In the competitive climbing community, there’s a saying that has long circulated: the world looks to China, and China looks to Jiangxi. The recently concluded 21st Asian Climbing Championships in 2013 once again proved this point—Jiangxi Province’s team lived up to expectations, delivering a flawless performance of “ballet on the wall,” and claimed the top spots in women’s lead climbing, women’s bouldering, and men’s speed climbing, becoming the biggest winner of this climbing competition. It is understood that since climbing was introduced to China in 1987, this extreme sport that combines technique, thrill, and visual appeal has captured the interest of many young people with its unique charm. This is especially true in regions such as the southeastern coastal areas, the southwest, and the northwest. In 2011, during the Executive Board meeting of the International Olympic Committee held in Durban, South Africa, climbing was officially confirmed as one of the eight candidate sports for the 2020 Olympics. So, how has this extreme sport—which may become an additional event in the 2020 Olympics—developed in Nanchang?
Nanchang Once Had a Brief Climbing Craze
“Nanchang’s climbing scene also experienced a brief craze,” said Wu Ming from Nanchang Xinglvye Outdoor Club, who has been into extreme climbing for ten years and can be considered a veteran climber in Nanchang.
On September 2, Wu Ming recalled in an interview that back in 2004, when climbing was sweeping across the country, Nanchang also saw a wave of climbing enthusiasm. That year, the climbing community in Nanchang rapidly expanded, with many young people joining in. Some public venues with suitable conditions even built outdoor climbing walls, and in many climbing gyms, newcomers could be seen diligently practicing.
Wu Ming told reporters that at its peak, there were no fewer than 100 regular climbers. However, the brief craze did not lead climbing into a golden age. After 2005, the climbing community in Nanchang shrank significantly, with many climbers switching to other sports and very few persisting—the number dwindled to just twenty or thirty.
“There were many reasons for this,” Wu Ming analyzed. The main issue was the lack of facilities. Back then, Nanchang had no good climbing gyms, so many who wanted to practice climbing had to go to other places such as Guangdong, Fujian, and Guilin. This was not only time-consuming and inconvenient, but many also found the financial burden hard to bear. Another reason was that many people lacked the perseverance to endure the challenge, leading to high dropout rates.
Now, the “Climbing Crowd” Is Back
Although Nanchang’s climbing scene lay dormant for several years, it has gradually picked up steam again since 2011. “Climbing is an extreme sport derived from mountaineering. Currently, the climbing facilities in Nanchang have improved significantly, and a new wave of climbers has reignited the passion for the activity,” Wu Ming said cheerfully.
At around 8 p.m. on September 3, the reporter visited Zhangshulin Jiage Climbing Gym in Nanchang. Though it wasn’t the weekend, the climbing wall was far from quiet. On an artificial wall over ten meters high, several climbers were scaling the steep surface with graceful movements.
One climber who earned applause was Xiao He, who had only been climbing for two months. He told the reporter that he initially came along with a friend but gradually fell in love with climbing himself. “I never expected you to be a beginner given how well you’re climbing,” the reporter complimented. Xiao He laughed and said that climbing, like walking, is an instinct—it’s just done in a different environment.
However, Mr. Yang, who was visiting with his girlfriend for the first time, had a tougher time. Halfway up, he had to give up due to a fear of heights. But after encouragement and guidance from the coach, he tried again and eventually made it to the top of the wall. According to Mr. Xiao, the manager of the climbing gym, an average of twenty to thirty people come to climb each evening, ranging in age from 5 to over 60, and including both men and women.
A Gradually Growing Community
Mr. Xiao is actually an accomplished climber himself. He started climbing in 2004 and studied under Ding Chengliang, a renowned “coach” in China’s climbing circle. In 2011, he turned his personal passion into a career. “Although the climbing community isn’t very large yet, it is slowly growing,” Mr. Xiao said. Nanchang has a climbing group called the Jiage Climbing Group, which currently has over 60 experienced climbers. As the group’s leader, Mr. Xiao also serves as a climbing coach. He explained that many people mistakenly believe climbing relies solely on upper body strength to pull oneself up, but that’s not the case. Climbing is a sport that trains coordination and balance. The key is to stay stable, and then use coordinated strength from your thighs, waist, core, arms, and fingers to climb most efficiently. At the same time, on steep walls, you need to stay fully focused and calm, paying attention to every detail of your body’s movement on the rock face, planning and executing the most effective sequence of moves. This trains people to develop quick, focused thinking.
A Lifelong Sport
As the climbing community grows, so do the climbing facilities in Nanchang. In addition to Zhangshulin’s Jiage Climbing Gym, there are also professional training gyms at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics’ Fenglin Campus, Xiangshan Forest Park, Hongdu Park, and Meiling Lion Peak Scenic Area—all offering excellent climbing walls that provide great convenience for enthusiasts.
In addition to these artificial training spots, some natural climbing locations also attract enthusiasts. For example, GuaiShiLing in Xixia Town, Xinjian County. In addition, not far from Nanchang, Jiujiang has also developed many new natural rock faces for climbers to enjoy.
“It may take some time for climbing to truly take off, but the prospects are indeed promising,” said Mr. Xiao. In his view, climbing is highly participatory, has almost no age restrictions, and is a lifelong sport suitable for all ages—a way of life.