Beijing time7Month8DayAfternoon16:00, KAILAS athlete and female mountaineer Luo Jing successfully summited Nanga Parbat, becoming the first Chinese woman to do so. This is her 12th 8,000+ meter summit, making her currently China’s first female mountaineer to reach the top of 12 peaks over 8,000 meters. Only the last two remain to complete the full set of 14. This comes just over a month after her previous 8,000+ meter expedition (May 20, 2017, when she summited Lhotse). In July, she will continue her journey toward Broad Peak, aiming for her 13th 8,000+ meter peak.
China's first female mountaineer to summit12 peaks over 8,000 meters
Luo Jing is one of the top female mountaineers in China's civilian climbing community. In just one and a half years, she advanced from climbing peaks at5,000 meters, to 6,000 meters, and then to 7,000 meters.KAILAS began sponsoring Luo Jing’s high-altitude mountain climbing projects in 2015.To date,Luo Jing has completed climbs ofincluding Everest,1212peaks above 8,000+ meters,making her the first Chinese woman to summit Makalu and Kangchenjunga, the first Chinese woman to consecutively summit Gasherbrum I and II, and the world’s first Chinese woman to summit K2. Now she has added another title: China’s first female mountaineer to summit 12 peaks over 8,000+ meters. She has had a pioneering impact on the international climbing scene, especially within the community of Chinese female mountaineers.[Repeated content — skip for brevity]
In June 2013, due to a brutal massacre, renowned Chinese civilian mountaineers Yang Chongyang and Rao Jianfeng were tragically killed in a terrorist attack at their camp, further darkening the "death mountain"’s reputation. Luo Jing’s first 8,000-meter snow mountain experience was with her senior friend and mentor Yang Chongyang. He was her guide in high-altitude climbing. This time, Luo Jing is not only completing her 12th 8,000-meter summit but also fulfilling her late friend’s unfulfilled dream. The best way to honor him is to summit Nanga Parbat.
The Rise of Chinese Climbing and Domestic Climbing Brands
China boasts unparalleled mountain resources. Of the world’s14 peaks above 8,000 meters, nine are located within or on the borders of China. In the early 20th century, outdoor sports trends emerged in Europe and America. The economic foundations, social structures, and natural environments of these regions fostered outdoor communities passionate about challenging nature. In Asian countries, Japan’s modern mountaineering history spans a century. Starting in 1970, Japan’s booming economy enabled its citizens to achieve frequent first ascents abroad. China’s climbing history dates back to the early 1960s. From just a handful of climbers in the beginning to today’s vibrant community of independent mountaineers, the sport has grown increasingly popular in China. During this evolution, advancements in climbing gear have played a crucial role. Those who climb know that once at high altitudes, in such harsh conditions, the importance of gear multiplies exponentially. Professional equipment technology and lightweight product designs have continuously improved and innovated to meet the changing demands of climbing, giving climbers the confidence to explore boldly. Initially limited to foreign climbing brands such as Black Diamond (USA), Mammut (Switzerland), and Arc'teryx (Canada), today China’s KAILAS has earned its place among global climbing brands. The rise of China’s climbing gear brands and thenumerous outdoor products winning gold awards at top international trade showsdemonstrate the bright future of China’s climbing era. It gives us reason to believe that the future of Chinese mountaineering will be even brighter.
