Climbing14peaks8000meters, wingsuit flying over the Himalayas, winter trekking across Lake Baikal……What do outdoor legends really look like?
“Inhuman”?“Incredible”?“Only worthy of awe”?1January2525, outdoor luminaries from various fields gathered at the Beijing National Convention Center to attend the 12th12China Outdoor Golden Rhino Awards Ceremony.
They are humorous, dedicated, meticulous, or loyal……They come from all walks of life, but share one common title——outdoor enthusiasts, united by a common belief——the outdoor spirit. Thanks to the Golden Rhino Awards, those who love the outdoors came together once again to celebrate this grand feast for the outdoor community!
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As the most prestigious gathering in China’s outdoor scene, before the awards ceremony began, old and new friends in the outdoor community started taking photos and catching up with each other.
Zhang Liang, China’s first civilian mountaineer to summit141480008,000-meter peaks, poses at the sign-in board.
Put on the rhino head prop on-site and take a selfie with goddess Luo Jing.
Known as the modern-day Xu Xiake, Lao Ji couldn’t resist the enthusiasm of outdoor fans asking for his book and spontaneously held a book signing session at the entrance.
17:00The spacious conference hall was packed, and the awards ceremony began right on time.
The ever-energetic Little Rhino.
Is the awards ceremony bound to be dull and boring?
NononoNot at all—a passionate and fiery opening dance instantly ignited the atmosphere, even drawing legendary climber from Everest...——Even Russell couldn’t resist jumping up and dancing with the African dancers on stage!
Legendary mountaineer Russell danced with the same passion he brings to outdoor adventures.
After the high-energy dance, Bao Yifei, a renowned Chinese alpine guide and the host of this year’s Golden Rhino Awards ceremony, officially kicked off the evening with the characteristic enthusiasm and humor of mountaineers.
A gathering for outdoor enthusiasts.
Who will take home the various outdoor awards? Let’s find out together.
Best Climbing Achievement
Winners:Azuo&HaoXin (completed the South Face to Southwest Ridge route of Mt. Yai)
Reason for Winning——As a benchmark for alpine climbing standards, Azuo and Xin’s completion of the South Face to Southwest Ridge route of Mt. Yai demonstrated comprehensive and advanced climbing skills. It not only represents the strength of China’s new generation of climbers but also shows that Chinese mountaineering is constantly improving and will surely grow even stronger.
Award Presenters:Sun Bin (renowned alpine guide and founder of Peak Outdoor Sports School),Justin
Kline(Osprey International Sales Director )
Behind the Scenes:This summit of Mt. Yai was the first time Azuo climbed an60008,000-meter peak. When asked why he chose Mt. Yai, the straightforward Azuo laughed and said:“Because Mt. Yai is close to Chengdu and doesn’t cost much!”He and his partner Hao had originally just planned to give it a try—but ended up reaching the summit. As for the next peak they plan to tackle, Hao said although it hasn’t been decided yet, he has been doing some targeted climbing training.
Best Public Welfare & Environmental Spirit
Winner:Save the Green Peafowl Campaign
Reason for Winning——Nature conservation organizations such as Wild China Film, Friends of Nature, and Shan Shui Conservation Center made concerted efforts to save the endangered green peafowl and its largest and most intact habitat in China. They managed to halt the construction of the Jiasa Hydropower Station on the upper Red River in Yunnan, pioneering a path where environmental protection and outdoor sports join forces for conservation.
Award Presenters:Xi Zhinong (renowned wildlife photographer,“Wild China Film”Founder),FjallravenBrand Marketing Manager)
Behind the Scenes:For award presenter Xi Zhinong, this awards ceremony was somewhat special.12Years ago, he was the recipient of the first Golden Rhino Award for Best Public Welfare and Environmental Spirit. Now, as the presenter, the Green Peafowl Rescue initiative he was involved in also took center stage, raising awareness about the Green Peafowl and calling on more people to join public welfare and environmental actions such as saving the Green Peafowl.
Best Outdoor Publication
Winner:"From Dadu to Shangdu: Rediscovering China Along the Ancient Road" (Author: Luo Xin)
Award Reason——15A 1,500-kilometer trek on foot, Peking University History Department Professor Luo Xin retraced an ancient Yuan Dynasty route from Beijing to Zhenglan Banner in Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, rediscovering China along the way. By blending history with travel writing, he has added a rich new chapter to China’s original travel literature.450Award Presenter:
Li Muzhe (Brand and Marketing Director, China Spokesperson), Lu HejieLonely Planet, Chief Financial Officer of Munich Exhibition (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Mr. Lu Hejie)(Thomas LofflerBehind the Scenes: ISPOLuo Xin said he had never walked such a long distance before, and this journey made him realize he could walk even more. He believes that walking and writing are forms of inner exploration and a way to convey the spirit of outdoor adventure.
Best Outdoor TeamWinner:
Hook Road Team
Award ReasonThe Hook Road Team pioneered China’s first off-road vehicle climbing route and, centered around it, built Hook Park—an outdoor sports complex integrating off-road vehicle climbing, trail running, mountain biking, and hiking. This established Hook Park as the top off-road vehicle park in Asia and third in the world.
Award Presenter:——Zeng Shan (renowned climbing coach at Lingpan Mountaineering Training School, technical mountaineer), Liu Shaochuang (Research Fellow at the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Behind the Scenes:As he couldn’t attend in person, Hook Road founder Gao Jinsong sent a
video message, expressing gratitude for everyone’s support, introducing off-road vehicle climbing, and encouraging more people to experience the charm of Hook Road.Best Outdoor ImagingVCRBest Outdoor Photographer
Best Outdoor Photography
Best Outdoor Photographer·Winners:Song Gang
Reason for Winning——For many consecutive years, he traveled to South Africa to photograph the sardine run, capturing the intense or tragic survival dramas of various marine creatures through his unique perspective and stunning images. These photos allow people to feel the great charm of nature and thus cherish our shared home of Earth’s living beings.
Best Outdoor Short Film·Winner——"Looking for the Christmas Tree," Filmed and Produced by Zhang Yunping (Crack)
Reason for Winning——In search of and to climb an icefall that resembled a Christmas tree in a photo, climbers He Chuan and Liu Yang traveled across various locations, with photographer Zhang Yunping following along the entire journey. Both in content and production, the film showcases the perseverance and dedication of Chinese outdoor enthusiasts. The spirit of active exploration and courage to challenge, reflected both on and off screen, inspires and uplifts viewers.
Award Presenters:Lü Hui (Publisher of Outdoor Exploration), Wu Enyan (Director of Strategic Cooperation at Sina), Shi Dongjing (Vice President of Digital View Technology)
Behind the Scenes:Song Gang, who was out shooting, had a friend accept the award on his behalf. As4the first-time winner of the Golden Rhino Best Outdoor Short Film, Crack has particularly vivid memories of standing on the podium for the first time. It was also that win that gave him great motivation to continue on the path of outdoor photography.
Besides the heavyweight guests and winners, the evening also achieved a major cross-industry milestone:2018In the year, "Outdoor Exploration" will collaborate with Sina Sports, Digital View Technology, and Yadi Media to launch a“Golden Rhino Joint Communication Plan”.
At that time, a series of activities including the Golden RhinoLiveand the Golden Rhino Outdoor Video Support Program will achieve full-channel coverage through broadcasting, telecommunications, and the internet, aiming to spread the spirit of the outdoors even further and wider.
Golden Rhino Joint Communication Plan”Launch Ceremony.
After the launch ceremony, a performance by the band Buyi singing "Set Off" allowed everyone to appreciate these awe-inspiring“departures”in a relaxed atmosphere.
Behind the visuals are the figures of various outdoor explorations, as the lead singer said:“Making music and doing outdoor activities share one thing in common — listening to the voice within”.
Best Backpacker
Winner:Xu Jiangjun (Crossing Lake Baikal in Winter Without Support, Human-Powered Only)
Reason for Winning——The first Chinese to cross Lake Baikal in winter without any support and using only human power, over the course of23days, spanning636kilometers from north to south. This was not only a challenge to physical strength and willpower but also a full embodiment of the backpacker spirit.
Award Presenter:Lao Ji (renowned traveler, writer, and documentary filmmaker), Zhong Zhaoxin (Marketing Director of Nanjing McKinley Outdoor Products Co., Ltd.)
Behind the Scenes:For award presenter Lao Ji, standing on this stage was a dream come true. Previously, when he won the Golden Rhino Best Backpacker Award, he was in Antarctica and regrettably couldn’t attend. As for General Xu, the plan to cross Lake Baikal had been in his mind for two years, and now the dream has finally come true. Although during the crossing there was a stretch of over ten days without seeing anyone, often accompanied by terrifying sounds of cracking ice, moments of despair and loneliness were outweighed by enjoyment and happiness.
Trail Running Personality of the Year
Winner:Wang Xiaolin (Runner Balin)
Reason for Winning——2017In less than one hundred days, he completed all four 100-mile races of the U.S. Ultra-Trail Running Grand Slam,UTMBas well as the 800 Mile Desert Race, and secured first place in the overall standings of the Grand Slam with a time of90hours24minutes.
Award Presenter:Li Jia (Vice President of Xingzhi Exploration Group), Zhang Yong (Marketing Manager of Beijing Ruiji Longfeng International Trade Co., Ltd. (China))Marmot(China) Marketing Manager
Behind the Scenes:Participating in numerous competitions every year, many assume Wang Xiaolin doesn’t have a regular job. In fact, he is a nine-to-five office worker. The secret to competing so frequently might be his speed — for example, when going to the U.S. for races, he doesn’t leave time to adjust for jet lag, starts running the next day, finishes, and returns home. He jokes that he often sleeps while running.
Best Female in Outdoor Sports
Winner:Yu Yin
Reason for Winning——2017In the year, Yu Yin set three records for Chinese individuals——Highest skydiving record (30000feet), the highest wingsuit flying record (28000feet), and the first person in China to fly over the Himalayas in a wingsuit.
Award Presenter:Luo Jing (renowned Chinese female amateur mountaineer Luo Jing), Qian Haiying (founder of Banff China)
Highlight:When the host asked Yu Yin why she gave up a job at a Fortune 500 company to pursue these high-risk sports that many consider dangerous, Yu Yin said she just wanted to do what she loves best, and wingsuit flying is what she loves most right now.
Breakthrough of the Year
Winner:Zhang Liang (the first Chinese amateur mountaineer to complete14peaks above8000meters, completed on:2017year10month2day)
Award Reason:
On——2017year10month, Zhang Liang successfully summited Nanga Parbat, marking him as the first Chinese amateur mountaineer to complete14peaks above8000meters. He is now just one peak — Mount McKinley — away from achieving his grand goal of“14+7+2”. He advocates a rational and clear-headed approach to mountaineering, spreading the firm belief that“ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things.”a firm belief.
Award Presenter:Russell (New Zealand mountaineer, founder of internationally renowned mountaineering adventure companyHimalayan Experience), Zheng Lina (NITECORENITECORE Marketing Director )
Highlight:Russell spoke about the allure of mountaineering during the award ceremony, and the host’s humorous translation drew bursts of laughter from the audience. For Zhang Liang, completing climbs of14peaks above8000meters is just a small chapter in his life of adventure — his journey is far from over, with more to come:7The final stop on the journey to the highest peaks of all continents——Mount McKinley, global sailing, and traversing the Amazon jungle……
The lucky draw segment is always highly anticipated, especially when the prizes include outdoor gear beloved by adventurers—such as hiking backpacks from well-known brands and professional outdoor watches.
This year’s Golden Rhino Awards received support from the Asia Outdoor Trade ShowISPO BEIJING, the Swedish specialty outdoor brandFjallraven, the professional outdoor backpack brandOsprey, the American brand born for professional outdoor pursuitsMarmot, not to mention the innovative Nitecore (NITECORE), the professional outdoor backpack brand Gregory (Gregory), the Finnish82, the century-old outdoor sports watch brand Suunto (SUUNTO), among others.
Today’s attendees included Lu Hui, publisher of Outdoor Exploration Magazine,ISPO’s Chief Financial Officer Mr. Lu Hejie,Lonely Planet’s Brand and Marketing Director Li Muzhe, Nitecore Marketing Director Zheng Lina, Sina Strategic Cooperation Director Wu Enyan, and Banff China founder Qian Haiying, among other strategic partners. Well-known mountaineering figures such as Russell Brice, Tenji Sherpa (who once set the Guinness World Record as the youngest person to summit the North Face of Everest), Sun Bin, Zeng Shan (Jon Otto), Luo Jing, and Shiyi Lang were also present.
Finally, here is the group photo of all the guests and award winners. Once again, congratulations to the winners, and heartfelt thanks to all outdoor enthusiasts who supported the Golden Rhino Awards.
China Golden Rhino Awards for the Outdoorsis an annual selection event initiated by the professional outdoor media magazine Outdoor Exploration. Upholding the guiding spirit of““True outdoor exploration records, the evolving outdoors in China,””it comprehensively evaluates the development of China’s outdoor sports over the past year based on criteria such as influence, leadership, and value, selecting the most impactful and pioneering outdoor events and individuals.
Since its inception in2006, it has been successfully held for12editions. This year’s selection process spanned three months, with nominees for each award chosen from a pool of candidates, and the final winners determined through a combination of WeChat public voting, expert judging panels, and the organizing committee.