Get Ready to Conquer New Heights
— The First Stop of the China Natural Rock Climbing Series Takes Place in Mashan
On May 25, the much-anticipated first leg of the 2019 China Natural Rock Climbing Series — the Guangxi Mashan Stop — will be held in the small Guangxi city of Mashan. It is also the launching ceremony for the 2019 China-ASEAN Mountain Outdoor Sports Tourism Conference. The event is jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Department of Sports of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is hosted by the Nanning Municipal Sports Bureau, Nanning Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, the CPC Mashan County Committee, the People’s Government of Mashan County, and Beijing Guo’ao Zhongjian Sports Development Co., Ltd., with exclusive operation by Zhongpan Commerce & Trade (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Mashan County in Nanning, Guangxi, features unique karst landforms with an exceptionally diverse range of natural rock walls. Its well-preserved ecological environment has earned it the reputation as a “climbing mecca” among outdoor enthusiasts from China and abroad. By leveraging its natural advantages to build a characteristic rock climbing sports town, Mashan has witnessed a “rural transformation,” and created the “sports + tourism + poverty alleviation” model known as the Mashan Model.
In recent years, the area has hosted classic outdoor events such as the 2017 China Elite Climbing Challenge and the 2018 Climbing Masters Competition. The country’s top-tier elite route-setting team — led by world climbing champion Zhong Qixin and international route-setter Xie Weicheng — has developed over 500 natural rock climbing routes of various difficulties locally.
Since 2017, the Chinese Mountaineering Association has launched the China Natural Rock Climbing Series. It is currently the only national-level natural rock climbing competition in China. Over the past two years, the series has enabled many professional climbers and enthusiasts to experience the charm and excitement of natural rock climbing, attracting more people to the sport. A large number of outstanding athletes have emerged from the competitions, helping promote the development of a mass climbing base and sustainable growth in China’s climbing scene.
The 2019 China Natural Rock Climbing Series (Guangxi Mashan Stop) is divided into two main categories: Adult Difficulty & Speed and Youth Difficulty & Speed, with a total of six divisions — Men’s and Women’s Adult, Youth Group A Male and Female (ages 13–15), and Youth Group B Male and Female (ages 10–13). The competition rules refer to those of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and are formulated by the Chinese Mountaineering Association. Natural rock climbing difficulty & speed events use top-rope belaying, and include preliminary and final rounds. Both domestic and international climbing enthusiasts can register directly on the official website http://www.cmaol.com. Registration closes at 12:00 noon on May 21, or when all spots are filled.
Natural rock climbing is seen as one of the best ways for humans to connect with and experience nature, often referred to as the “ballet on the cliffs.” Outside of competitions, safety measures are a major hurdle for those looking to challenge natural rock faces. As a leading national-level climbing competition, the China Natural Rock Climbing Series allows athletes to experience both the challenge of scaling high-difficulty routes and the absolute sense of security provided by top-tier safety systems. In addition, top performers have the opportunity to win attractive prize money.
The total prize pool for the 2019 China Natural Rock Climbing Series (Guangxi Mashan Stop) reaches 88,000 RMB (after tax), awarded to the top twelve male and female finishers in the adult division — making it one of the most competitive in climbing competitions. To encourage newcomers, athletes who ranked in the top three in individual events or overall in age groups U11 and above at the 2018 National Youth Climbing Championships, the National Youth U-Series Climbing League qualifiers and finals, or the National Climbing Hope Star Finals, are eligible to compete in the adult division.
From May 25 to 26, in addition to the competitions, athletes can also take part in the 2019 China-ASEAN Mountain Outdoor Sports Tourism Conference, enjoy performances by local Zhuang ethnic cultural troupes, and try out outdoor activities such as orienteering on the rock face, combat archery, bubble soccer, rafting on the Sanjia River, and fun pioneer climbing.
This summer of passion, in Mashan, Guangxi, on the natural rock walls — we’re waiting for you to take on the challenge!