Meet Yan Haobai – or Xiao Bai, as friends call her – who traded paintbrushes for climbing harnesses in a life-changing pivot. The 28-year-old, who taught art at an international high school until late 2024, now scales Beijing's majestic Jingling Valley cliffs with the focus of a seasoned pro. 🌄
"Climbing showed me I could be both careful and courageous," Xiao Bai tells us, her chalk-dusted hands gesturing energetically. She started indoor training in early 2025, progressing rapidly through overhangs and crimps like they were brushstrokes on a vertical canvas.
Her journey mirrors China's booming outdoor sports scene, where young urbanites are swapping screen time for fresh air. This year alone, Beijing's climbing gyms have seen 40% more memberships – a trend Xiao Bai embodies perfectly.
"That first step onto the wall? Terrifying!" she laughs. "But now when I grip a rock, it's like the mountain and I are having a conversation." 🗣️💬
Next time you doubt yourself, remember Xiao Bai's mantra: "Fear doesn't disappear – you just learn to dance with it." Who knows? Your next adventure might be waiting on the rocks.
