Cool new pastime on the rise

More people in China are pitting their wits against sheer walls of ice, reaching new personal heights in the process

Although it's still a young sport in China, ice climbing is attracting a greater number of people to pick up ice axes and put on crampons in bid to test their strength and perseverance against the trickiest of terrains.

Among the enthusiasts is Yu Kaiyi, who, since 2014, has been head of an ice climbing club in Beijing. He and his fellow club members are now seizing every opportunity to level up their skills, as there are only about three months in the year when conditions allow for ice climbing in the capital.

"Recently, we have been holding training sessions every week, as the window for us to practice is quite short. Time is the most valuable thing," Yu, who is also a referee at international ice climbing events, told China Daily during one of the club's training sessions at Yunmengxia Valley in Beijing's Miyun district.

"Despite the pandemic, the ice climbers have returned to the icefalls this year. For them, this is more than just a sport. It's an activity that can bring you a great sense of achievement and positive energy.

"It's also a sport for sharing. All the participants, be they rivals or teammates, can share and grow together through training sessions and competitions. They might face the same challenge, which will unite them in a shared experience, and in the way they solve these problems."

However, ice climbing is not an easy sport for the beginner. Yu said that not all members in his club showed a great amount of passion and confidence the first time they tried the sport, but most will gradually begin to enjoy the challenge of attempting reach an even higher point on the icefall.

"There are both children and adults in our club. Their passion towards the sport grows as they keep practicing. To be honest, it's not an easy sport, because the environment is harsh, given the cold temperature, as are the challenges provided by the shape of the icefalls," Yu added.