An invitation to go wild

National parks, including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, are among the main destinations for visitors to the United States.

The travel agency also offers US driver's licenses.

Petrified forests, mounts whittled into arches and orifices from which Earth spits water skyward await visitors.

They can camp, hunt and fish in these vast reserves. Many offer mule trails and horse camps.

Individual travelers like Huang are becoming a stronger force among Chinese visitors to the US, who were previously predominately group travelers, Jia says.

Since this species of tourist tends to use the Internet to research destinations, the US is pitching its parks through such platforms as Gousa.cn, leading Chinese video-streaming websites like Youku, messaging platform WeChat and Sina Weibo－China's answer to Twitter.

"National parks preserve natural and historical sites, including coasts and mountains, battlefields and monuments," Jia says.

"Misty mountains, flying falcons and shafts of sunlight streaming through primitive forests await travelers. Some sites also enable Chinese visitors to feel the national spirit of independence and freedom."

Huang plans to visit the Grand Canyon during his June trip to Las Vegas.

"I've seen magnificent photos," he says.

"Since it's not too far away from the city I'll be in, I'll definitely check it out."

That is, he'll again answer the call of the wild.

Contact the writers through yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn