From October 25 to 26, the 2018 China Natural Rock Climbing Series (Zhongtaihang Mountain, Changzhi-Licheng Station) was held in Licheng County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province. Nearly 100 high-level climbers from various provinces gathered at the spectacular Xierhe Scenic Area for an exhilarating vertical speed showdown.

　　The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Shanxi Provincial Sports Bureau, and the People’s Government of Changzhi City, and hosted by the Sports Bureau of Changzhi City and the People’s Government of Licheng County. It was exclusively operated by Zhongpan Business (Beijing) Co., Ltd. With rock climbing having been included in the Olympics, Youth Olympics, Asian Games, and National Games, the sport is experiencing unprecedented growth both in China and globally. In 2017, the Chinese Mountaineering Association launched the country’s only national-level natural rock climbing competition — the China Natural Rock Climbing Series. The goal is to elevate the profile of natural rock climbing through high-standard national events and allow more enthusiasts to experience the thrill of climbing on natural rock faces.

Opening ceremony, speeches by distinguished guests

　　The competition rules were established by the Chinese Mountaineering Association. Events included men’s and women’s difficulty speed climbing on natural rock walls. The climbing wall stood vertically at 45 meters, with routes stretching 55–60 meters in length and reaching a maximum difficulty grade of 5.12bc. Top-rope protection was used, with preliminary and finals rounds. The finals had a six-minute cutoff time. The top twelve male and female athletes received award certificates and prize money, while the top three were awarded trophies. The champion’s prize was an attractive 12,000 yuan (after tax). Additionally, the organizing committee provided participants with quality accommodation and generous travel subsidies. This warm service and attractive incentives drew many elite domestic climbers to participate enthusiastically.

　　The competition was intense and thrilling. Athletes stretched their limbs, accurately finding holds on the vertical cliffs as they climbed swiftly and nimbly upward, showcasing smooth, decisive movements that highlighted the perfect blend of strength and flexibility. Even with ropes and helmets for protection, they had to maintain intense focus with no room for error. Ultimately, after fierce preliminaries and finals, Qu Haibin from the Hunan Sports School won the men’s championship with a time of 3 minutes and 38 seconds. The runners-up and third place went to Liu Yongcheng and Huang Zhouwen, respectively. The women’s champion was also from the Hunan Sports School — Xiang Hongchun, who finished in 4 minutes and 16 seconds. The second and third places went to Huang Weijun and Ke Xiaohui.

Athletes climbing

The moment an athlete completes a climb, touching the colored ball symbolizing the summit

Award ceremony for the top three men

Award ceremony for the top three women

　　“The magnificent beauty of Taihang lies in Shanxi.” Licheng County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, is located in the Shangdang Basin in the southeastern part of the province. Bordered by the Taihang Mountains to the east and the Taiyue Mountains to the west, it occupies the most beautiful midsection of the 800-li-long Taihang range. The Xierhe Scenic Area is a popular destination both within the province and across the nation. Nestled in the Taihang Mountains, it boasts unique and stunning geological formations, as well as well-preserved vegetation and ecological environments. Surrounded by peaks, with steep red cliffs, ancient towering trees, and flowing streams, the 3-kilometer-long Shabuyan Cliff rises majestically thousands of feet from the ground, grand and spectacular, offering views of competing peaks that are rarely matched. Attractions such as the Pot Mountain, Buddha’s Palm Print, and Peak Top Cave also leave visitors enchanted and lost in thought. Xierhe also has a long history — legend says that the virtuous Xu You from the era of Yao and Shun once washed his ears here, giving rise to the idiom “wash one’s ears to listen respectfully.”

　　In recent years, rock climbing at Xierhe has developed rapidly. On weekends and holidays, climbers from across Shanxi and the rest of the country flock here. Local governments are also actively exploring new tourism models such as “sports + tourism,” integrating more outdoor activities like rock climbing into the area’s unique natural landscapes. This better promotes the national fitness strategy and helps establish local leisure and tourism highlights.

　　Many athletes took the opportunity during the competition to visit nearby attractions such as Xierhe, Sifang Mountain, Golden Rooster Fortress, and Hushan Hot Springs, witnessing the most magnificent Danxia landforms in the Taihang Mountains. The diverse range of Shanxi cuisine, especially its famous noodle dishes, also earned high praise from the participants. “I’m really happy, it’s an unforgettable experience. I not only won a prize, but also went on a journey of broadening my horizons and exploring nature,” said one winning athlete about his experience.

　　With the accelerated development of the Zhongtaihang Mountain International Tourism Resort and the growing community of rock climbing and other sports enthusiasts, starting with the 2018 China Natural Rock Climbing Series (Zhongtaihang Mountain, Changzhi-Licheng Station), future competitions in Changzhi-Licheng will feature a wider variety of even more exciting and high-level outdoor sports events. These will bring even more memorable travel and competition opportunities for sports enthusiasts from around the world.