Outdoor sports grow in popularity
By Maxim Duncan |
February 10, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DOZENS of Chinese climbing enthusiasts scaled huge, frozen waterfalls in rural Beijing, taking part in a competition showcasing the rapid rise in popularity of outdoor sports.
With white-collar workers looking for more adventurous ways to spend their time and money, climbing is fast taking root alongside activities like running and hiking.
Much of China is covered by mountains, from the misty landscapes of traditional paintings to the towering Himalayas, and the country shares Mt Everest, the world's highest peak, with neighboring Nepal.
But until recently, the peaks went unexplored by Chinese.
"At this moment in China, there are more and more training companies and clubs that organize people to take part in this kind of mountaineering activity, so more and more people are taking part," said Ma Qiang, an IT worker competing in the climbing contest.
"So I think in the future, China will produce a lot of highly skilled climbers who will attempt high mountains along with all the foreigners," Ma said.
About 100 people took part on Tuesday in the two-day competition, which culminated in climbs on two separate frozen waterfalls at Heilongtan, Black Dragon Pool.
On one waterfall, over 100 meters and melting rapidly, climbers competed to be fastest to the top.
On the other, they were tested on their ability to maneuver through holes and perilous overhangs.
Male participants outnumbered women by four to one, but copyright worker Wang Changying urged more women to take part, citing many pluses from the rigorous exercise.
"For women, one of the biggest benefits is that it helps you maintain a good figure. Also it improves your general physical condition and keeps the body strong," she said. "But the biggest gain for me has been that I met my husband doing these activities, and now we're married."
Organizers said normal winter weekends see around 100 people a day climbing the frozen waterfalls.
And with only three days left before warming weather puts the falls out of bounds for safety reasons, climbers were making the most of it.
With white-collar workers looking for more adventurous ways to spend their time and money, climbing is fast taking root alongside activities like running and hiking.
Much of China is covered by mountains, from the misty landscapes of traditional paintings to the towering Himalayas, and the country shares Mt Everest, the world's highest peak, with neighboring Nepal.
But until recently, the peaks went unexplored by Chinese.
"At this moment in China, there are more and more training companies and clubs that organize people to take part in this kind of mountaineering activity, so more and more people are taking part," said Ma Qiang, an IT worker competing in the climbing contest.
"So I think in the future, China will produce a lot of highly skilled climbers who will attempt high mountains along with all the foreigners," Ma said.
About 100 people took part on Tuesday in the two-day competition, which culminated in climbs on two separate frozen waterfalls at Heilongtan, Black Dragon Pool.
On one waterfall, over 100 meters and melting rapidly, climbers competed to be fastest to the top.
On the other, they were tested on their ability to maneuver through holes and perilous overhangs.
Male participants outnumbered women by four to one, but copyright worker Wang Changying urged more women to take part, citing many pluses from the rigorous exercise.
"For women, one of the biggest benefits is that it helps you maintain a good figure. Also it improves your general physical condition and keeps the body strong," she said. "But the biggest gain for me has been that I met my husband doing these activities, and now we're married."
Organizers said normal winter weekends see around 100 people a day climbing the frozen waterfalls.
And with only three days left before warming weather puts the falls out of bounds for safety reasons, climbers were making the most of it.
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