Growing wanderlust lifting highlands

China's blossoming love affair with the outdoors life - which is being propelled by a steady rise in living standards, especially among urbanites - is helping bring benefits to underprivileged rural regions.

One area enjoying a tourism boom is Gangshika Mountain in Qinghai province's Menyuan Hui autonomous county.

At 4,000 meters above sea level, Zhang Fade's horses leave behind a trail in the snow on the peak, which hosts sports events year-round, including mountaineering and skiing.