Yan Haobai, known to friends as Xiao Bai, once spent her days teaching color theory and composition at an international high school. A year ago, she traded her paintbrush for a harness and discovered rock climbing—and it changed her life. 🖌️➡️🧗♀️
She dove into training with seven months at indoor climbing gyms, learning to trust her grip and find balance on overhanging walls. 'I realized I'm braver than I thought,' Xiao Bai says, recalling her first time clipping into the top-rope. 💪✨
Today, she tackles real rock at Jingling Valley in Beijing’s Miyun District, where limestone cliffs tower over lush forests. With each hold she masters, Xiao Bai embraces a new form of creativity—transforming fear into focus, and doubt into determination. 🌳🗻
Her journey mirrors the rise of the Chinese mainland’s outdoor community, where more young adventurers are swapping cafes for campsites and screen time for summit views. Whether you’re a seasoned climber or just curious, Xiao Bai’s story invites you to clip in and climb on. 🚀
'Take the first step, trust yourself, and you might just fall in love with the journey upward,' she advises. So what are you waiting for? Your next adventure could be just a carabiner away. ⛰️❤️
Reference(s):
Climbing beyond fear: Former art teacher's journey on the rocks
cgtn.com
