safety of, people from different backgrounds during a journey in the wild, which is full of uncertainties, such as the variable weather and unpredictable emergencies," Chen says. "That urges me to be well prepared for each journey and learn how to adapt to changes and deal with crises."

Trekking is attracting a growing number of people in their 20s and 30s who relish and embrace their bucolic visits to the great outdoors. [Photo provided to China Daily]