The second "Nanjing Center Building Vertical Run" event, sponsored and supported by ROYALWAY Meihu Outdoor and organized by Yangtze Evening News, concluded successfully yesterday to rounds of applause and cheers. The vertical run drew athletes from Beijing, Shandong, Yunnan, Chongqing, and other areas to scale Nanjing’s new landmark—the 249-meter, 69-story Nanjing Center Building. In the end, 21-year-old Shandong native Li Wentao claimed the men’s title with a time of 8 minutes flat, while Xuzhou’s Yang Ting won the women’s crown in 9 minutes and 41 seconds. The team championship went to a five-member squad from Nanjing Shengkuo Technology. Although the prize sponsor ROYALWAY Meihu’s three-person team didn’t place, their determination to reach the top was still something to be proud of.
Champions’ Highlights
Shandong Lad Flies in to Claim Victory
"8 minutes? The time’s out—8 minutes. That’s the fastest!" As soon as the race ended, participants gathered around the digital scoreboard displaying results. When the "8-minute" time flashed, the crowd erupted in applause.
The athlete who scaled Nanjing Center Building the fastest was 21-year-old Li Wentao from Shandong. He told reporters that he had just taken second place in the Wuzhishan Mountain Climbing Competition in Hainan on the 17th and had flown specially from Hainan to Nanjing to take part in the vertical run. "I’ve done mountain climbing before, but I’ve never climbed such a tall building. When I saw the event online, I wanted to take on the challenge. Climbing a building is quite different from hiking—I’m not very experienced. By the 40th floor, I was really tired, but I gritted my teeth and pushed to the top."
Xuzhou’s Yang Ting claimed the women’s title with a time of 9 minutes and 41 seconds. Yang said she had excelled in sports during high school, and although she studied accounting in college, she has always loved staying active. Having just graduated this year and started working in Nanjing, she was thrilled to take part in her first such competition. "Actually, I started feeling a bit drained halfway up, so I just kept my head down, took the steps two at a time at a steady pace, and pushed to the top." After their wins, Li and Yang took a short break before striking relaxed poses. They happily donned ROYALWAY-sponsored outdoor gear and struck various poses on the podium for photos.
Behind the Scenes
Handless Youth Wins Most Special Award
One of the most eye-catching participants in yesterday’s vertical run was 23-year-old Ma Mingtao from Shandong, who has no hands. When reporters spotted him, the cheerful young man was busy submitting paperwork and picking up his race gear at the registration area. Despite repeated offers of help, the upbeat Ma insisted, "I’ve got this!"
In conversation, Ma told reporters he learned about the vertical run from friends in Nanjing. "I have a group of hiking buddies, and we often chat in our group chat. They all encouraged me to come compete in Nanjing." Ma, who had just won this year’s Huangshan Mountain Climbing Competition, was brimming with confidence. He signed up right away and took a train from Shandong to Nanjing on the morning of the 21st.
Many strangers stayed behind after their own runs just to cheer him on. Near the top, staff and numerous media outlets cheered, "You’ve got this, young man!" Ma performed exceptionally well and completed the course smoothly. But when he saw his time, he was a bit disappointed. "8 minutes and 45 seconds—that’s a bit slower than I hoped. I thought I could do it in around 8 minutes." Ultimately, Ma won third prize among all contestants. His perseverance deeply moved Zhu Mei, general manager of Nanjing Qiancheng Meijing Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. (ROYALWAY), the clothing sponsor of the event. She decided on the spot to award him a special Style Award. "This young man is remarkable. He has no hands—others can use their hands to help climb, but Ma Mingtao can’t. He relied entirely on his legs, step by step, to reach the top. He embodies the very spirit of sportsmanship that our vertical run aims to promote."
Veteran Competitor Reflects as Field Gets Tougher
Zhu Wenbing, who won third prize in this vertical run, is a sports enthusiast and a loyal reader of Yangtze Evening News. Since 2005, he has participated in the newspaper’s vertical run events, winning the 2005 and 2007 "Shangmao Cup Vertical Run" championships, third place in the "Zifeng Tower Vertical Run," and second place in the "First Nanjing Center Vertical Run." This time, Zhu finished third with a time of 8 minutes and 53 seconds. Reflecting on his performance, Zhu remarked, "My time’s the same, but the level of competition just keeps getting higher!"
Zhu stated that Yangtze Evening News’ vertical run is the fairest. "Ever since I won the championship in the Yangtze Evening News vertical run in 2005, I’ve been climbing iconic buildings around the country. Compared to others, Yangtze Evening News organizes the best events—orderly, with card-swipe timing and staggered starts. It ensures fair and objective results while also keeping stairwells clear for optimal performance. In some cities, vertical runs start with a gunshot, and everyone takes off at once. The stairwells are narrow, and if just two people block the way, you can’t move fast. It gets crowded and can be dangerous." Zhu added that Yangtze Evening News has wide influence and high public trust. If the event is held again next year, he’ll join his friends for another go.
Stories from the Top
Calm Queen and High-Heel Girl Steal the Show
This Girl Climbed in High Heels
Most participants opted for T-shirts, shorts, or athletic wear suited for the climb, but one contestant actually wore high heels to scale the building. Contestant No. 6, a lively and pretty young woman, proudly lifted her leg at the finish line to show off her heels to reporters. "How about that? Pretty impressive, huh? I actually climbed all the way up in these short heeled boots, hehe." Though it took her 23 minutes, the young woman didn’t mind at all. "I just wanted to see if I could do it—that’s all."
There was the high-heel climber, and then there was the “Calm Queen,” who took the stairs step by step. This young woman remained remarkably composed. While others took three steps at a time, racing against the clock and overtaking fellow contestants, she calmly ascended one step at a time. Asked why she was so unrushed, she replied, "Haste makes waste"—a witty answer indeed. Having climbed all 69 floors without breaking a sweat or even panting much, the nickname “Calm Queen” truly suits her.
