The 2025 National Youth Rock Climbing Open (Jiangshan, Zhejiang), combined with the selection trials for the national youth climbing teams, commenced on April 11 at the Jiangshan Sports Center in Jiangshan, a county-level city in Quzhou, Zhejiang province.

This event marks the first national youth climbing competition of 2025, heralding the start of this season's youth climbing activities.

The three-day competition has attracted 1,034 participants, including 168 teams and 162 individual climbers, making it the first-ever climbing event worldwide to surpass 1,000 competitors – a significant milestone in the history of rock climbing.

A rock climber competes in the 2025 National Youth Rock Climbing Open (Jiangshan, Zhejiang). [Photo/Tide News]

The Open features 962 participants divided into six age groups – A8 (8 years), A9 (9 years), A10 (10 years), U13 (11-12 years), U15 (13-14 years), and U17 (15-16 years) – with separate categories for boys and girls, competing in both difficulty and speed events.

The selection trials involve 299 participants across four age groups – U13, U15, U17, and U19 (17-18 years) – also split into boys and girls categories, competing in difficulty, speed, and bouldering events. Athletes in the U13, U15, and U17 divisions may compete in both events if eligible.

In recent years, Jiangshan has focused on sports to promote the integrated development of sports and tourism. It has hosted over 140 major events, including the National New Year Climbing and Fitness Conference and the National Youth Rock Climbing Open.