Taipei City Government

In the rock-climbing facility at Neihu Sports Center (內湖運動中心), Steven, from the United States, concentrates intently as he finds the right place to first position his hand, then his foot, while he slowly ascends. Rock climbing is a passion of his, and when back home in the United States he would regularly climb. Since moving to Taipei, he often practices his technique in indoor facilities before heading out to tackle natural climbs.

"The fun in rock climbing,”he says,“comes in the concentration that is required. You place your life in your hands and your technique. The moment you reach your goal you feel a release of pressure through your whole body, and are filled with a sense of joy and pleasure.” Many of his foreign friends who share his love of the sport ask where they can go climbing in Taiwan as soon as they get off the plane – clear proof of their passion. Many regard rock climbing as a sport confined to specialists. T hey think of people of great strength hanging onto cliff faces solely by their fingertips and toes, meaning challenges far beyond the range of normal people. In fact, rock climbing is an extension of mountaineering, originally used by mountain climbers as a practice technique to help overcome the various difficulties they would face in their ascents. In 1970 French nationals developed it into a separate sport, and Francois Savigny developed the first movable rock, made with fiberglass, sand, and resin, laying the foundation for artificial climbing walls and bringing new life to rock climbing.

He Zhongda (何中達), head of the Chinese Taipei Alpine Association (中華民國山岳協會), says that“There are no restrictions in regard to age or body type for rock climbing. Just follow the instructions of your trainers and you can experience the fun of improving step by step.”Many people who have no great love of hiking or have never climbed a mountain nevertheless develop a passion for rock climbing, because the process tempers the mind, strengthens the body, and releases pressure, and maybe brings back sweet childhood memories of tree climbing.

In general, rock climbing can be divided into indoor “boulder climbing”(抱石攀岩) and graded outdoor climbing. He Zhongda recommends that beginners use indoor facilities for practice, building up skills gradually with wall climbs no higher than 3 or 4 meters and with protective padding below.“Bouldering fields help training climbers develop explosive force,”he says.‘At outdoor sites the height can reach 15 meters, and there is no protective padding below, so belay devices, commonly called“pig noses”(豬鼻子) by Taiwanese climbers,’and Figure 8 Descenders are a must to prevent a possible fall. The greater heights tackled in outdoor climbs increase muscular endurance.

If you are interested in trying your hand at the sport, note that there are a few basic equipment needs. Proper climbing shoes with sticky, high-friction soles are requisite, enabling strong toe grip. Chalk (magnesium carbonate powder) must also be rubbed on hands before climbing to absorb sweat and prevent slipping. Rock climbing has many benefits to recommend it. It strengthens both your endurance and willpower. It also tempers mental acuity and enhances problem-solving skills. Most of the city's sports centers have artificial facilities, with full safety measures and instructors on site to provide guidance, making practicing easy, comfortable, and fun for interested novices.