In 2018, sport climbing made its debut at the Youth Olympic Games. That same year, the Getu River Climbing Base, equipped with artificial competition walls, was built and hosted a leg of the Chinese Climbing League. In 2019, several primary schools in Ziyun county also built climbing walls and held specialized climbing courses.

Climbing, which began with the ancient goro, has found its young inheritors in Ziyun county.

During August's 2024 IFSC Youth World Climbing Championships, which were held in Guiyang, Ziyun county invited more than 50 young athletes from over 20 countries and regions to experience outdoor climbing at the Getu River. Following that, the 2024 Guizhou Rocktrip Rock Climbing Carnival took place in the area last month.

Many climbers at these events praised the Chuangshang Cave for its unique climbing environment.

"We come almost every year," said Wang Lingyun, a climber from Chongqing. "The natural cave shelters us from wind and rain, making climbing less dependent on weather, and there are routes of varying difficulties, suitable for all levels."

Some climbers also offered suggestions for the future development of the sport at Getu River.

One climber on Chinese mountaineering forum 8264 noted, "Getu River climbing is internationally famous, but for over a decade, it's been 'famous abroad, but unknown at home.' It would be great to have better online promotion of Getu climbing."

To transform Ziyun's Getu Valley, with its rich history and vast potential, into a representative sports and cultural tourism brand is a goal that passionate people are striving to meet.

Xinhua