As the captain of the Chinese Mountaineering Team and the man who led the first Chinese ascent of the highest peaks on all seven continents, Wang Yongfeng is hailed as the “King of Mountaineering” in China’s climbing community. Even as a spokesperson for outdoor brands, he has long been at ease. Yet this man known as the “mountain-like figure,” as a new member of the 12th National Committee of the CPPCC, is still a newcomer. However, China’s first CPPCC member from the mountaineering community submitted his first proposal at the First Session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee—building and improving China’s outdoor mountaineering rescue system.
Wearing Outdoor Gear to Attend the “Two Sessions”
In the eyes of many, Wang Yongfeng is a true tough guy. This native of Jining, Inner Mongolia, ran 5,000 meters every day wearing earmuffs in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius since childhood to build his physical strength. Now 50 years old, he is a superstar among many climbers. He has not only conquered the highest peaks on all seven continents but also trekked to both the South and North Poles. He was also a torchbearer for the Beijing Olympic Games torch relay at Mount Everest.
Such a king of mountaineers stands out remarkably at the Two Sessions accommodation site. Dressed in outdoor gear, wearing a baseball cap, and sporting a full beard, this “outdoor style” makes it hard to associate him with a CPPCC member.
“I’ve been living every day to the fullest.” Wang Yongfeng said he cherishes his identity as the first CPPCC member from the mountaineering community, and therefore hopes even more to fulfill the CPPCC members’ function of “participating in the administration and discussion of state affairs.” “This is my honor, an accolade for our mountaineering community, and also a weighty responsibility.”
As a “new member,” Wang Yongfeng is also seizing every opportunity to observe and learn from the proposals of senior “veteran members” in the sports community. “Some members’ proposals are quite professional. The ones that left a deep impression on me include Old Ma’s (Ma Jilong—former director of the Equipment Center of the General Administration of Sport of China) ‘Proposal on the Youth Sports Revitalization Plan,’ and another one by Member Han Aiping, ‘Proposal on the Public Welfare Aspect of Sports Clubs.’” Wang Yongfeng said there are many areas where he still needs to consult experts for answers and clarifications.
Whether talking about being a spokesperson for an outdoor brand or climbing those perilous peaks, Wang Yongfeng feels capable of handling them, but when it comes to being a committee member, Wang Yongfeng said with a smile, “Being a good CPPCC member is actually more difficult than climbing mountains.”
“The Rescue System Needs Government Leadership”
As the deputy director of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, Wang Yongfeng has comprehensive insights into outdoor sports as a sports administrator. This is why he focused his first proposal on his area of expertise.
“On Establishing and Improving a Nationwide Mountaineering and Outdoor Rescue System.” Speaking about his proposal, Wang Yongfeng frankly stated that this is an issue he has pondered for a long time. “With the development of the national economy, more and more people are participating in outdoor activities, making it an important part of mass sports.” However, with tens of millions of people engaging in outdoor sports each year, how to ensure safety is the key issue in Wang Yongfeng’s view.
As the “King of Mountaineering,” Wang Yongfeng has also encountered life-threatening dangers during climbs. In 1993, while attempting to summit Mount Everest with his team, after successfully reaching the top, he was stuck on an ice wall at 8,700 meters and lost contact with headquarters for a full 28 hours. Due to severe frostbite, he had to have three toes amputated.
It is precisely because he understands the dangers of outdoor sports and the current inadequacies of the outdoor rescue system that Wang Yongfeng hopes his proposal will draw attention from all sides. “The establishment of a rescue system needs to be government-led, with assistance from the whole society. This system is huge and cannot be entirely operated by the government, but the command system must be directly managed by the government; otherwise, chaos will ensue.” Wang Yongfeng believes that it is now urgent to popularize safety education among mountaineering enthusiasts. Secondly, he hopes that governments at all levels with the capacity will build more mountaineering trails to guide people away from climbing wild and unregulated mountains. Thirdly, the mountaineering rescue system still needs further improvement.
Wang Yongfeng also admitted that an outdoor rescue system cannot be established in a short period of time. “It will take at least several years to initially establish a relatively complete mountaineering and outdoor rescue system.” Regarding the rescue costs that many people are concerned about, he also hopes to promote insurance involvement in outdoor sports. He said that currently, there are no specialized insurance types in China to cover the rescue costs incurred by outdoor rescue teams, while abroad, there are specialized insurance policies that pay for rescuers on behalf of hikers.
Wang Yongfeng admitted, “Regional rescue systems have already been established in Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Shenzhen, and other areas. The next step is to expand this mature model nationwide.”