As early as1987China's Mountaineering Association sent8coaches and team members to Nagano, Japan, to systematically study rock climbing. Upon their return, they held the first National Rock Climbing Competition in10month in Beijing’s Huairou District at the natural rock faces of the Dashuiyu Reservoir.
1993That same year, rock climbing was included as an official event by the State Physical Culture and Sports Commission, and a national championship has been held every year since. In9month of that year, the first National Rock Climbing Championships were held in Changchun; in10month, the first international invitational competition in China was held in Wuhan; and in12month, the second Asian Championships were successfully held again in Changchun.
Starting in1997, domestic competitions—both national and international—have been held more than twice a year.
1998In8month, the highest-level international rock climbing invitational tournament in China to date was held at Mount Hua, one of the Five Great Mountains.
1999In9month, China hosted the 8th Asian Championships for the second time..
Rock climbing has developed in China over the past10years, especially in the last two, and has gradually taken shape.
If sport climbing can be seen as moving the climbing gym outdoors, then traditional climbing is like giving the mountains wings. A key feature of traditional climbing is ascending natural rock faces where the climber sets their own protection. Facing different route types requires adapting climbing methods accordingly—whether it’s slick cracks, sheer cliffs, potential dangers, or the thrill of the climb—these are all real aspects of traditional climbing. As a traditional climber, you’re constantly faced with challenges from nature: getting lost, cold, fear, hunger, and protection points that are never 100% certain. When you get back to solid ground, you might feel how wonderful life is—and you’re already planning your next climb.
Due to various constraints, traditional climbing demands higher technical skill and specialized gear, making it less accessible and thus slower to popularize. It started later in China compared to sport climbing, and the community of traditional climbers remains a niche within a niche compared to sport climbing enthusiasts. But traditional climbing is also the purest form of the sport. It’s not limited by whether there are bolts on the wall; instead, climbers use natural features like cracks, rock edges, and branches as protection points.
As the community of sport climbers grows and climbing techniques continue to improve, more people are seeking more challenging and nature-connected climbing experiences. As a result, traditional climbing is gradually gaining traction among climbing enthusiasts.2012In10monthThe North Face/Black Diamond, a Traditional Climbing Exchange Conference will be held at Laojun Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan, whereit will give more climbing enthusiasts the opportunity to learn about and understand different climbing philosophies, offering them a platform for learning and exchange.At the same time,it is believed that the development of traditional climbing in China will continue to accelerate and improve.
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