Climbing, skydiving and paragliding are sources of wonder for 64-year-old Ding Zhendong, a retired editor from North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

"Real life begins after retirement," Ding said. He first tasted adventure tourism in 2015 when he drove a minibus with a friend from Inner Mongolia to the Tibet autonomous region.

Despite difficulties during the trip, the adventure was worthwhile for Ding thanks to the stunning landscape and thrilling experience. Since then, he has driven to Tibet by four different routes and visited the Arctic and Antarctic.

"Adventure helps me learn the limits of my body and boosts my physical strength. Now more retirees are joining our expedition team," he said.

Ding is among a growing number of Chinese who want more than relaxation from their travels.