Scaling new heights of popularity

As Song and other climbers scaled Chuanshang Cave with safety equipment, Wang Mingde, the 35-year-old son of a renowned local spiderman, performed unprotected solo climbs in Dachuan Cave below. While the goro tradition faces challenges in inheritance, the growing popularity of modern sport climbing offers a new pathway for preserving these skills.

Song, a champion in natural wall climbing from Sichuan province, was first captivated by outdoor climbing at age 20. Over the past eight years, he has competed across China and now works as a coach at five climbing gyms in Chengdu.

"The number of climbers has surged in the last two years," he noted, adding that the sport attracts people of all ages and professions who start in gyms before venturing outdoors.

The rise of climbing events has also boosted the sport's profile. In September 2024, Song returned to Getu River for a series of climbing competitions, where he met young athletes from over 20 countries and regions, including the United States, Australia and Chile, for the 2024 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships.