A young man does urban exploration and climbs on an airplane in Beijing. [Photo by Zhang Yu/provided to China Daily]

When Zhang studied in the United Kingdom a few years ago, he was disheartened that many of his schoolmates' impressions about China still came from 1990s movies.

They did not know Chinese cities were filled with skyscrapers, and that there were many other things to see apart from the Great Wall, he says.

Zhang's posts on social media are filled with gorgeous cityscapes and dizzying vistas, which offer young foreigners new perspectives about Chinese cities. Recently, he was in contact with a Japanese photographer, who wants to visit Beijing after seeing Zhang's photos.

"Even though Tokyo and Beijing are quite near, he was never motivated to visit," he says. "But now he is eager to explore our capital."

While building up their social media profiles, these urban explorers gain hundreds of followers and likes, which later gives them a reputation within the community as well as some cash.