The hole-riddled rock faces in Mashan District, Nanning in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, make it an ideal rock climbing site (CNSPHOTO) 

Successions of jumps, overhanging passages and suspension on the tip of the shoes ... For the first time, the public had the opportunity to watch rock climbers fight for Olympic medals this summer in Tokyo, Japan. Although no Chinese athlete made it to the podium, the sport is still gaining popularity with the younger generation in the country. 

This is evident in the development of the first climbing-themed township in Mashan District of Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, since 2017. In just four years, a new favorite destination for enthusiasts from around the world has been created from scratch. Many world-class competitions have taken place here. The sport is even taught in more than 20 local schools. By taking advantage of sports tourism, the once underdeveloped area is embracing a promising future.

Turning misfortune into opportunity 

Located in the same autonomous region as Yangshuo, a site known worldwide for its annual climbing festival since 2008, Mashan has the same type of karst relief. The Dashi mountain range which crosses its eastern part is made up of numerous rock faces riddled with holes, like a Swiss cheese. This makes it an ideal site for climbing beginners. However, before the development of the recreation, Mashan had been afflicted by poverty for generations. Water shortages resulting from the karst topography, less than 0.05 hectare of arable land per capita and a lack of other resources were the main constraints.

In the 1950s, biological fragility was exacerbated by intensive logging in Mashan. Its inhabitants had to spend the following decades restoring the balance of the ecosystem threatened by desertification. Today, 90 percent of the forest cover has been restored. But preserving the environment while improving livelihoods is a challenge for the local people.

In November 2016, the China-ASEAN Mountain Marathon event in Mashan was a game changer. Thanks to globalization and media coverage, international enthusiasts and sportsmen marveled at the dazzling panorama of the karst peaks. The local government then came up with the idea of developing sports tourism, combining the pleasure of extreme sports with tourist discovery. It wanted to make it an effective lever to boost the local economy.

Mashan's growing popularity as a popular destination in mountain sports eventually caught the attention of the Chinese Mountaineering Federation (CMF). After a field study conducted by its delegation, all thoughts converged on the same conclusion: to make the most of local resources for rock climbing. Hence the development project of the climbing-themed township, occupying an area of 3.6 square km and involving 18 villages in the district.

The Nongla Mountain area in Mashan was threatened by deforestation in the 1950s before being revived by reforestation (VISUAL PEOPLE) 

Formidable lever 

Since the project was launched, a dozen national and international events (China Rock Climbing Natural Rock Face Elite Challenge, China-ASEAN Rock Climbing Elite Competition, etc.) have been held there, with the participation of more than 10,000 people in total. At the same time, 22 rock faces (cliff, boulder, long route, etc.), 553 equipped routes rated from beginner to expert in difficulty, six ramps, 12 platforms, two via ferrata courses, an 800-square-meter gym, as well as a campground for motor homes, hotels and other facilities have been developed.

The number of domestic visitor arrivals to Mashan doubled to about 6 million in 2019 compared to 2016, generating 4.4 billion yuan ($680 million). The 2020 National Day holiday (October 1-7) alone recorded 50,000 visits and a revenue of 2 million yuan ($309,400).

The success of this project would have been unimaginable without the commitment of the stakeholders. The CMF has provided much-needed support for the construction of the China Youth Team hub and the hosting of a series of competitions. The municipal and district governments, meanwhile, earmarked 80 million yuan ($12.4 million) and 50 million yuan ($7.7 million), respectively, in 2019 and 2020 for infrastructure construction.

The government's preferential measures have also attracted private investment of around 1 billion yuan ($154 million). The establishment of creative and cultural companies has also helped opened up more business opportunities and modernize the township's operation management.

The growth of sports tourism has increased the sources of income for local people. Liang Fangling, a local farmer, lived below the poverty line until he was recruited as a security guard by a local via ferrata management company. This position allows him to earn 3,000 yuan ($464) on a monthly basis. His family is also involved in agrotourism, earning more than 40,000 yuan ($6,188) per year.

Training future champions 

In addition, the government has added rock climbing to the school curriculum to ensure that the sport is firmly rooted locally.

Since 2017, more than 15 million yuan ($2.3 million) has been invested in 22 schools to build climbing walls, with a total area of more than 3,000 square meters, and about 50 instructors have been assigned to them. These substantial efforts have paid off. Five of the 12 female finalists in the China Rock Climbing Natural Rock Face Elite Challenge 2020 were from Mashan. Their performance surprised insiders as to the potential of this talent pool.

Lu Siyan, 16, has already participated in several national and international events. She said these experiences have helped shape her personality, opened her mind and given her a better understanding of the outside world. Lu is in the first year of the climbing section at Mashan High School. It is thanks to this discipline, which she has been practicing for three years, that she was able to enroll in this very selective school.

Currently, young climbers who stand out can enter the provincial or national team. Other up-and-coming hopefuls have the opportunity to be accepted by prestigious schools. In return, they are encouraged to return to Mashan after their studies to help with the development of the sport, the goal being to form a virtuous circle.

"Athletes from Mashan have great potential for development. We hope seeing them on the podium at the Olympic Summer Games Los Angeles 2028," Wang Yongfeng, Vice President of the CMF, said.

(Print Edition Title: Profitable Pastime) 

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