A holiday on wheels

The two camping sites in Yunnan offer bonfire parties, the chance to participate in local ethnic Dai activities, fruit picking and outdoor adventures.

"Many of our customers stop over at our camps while on their way to Tibet or Southeast Asian destinations," Zhang says.

Meanwhile, Gu has now turned his passion for RVs into a venture, having invested in a camping site at Tibet's Nyingchi. He is also planning to build another three camping sites in the western region.

"The scenery matters a lot to us, and I'd like to do my part to help improve experiences for other RV travelers," Gu says.

Gu's Nyingchi facility sits on the bank of the Brahmaputra and is home to 250 ancient peach trees. He recalled how he used to have to park his RV on the side of a hotel where his friends would stay. Today, he can interact with other RV travelers in camping sites which have sprouted over the years.

"China's RV industry is still in its infancy compared with other developed markets, but the growth potential is huge," he says.

"In 2010, curious onlookers would surround us when we parked our RVs on the roadside in 2010. These days, RVs are a common sight that everyone is used to."