Rock On: Sport Climbing in Beijing

We were sick of hearing about the city’s rock scene. Beijing Climbing Club changed our mind

So how does one win at rock climbing? You win by keeping yourself and others in your party alive. Rock climbing can be dangerous, but with proper instruction and practice it’s statistically safer than riding a bike ... especially in Beijing.

Who climbs rocks? Everybody of every age and physical condition. I saw a pregnant woman climbing some really hard stuff before. I’ve seen a 2-year-old boy climb almost 2.5 meters on an artificial wall. I know guys in their 60s that are climbing as hard or harder than some 20-year-olds I know.

What’s so good about the rocks in Beijing? They’re not in the city. I’ll jump on any chance to get out of the city for some fresh air. I find myself climbing the walls in Beijing. I’d rather be climbing a mountain.

What else do you do with rocks? I put my martini on them every now and then ... But the best use after climbing is a campground sauna! One large tarp, one river, and a bunch of rocks from the campfire. Hey presto, “boutique” camping experience.

What’s your opinion of pet rocks – is it inhumane to keep them captive? Don’t sweat it. It’s the blink of an eye in their lifetime!

Tell us about the types of rock climbing. Why is yours the best? “Rock-climbing” describes a range of activities from “bouldering” (climbing very short, technical or powerful routes with no ropes but crash pads for protection) to “big wall” climbing, which can entail multiple-day ascents of 1,000m cliffs. I’d say that “our” type of climbing sits squarely in the “massively fun and safer than crossing the road in Beijing” category, and you get a cold beer thrown in on the way back, which obviously makes it the best one.

Who’d be best at climbing: Chris Rock, Pete Rock or Rock Hudson? Pete Rock because he has C.L. Smooth to give him a belay.

Are you sick of puns about belaying? I haven’t heard many, but I do feel a bit self-conscious standing at the bottom of the cliff shouting stuff like “OK, now put your hand in the crack … yeah, that’s it, squeeze your whole hand in the crack. Nice.”

You’ve climbed rocks. Have you ever climbed a hard place? Anywhere at altitude is hard. I’ve been up there a couple of times, but “moving slowly while feeling unwell,” or “mountaineering” as they call it, didn’t appeal.

What do you do when you get to the top? Deep breath, shoes off, look around and immediately start thinking of the next route to climb.

Contact the Beijing Climbing Club at beijingclimbing@gmail.com.

Photo: Antalya Rock Climbing