With temperatures rising day after day, groups of blue sheep in the Helan Mountains in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region were spotted taking their newborn calves down from the steep rocky cliffs to lower elevations in search of shade and cooler conditions.

A young lamb closely follows the adult blue sheep. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The flock of blue sheep wanders leisurely under the shade of trees. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Adult blue sheep pay attention to the surrounding movements and guard their newborn lambs. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]