It is understood that this year’s Gangshika National Ski Mountaineering Exchange Conference is another ski mountaineering event held in Gangshika, following the first national-level event in 2011. The aim is to further promote ski mountaineering in China’s high-altitude snow mountains through competitive events, and to establish Gangshika as a hub for the sport in the country. This will also help drive cultural, economic, tourism, and sports development in the province and the Haibei region. At the same time, the event will showcase the breathtaking scenery of Qinghai, enrich the cultural and sports life of the public, and promote the nationwide fitness movement.
According to Li Wenmao, head of the New Projects Department at the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, ski mountaineering is an outdoor sport that demands high proficiency in both skiing and climbing techniques. However, precisely because it combines the thrill of both skiing and mountaineering—two extreme sports—it is very popular in Europe and America, and is also attracting more and more enthusiasts in China. Among the 40-plus participants, some are veterans who took part in last year’s Gangshika ski mountaineering event, while many others are newcomers eager to learn and master ski mountaineering skills and challenge themselves on high-altitude snow peaks. Li Wenmao said, "Gangshika has unique natural advantages that are perfect for ski mountaineering. I believe it will soon become a mecca for ski mountaineering enthusiasts in China."