For many visitors, Muztagh Ata, the "Father of Ice Mountains" in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is appealing for its stunning scenery. However, for Li Yuan, the mountain vistas represent a lifelong passion and purpose.

At an altitude of over 4,500 meters, Muztagh Ata's base camp offers limited oxygen and basic amenities - just a few tents shaking in the wind and simple meals. Despite these conditions, Li, a seasoned mountaineering guide, finds immense joy here.

"With gentle slopes, Muztagh Ata is relatively easier to climb and is one of the most popular mountaineering destinations in Xinjiang. Some enthusiasts even consider it a holy site for ski mountaineering," said Li, a guide from the Xinjiang Mountaineering Association.

Since 2007, Li has distanced himself from the bustling city life to embrace the serenity of Muztagh Ata from June to August every year, welcoming climbers worldwide. For him, the snow-capped mountains opened up new possibilities.

More than ten years ago, Li, who was engaged in the clothing industry, hit a career bottleneck. "In that job, I had no way to make breakthroughs or improve myself," recalled Li. He then turned to outdoor activities for solace. Gradually, he realized that mountaineering could lead him to a wider and more passionate world and decided to resign from his job.

At that time, commercial mountaineering was just starting in Xinjiang. Li, in his 30s, with neither sufficient funds nor stable sources of customers, could only start from basic work, such as carrying luggage.

"In the beginning, I earned only 1,600 yuan (about 220 U.S. dollars) a month and couldn't afford breakfast. I never imagined the mountaineering industry would grow so much," Li noted. "But I was content because this job gave me more opportunities to climb the mountains."

Now, the 52-year-old sees mountaineering as much more than a mere sport.

"Everyone starts from scratch on the mountains. They have to fine-tune skills and details to push onward. This challenging process can change your perspective on life," Li explained. "Mountaineering showed me that there are many ways to live, and it's up to oneself to choose."

Recently, thanks to social media platforms, climbing has become more popular among young people in China. Facilities at Muztagh Ata's base camp have also been upgraded. In the near future, a climbing town with an estimated investment of 110 million yuan is set to break ground to further enhance local services and facilities.

As more and more youngsters join the sport, Li is thrilled but remains cautious. Even though he knows the workflow by heart, he still analyzes the routes and makes detailed plans for every trip.

"Without the short videos on social media, mountaineering wouldn't be this popular. But the sport requires respect for life and nature," he said. "Muztagh Ata poses significant challenges with its hypoxia, low pressure, strong UV radiation, and low temperatures."

As a native of Xinjiang, Li hopes the region's climbing resources can be fully utilized to inspire more people to engage in the sport.

"Xinjiang has rich climbing resources but is not at the forefront of popularizing mountaineering. Compared to richer provinces and cities in the east, fewer people here participate in mountaineering," he said. "Even if I can't continue working on the mountains one day, I would be happy to see others take up this mantle."