For "rock climber" Gu Niaonao, climbing is a process of self-reflection.
Under the heavy pressures of life and work, hiking, mountaineering, or cycling long distances seem to have become commonplace in our lives. Thus, on National Highway 210 leading deep into the Qinling Mountains, you can always see outdoor sports enthusiasts dressed in all kinds of gear.
Today we’re talking about a somewhat different group of outdoor sports enthusiasts. They call themselves "technical outdoor enthusiasts." The sport they love looks impressive, feels cool to play, and is thrilling once conquered. They are rock climbers, and what they most desire to conquer are the towering natural rock faces.
The Qinling Mountains may provide the best venue for these people. In several well-known valleys familiar to tourists, they can find the most suitable rock faces for climbing. Whenever they climb, there are always many onlookers standing beneath the cliffs. Perhaps you down below have had your neck stiff from looking up for so long, but those up on the cliffs are still sweating and stretching their muscles, made taut from the climb. That drive to conquer nature is so beautiful it takes your breath away and fills you with longing.
Ma Ge, 33, is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. If he didn’t say so himself, many would find it hard to connect his identity as a doctor with the cool world of rock climbing. Nine years of climbing experience have made him a well-known "tech geek" and "gear enthusiast" in the circle. His calloused fingertips are hard to associate with the nimble hands of a surgeon. On the operating table, these hands can skillfully manipulate a scalpel to save lives. On the big wall, those ten fingertips can forcefully grip into rock crevices, pulling the body upward. Facing the camera, his sweaty smile reveals his love for nature and life.
Tan Jiaqi, who likes to climb shirtless, is also a doctor. Unlike Ma Ge, he is a plastic surgeon. When climbing, relying on his own strength to ascend, the muscles of his arms and back display unique curves of life, and his sun-tanned skin exudes a healthy beauty.
Gu Niaonao is a rock climber with five years of experience. He believes climbing is a purely introspective process. As he strives upward, he feels the gentle breeze on his cheeks, forgets the trivialities of life, and in conquering the heights, he gets to know the real himself. He says, "Climbing allows me to stick to my beliefs."
Sun Jianjun, 50, is a police officer. Because of his love for climbing, it seems fate has been especially kind to him, leaving few signs of age on his face. He looks as energetic as a man in his 30s. He believes climbing is a way of life. Maybe you can’t reach the most difficult peak, but as long as you strive for it, you can find joy in the process.
Mi Su is one of the few female climbers among the group. She’s only been into climbing for a little over a year, but her skills have improved rapidly. Spending all her time climbing with this group of men who find joy in conquering walls, she feels she’s become less pretentious in daily life and much more tough and decisive.
Gao Liang, who hasn’t climbed in a while, now works at the IceRock Adventure Travel Club. He says the Xi’an climbing community isn’t very big—there are just over 30 regulars. Sun Jianjun is the oldest in the group, while most others are around 30. They organize activities irregularly. Ma Ge, with nine years of climbing experience, and Zhang Yong, with six years, are both "route crushers" (climbers who take pleasure in conquering difficult routes). Once they decide to conquer a route, they won’t stop until they reach the top.
On the day of the interview, the rock face at Yuhuangyuan in the Qinling Mountains still had quickdraws (a type of climbing gear) left by Zhang Yong from the day before. Gao Liang said, "Zhang Yong must not have reached the top in one go—he’ll be back to crush that route today." Half an hour later, Zhang Yong arrived with his rope, did a quick warm-up, and headed straight for the route he hadn’t conquered the day before. Gao Liang and Ma Ge, watching from below, laughed happily, having guessed his intentions.
Xiao Ai, a climber who once made a documentary about these people, believes climbing is more than just a hobby. It carries another way of life beyond their everyday identities, embodying dreams and freedom, as well as the energy that makes life and living more meaningful.
Climbing up vertical paths, the climbers constantly challenge themselves. Even with bleeding, calloused fingertips and joints wrapped in bandages that still ache, the moment they reach the top, all the pain is forgotten. Climbing is an attitude of loving life. By mountain streams and in lush forests, the climbers fully embrace their youth, scaling steep cliffs, conquering the heights step by step, and enjoying the joy of moving upward.