From October 25 to 26, the 2018 China Natural Rock Climbing Series (Zhongtaihang Mountains, Changzhi-Licheng Station) was held in Licheng County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province. Nearly 100 high-level rock climbers from various provinces gathered at the spectacular Xierhe Scenic Area to engage in a thrilling ultimate showdown of vertical speed racing.

　　This event was jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Shanxi Provincial Sports Bureau, and the People's Government of Changzhi City, and hosted by the Shanxi Provincial Sports Bureau of Changzhi City and the People's Government of Licheng County. The exclusive operator was Zhongpan Business (Beijing) Co., Ltd. With rock climbing having been successively included in the Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, Asian Games, and National Games, the sport is experiencing unprecedented growth both in China and internationally. In 2017, the Chinese Mountaineering Association launched China’s only national-level natural rock climbing competition—the China Natural Rock Climbing Series. The aim is to enhance the influence of natural rock climbing through high-level national competitions and allow more enthusiasts to experience the thrill of climbing on natural rock faces.

Opening Ceremony, Speeches by Dignitaries

　　The competition rules were established by the Chinese Mountaineering Association. Events included men’s and women’s difficulty and speed climbing on natural rock faces. The climbing walls reached a height of 45 meters, with routes spanning 55–60 meters in length and difficulty levels up to 5.12bc. Top-rope protection was used, with preliminary and final rounds. The final round had a time limit of 6 minutes. The top twelve male and female athletes received award certificates and prize money, while the top three were awarded trophies. The champion’s prize money of an attractive 12,000 RMB (after tax) was particularly enticing. Additionally, the organizing committee provided participants with quality accommodation and generous travel subsidies. This warm service and attractive incentives drew many top-tier domestic athletes to participate enthusiastically.

　　The competition was intense and exciting. Athletes stretched their limbs, precisely locating holds on the vertical cliffs and scaling upwards swiftly and nimbly. Their movements were fluid and decisive, showcasing the perfect blend of strength and flexibility in the sport’s aesthetics. Even with ropes and helmets for protection, they had to maintain intense focus—there was no room for error. After fierce competition in both the preliminaries and finals, Qu Haibin from the Hunan Provincial Sports School claimed the men’s title with a time of 3 minutes and 38 seconds. The runners-up were Liu Yongcheng and Huang Zhouwen. The women’s champion was also from the Hunan Provincial Sports School—Xiang Hongchun, who finished in 4 minutes and 16 seconds. The second and third places went to Huang Weijun and Ke Xiaohui, respectively.

Athletes during the climb

Athletes at the moment of completing the climb, touching the colored ball that marks the summit

Award Ceremony for Top Three Male Athletes

Award Ceremony for Top Three Female Athletes

　　“The great beauty of Taihang lies in Shanxi.” Licheng County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, is located in the Shangdang Basin in the southeastern part of the province, bordered by the Taihang Mountains to the east and the Taiyue Mountains to the west, encompassing the most beautiful midsection of the 800-li (400 km) Taihang range. The Xierhe Scenic Area is a popular and well-known tourist destination within the province and across the country. Nestled in the Taihang Mountains, it boasts unique and majestic geological formations, as well as well-preserved vegetation and ecological environments. Surrounded by peaks, with red cliffs standing tall, ancient trees reaching to the sky, and streams flowing endlessly, the 3-kilometer-long Shibei Cliff rises majestically thousands of feet from the ground, offering a grand and spectacular view rivaling few others in the world. Attractions such as the Pot Mountain, Buddha’s Palm Print, and the Summit Cave Heaven also leave visitors enthralled and lost in thought. Xierhe also has a long history—it is said that the virtuous scholar Xu You from the Yao and Shun eras once washed his ears here, giving rise to the idiom “listen with washed ears” (meaning to listen attentively and respectfully).

　　In recent years, rock climbing in the Xierhe Scenic Area has developed rapidly. Every weekend and during holidays, climbers from across Shanxi and the rest of the country flock here in an endless stream. The local government is also actively exploring new tourism models such as “sports + tourism,” integrating more outdoor activities like rock climbing into the area’s unique natural landscape. This better promotes the national fitness strategy and helps build a distinctive local leisure and tourism brand.

　　Many athletes took the opportunity to visit nearby attractions such as Xierhe, Sifang Mountain, Golden Rooster Fortress, and Hushan Hot Springs during the competition, witnessing some of the most spectacular Danxia landforms in the Taihang Mountains. The diverse Shanxi cuisine, especially its noodle dishes, also earned high praise from the participants. “I’m overjoyed and will never forget this experience. I not only won prize money but also embarked on a journey of broadening my horizons and exploring nature,” one award-winning athlete shared his feelings.

　　With the accelerated development of the Zhongtaihang International Tourism Resort and the growing community of rock climbing and other sports enthusiasts, starting with the 2018 China Natural Rock Climbing Series (Zhongtaihang Mountains, Changzhi-Licheng Station), future Licheng, Changzhi, will host a series of more diverse, thrilling, and high-level outdoor sports events. These will bring even more exciting travel and competition opportunities for sports enthusiasts from around the world.