| phone | U.S.A. | +1 (310) 997-0051 / +1 (310) 878-2934 |
|---|---|---|
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| China | +86 (10) 8409-8570 / +86 (10) 8409-8571 | |
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2009-05-03 09:01
This is a good introduction to Yangshuo's rock climbing scene which is already a very commercial and touristy place. The first Yangshuo Climbing Festival took place in October 2008 and the successful international event will be repeated from 13 - 15 November 2009.
Yangshuo is full of Chinese tour groups but it is possible to stay away from the city and find quiet back-country places from where to base your exploration.
It is a little-known corner of China, at present far removed from mass tourism but destined to become an unmissable destination for all those wishing to experience a region uncontaminated by consumerism which has invaded other more famous areas.
the Sport in Yangshuo
Sport climbing in Yangshuo dates back to 1986, when Germans Wolfgang Gllich and Kurt Albert and Austrians Heinz Zak and Ingrid Reitenspie? ventured into China to discover the hidden secrets of the east. A year later Andrea Gallo, Andre Van Lierde and Michele Radici set foot in the area and even made a climbing film (entitled Acqua, Nuvole e Picchi) while in 1990 Todd Skinner, together with some fellow Americans, bolted the incredible natural arch called Moon Hill and created some spectacular routes that crossed the vault. Climbing development has not looked back since then, thanks to the incredible quantity of limestone available and both visiting climbers and locals who continue to establish new routes. At present there are circa 30 crags and roughly 350 route and this is destined to increase in the future.
Yangshuo Climbing Festival History
The first Yangshuo Climbing Festival took place in October 2008 and the successful international event will be repeated from 13 - 15 November 2009. The goal of the festival is to promote the sport of rock climbing and a sense of community among climbers throughout China in a fun, friendly, casual atmosphere. The festival organizers will donate a significant portion of proceeds raised through a modest entry fee back into the local Yangshuo schools in an effort to encourage a long-term collaborative partnership between climbers and the local community.