Climbers across the country now have dozens of new routes to explore. On May 28, 2018, the most anticipated annual event for Chinese climbers — the one-month-long KAILAS "Find Climbing China" campaign — came to a heartfelt close.
Currently, there are only slightly more than 3,000 climbing routes in China, which is relatively scarce given the large population of outdoor enthusiasts. Since 2012, KAILAS has grandly launched its journey to find climbing routes across China’s 9.6 million square kilometers. Each year during spring, summer, and autumn, an elite route-setting team composed of top international and domestic climbers explores China's yet-to-be-developed beautiful cliffs and establishes high-quality climbing routes. By 2018, over 15 provinces, 35 cities, 25 new climbing areas, and more than 1,000 climbing routes had been developed.
Beyond route setting, the Find Climbing China team also invites local climbers to join onsite experiences and exchanges, including climbing meetups and lectures on climbing and safety techniques. These events effectively improve the technical proficiency of local climbers and help reduce the incidence of climbing accidents. The excitement of the routes, the showdowns among elite climbers, and the overall appeal of the Find Climbing China campaign have sparked nationwide interest in climbing among both enthusiasts and the general public. It is a long-term public welfare initiative that fully advocates safe climbing and promotes the development of climbing in China.
Climbing, once a niche sport, is increasingly beloved by outdoor enthusiasts for its unique charm. In 2018, the first stop of KAILAS "Find Climbing China" was Kunming, Yunnan, where 45 routes with difficulties ranging from 5.9 to 5.13 were established on the picturesque Fumin Gash Wall. The second stop took the team to Niushidong in Shuizhao Township, Zhongshan District, Liupanshui, where 24 sport climbing routes were developed in Niubidong, laying a solid foundation for creating the "China Cool City Shenjiao Gorge International Climbing Town." Currently, the "China Cool City Shenjiao Gorge International Climbing Town" has opened five climbing zones, featuring over 120 routes with difficulties ranging from 5.8 to 5.14D. After stops in Kunming and Liupanshui, the Find Climbing team arrived at their final destination — Zaozhuang, Shandong. The climbing walls in Zaozhuang are located on the beautiful Yungu Mountain (also known as Yugu Mountain) and Jiagu Mountain. Unlike many remote climbing areas, Zaozhuang’s sites enjoy a prime location, close to both train and high-speed rail stations, just four kilometers from the JingTai Expressway exit, making it easily accessible to neighboring regions in Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui. The vast land of Qilu did not disappoint — the cliffs here are distributed around the domed hills and suitable for climbing in different seasons. The solid limestone and diverse cliff formations allow route setters to create a variety of routes. In just six days, the Find Climbing team developed 46 high-quality new routes across Yungu Mountain and Jiagu Mountain. The routes feature various styles and difficulty levels from 5.8 to 5.13, catering to climbers of all levels — you no longer need exceptional core strength to enjoy them. “Compared to some southern regions rich in mountain resources, the climbing foundation among local climbers in Zaozhuang may not be as advanced. But we came here to develop more quality routes, providing local enthusiasts with greater training and learning opportunities. We believe the level here will keep improving,” said Xie Weicheng, leader of Find Climbing China. His words reflect the campaign’s core value: legacy.
Climbing is more than just a sport — it’s a fusion between nature and humans; it’s a spiritual dialogue between the natural rock face and the climber. It’s an art, and even more so, a culture. And this culture deserves to be passed on.
The Find Climbing journey continues. KAILAS hopes that through the "Find Climbing China" campaign, more climbers will have access to more climbing venues, enjoy the thrill of climbing, while helping raise the overall climbing standard in China and driving the development of the sport.
Find Climbing Fund Application — The "KAILAS (Kailas) Find Climbing China" fund directly supports civilian climbing organizations and individuals in developing and maintaining climbing routes.For fund application details, follow the KAILAS WeChat official account.