Wang Yong, 27, is a seasoned professional outdoor expedition leader in China. As the leader and captain of the Shenyang Mountaineering Team’s ascent of Africa’s highest peak—Mount Kilimanjaro, Wang arrived early in Beijing yesterday to prepare the necessary supplies for the team. On April 1, all eight members will gather in Beijing, and on April 2, the Shenyang Mountaineering Team will depart from Beijing by plane, embarking on this “summit push” journey. Yesterday, Sun Yiquan, president of the Shenyang Mountaineering Association, said: “This can be considered the first local team in China to attempt a high-altitude mountain summit under the name of a regional team, marking a milestone for the amateur mountaineering community in Shenyang and even Liaoning Province!”
Why choose Mount Kilimanjaro?
In the local language, Mount Kilimanjaro means “the shining mountain,” a fitting description for this towering volcano and its magnificent summit. Its profile is strikingly distinct, with gently sloping ridges leading up to a long, flat summit. On hot days, the blue base of the mountain is a pleasant sight from afar, while the snow-capped peak appears to hover in the sky. Wispy clouds often stretch down below the snow line, adding to the illusion. Temperatures at the mountain’s base can sometimes reach 59 degrees Celsius, while the summit often plunges to minus 34 degrees Celsius, earning it the nickname “the Equatorial Snow Peak.” For centuries, Mount Kilimanjaro has been a mysterious mountain—few really believed that a snow-covered peak could exist so close to the equator.
Mount Kilimanjaro is located on the border between Tanzania and Kenya, standing 5,895 meters above sea level. After departing from Beijing by plane on April 2, the team will transfer in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, then fly to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania, before taking a 4x4 vehicle to the first rest camp at the foot of the mountain—Moshi—to gear up for the climb and begin their journey to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro.
Why choose Mount Kilimanjaro as the Shenyang Mountaineering Team’s “maiden peak”? Sun Yiquan explained to reporters: “As Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro presents a certain level of climbing difficulty, but its safety coefficient is relatively high. In terms of climate, it’s not an extremely cold region. In April, the weather and wind conditions on Kilimanjaro are suitable for climbing, with wind speeds generally around 20 kilometers per hour. More importantly, the mountain is geologically stable, with few landslides or falling rocks, and below 4,800 meters, there is ample vegetation and oxygen, making it ideal for the team to make final physical adjustments and recover strength before the summit push.”
Why choose Wang Yong?
Wang Yong, 27, has a sun-tanned face. Years of outdoor experience have given him an open and cheerful personality and a strong, fit build. Wang graduated with a degree in Political Economics from Northwest University. By chance before graduation, he joined a long-distance cycling trip and fell in love with outdoor sports. After years of training, he became a seasoned professional outdoor expedition leader in China.
Unlike Sun Yiquan, who has successfully conquered Mount Everest, and who belongs to the realm of professional 8,000-meter extreme athletes in the outdoor sports field, Wang Yong is a professional leader specializing in trekking and high-altitude mountaineering. One of Wang’s classic routes is the “Aotai Traverse” in Shaanxi Province. The “Aotai Traverse” is considered one of the toughest hiking routes in China. Throughout the trek, hikers not only endure the challenge of going without resupply in remote no-man’s-land for extended periods, but they also typically carry nearly 30 kilograms of gear while crossing more than ten high-altitude, cold-region peaks over 3,400 meters. The route features rapidly changing weather, thick fog, and in some areas visibility as low as 10 meters, with complex and dangerous terrain. This trail ranks among the most intense and challenging in China, serving as an excellent test of hikers’ gear, physical fitness, endurance, ability to withstand sudden weather changes, and mental resilience.
It usually takes hikers six to seven days to complete the entire traverse. Successfully completing the Aotai route is considered one of the strongest proofs of being a true hiker and one of the top “elite hikers” in China. Wang Yong has not only led more than 30 successful traverses, but has also participated in multiple rescues. Most impressively, he once completed the traverse in 57 hours while carrying a 50-kilogram load.