Great rock climbing sites all over China

In recent years, China has seen interest in rock climbing surge, and its facilities—of both the indoor man-made variety as well as the outdoor Mother Nature variety—have grown to meet a large portion of the need. It's not hard to see why rock climbing appeals to the inner daredevil of so many China expats: the cost is minimal (compared to back home), it's a fun and challenging way to get in shape, and it's a great way to meet new friends who share a similar interest. Read on for a guide to some great outdoor rock climbing sites in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Guilin, Chengdu, and Kunming – and start fueling that adrenaline rush today!  

Beijing

1) Baihe Valley Miyun area (白河谷密云附近)

This is by far the most famous (and developed) mountain climbing area in Beijing, and for good reason. With over one hundred different routes, including ones with bolted anchors, this is the perfect spot for climbers with a wide range of skill levels. Most of the good climbing spots start at or around Jiangjiafen Village (蒋家坟村), which unfortunately is quite a trek from downtown Beijing. Unless you want to hire a car for the day (which will likely cost more than the actual climbing), the best way to get there is to hop on bus No. 980 (around 10 RMB) at the Dongzhimen Long Distance Bus Station and take it to Miyun Gulou (密云鼓楼), then hire a car to Jiangjiafen Village. The area (like most of those on this list) is free and unsupervised, so be sure to climb with someone who knows what they're doing.

2) Equipment

For everything having to do with climbing, check out the "G View Adventure Equipment" shop in Xizhimen. They come highly recommended by Beijing's biggest rock climbing club (see below) because of their wide array of gear options and brand name items like La Sportiva and Climb X.

Add: Rm 1708, Maples International Tower B, 32 Xizhimen Bei Lu, Haidian District, Beijing 

地址：北京市海淀区西直门北大街32号,枫蓝国际写字楼B座1708室

3) Rock Climbing Clubs

An organized, friendly, and experienced group, the "Beijing Climbing Club" gears itself towards anyone who wants to enjoy the thrills of rock climbing. They offer courses for beginners or those who are just looking to improve their skills and organize regular outings to different areas outside of Beijing. All their guides are certified, so there is a constant emphasis on safety and responsibility that is reassuring for rock climbers of all levels: http://beijingclimbingclub.com

Guangzhou

1) Baiyun Mountain (白云山)

The only climbing spot inside the Guangzhou city limits, Baiyun Mountainconsist of three granite rock peaks that host a total of eighteen bolted climbing routes. Keep in mind that these routes are not for beginners, so pass on this location unless you have a lot of experience. To get there, take metro line 3 to Baiyun Mountain station (白云山站). Once you're inside the park (via the South Gate), take the cable car to the top of the mountain and follow signs towards the "Pearl House" (明珠楼方). You'll see the peak once you hit the tennis courts.

2) Equipment

For climbers in Guangzhou, Decathlon is a great place to pick up basic equipment. Or for more professional gear, check out the offerings at the Mountain Gear website, which ships internationally and has pretty much anything you could possibly need: http://www.mountaingear.com/webstore.

Add: Decathlon, Huangcun Dadao-Huanchang Lu intersection, southeast of Guangzhou Olympic Center, Guangzhou  

地址：广州奥林匹克体育中心东南黄村大道与环场路交汇处,迪卡侬东圃店 

Opening hours: 10:00-20:30 (Sun-Thu); 10:00-21:30 (Fri-Sat) 

Website: www.decathlon.com