General
How long has Chinaclimb been running?
Where is Chinaclimb based?
What is Yangshuo like?
What is the climate and weather like in Yangshuo?
When is the best time to come?
Are there any times I shouldn’t come?
What qualifications do guides have?
What is the story with the waiver?
How can I be sure I will be safe?
Do I need vaccinations or malaria medications for Yangshuo?
Schools
What is the instructor to student ratio?
Where do you offer trips in China?
Does Chinaclimb offer trips outside of China?
Do you take schools from outside of China?
How many students can Chinaclimb accommodate?
Does Chinaclimb offer camping and multi-day trekking programs?
How can Chinaclimb programs fit in with IB CAS or Duke Of Edinburgh goals?
Does Chinaclimb offer subject and curriculum specific programs?
Can I please download a copy of your brochure?
Corporate
Does Chinaclimb arrange corporate packages?
Does Chinaclimb provide consulting based services?
Families and Independent Travellers
Do you provide trips for families?
Can you arrange hotel accommodation and airport pick-ups?
Casual Guiding
Can you please tell me more about guided activities offered at Chinaclimb?
Climbers
What is the climbing like in Yangshuo?
What are the other activities apart?
How do I get to Yangshuo?
What can you tell me about Chinese visas?
How much do things cost in Yangshuo?
How is the accomodation in Yangshuo?
What gear do I need to bring?
How easy is it to find people to climb with?
General
How long has Chinaclimb been running?
Chinaclimb was established in 2001 as a rock climbing guiding company based in Yangshuo. From its origins it was a small guiding operation for backpackers and independent travellers but in 2003 Chinaclimb led its first school group. Since then we have never looked back, continually growing and becoming growing stronger, today we now offer fully managed excursions to schools, corporate groups and independent travellers alike.<top>
Where is Chinaclimb based?
Chinaclimb is located inside the Lizard Lounge on Xianqian Street (off West Street) in Yangshuo. Click here to see an address and map. <top>
What is Yangshuo like?
Yangshuo is a small farming town rapidly becoming China's tourist town attracting hundreds of thousands of foreign and Chinese tourists to every year. Situated in the Guangxi Autonomous Region, Yangshuo provides tourists with a sound infrastructure offering dozens of hotels, cafes, restaurants and souvenirs shops in the pedestrian only tourist centre. Although mostly an every day Chinese town, it has a pedestrian-only area which blends western style and Chinese tradition to produce a tourist friendly enviroment. As crime is virtually unheard of and road traffic is prohibited from the town centre, it is a safe environment even for children. And if your Chinese vocabulary is few and far between you will find a large number of English speakers only to happy to help you get around.<top>
What is the climate and weather like in Yangshuo?
Yangshuo's summers' are hot, thirties, and its winters' cold, normally in single digits. Between those times spring and autumn can be reasonably warm (in the twenties). While it is normally dry for most of the year round; the spring season has daily twenty minute rain storms. Humidity is present most of the year round, except for the autumn season. The autumn season is the best time for climbing, September to November, when temperatures are comfortable and the humidity is down. An accurate weather report for Yangshuo can be found at http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/57957.html.
| |
Avg Low (C°) |
Avg High (C°) |
Avg Rain (mm) |
| January |
5 |
12 |
53 |
| February |
7 |
13 |
88 |
| March |
11 |
17 |
128 |
| April |
16 |
22 |
253 |
| May |
20 |
27 |
358 |
| June |
23 |
31 |
343 |
| July |
25 |
33 |
223 |
| August |
24 |
33 |
173 |
| September |
22 |
31 |
78 |
| October |
17 |
26 |
88 |
| November |
12 |
20 |
73 |
| December |
7 |
15 |
48 |
<top>
When is the best time to come?
The best time to come depends on the destination of the trip. The following is a list of destinations and their best times to come.
Yangshuo – Trips are possible all year round. The more temperate seasons are March to June and September to November. Trips hosted outside these seasons can be tailored to suit the current climate.
Yunnan – April to October
Sichuan – April to October
Inner Mongolia – May to September
<top>
Are there any times I shouldn’t come?
The Chinese have three national holidays each lasting for a week. 95% percent of the population (works out to about 1.3 billion) insist on traveling somewhere during this time, which often leads to over inflated prices and reduced availablity of travel travel tickets and accommodation. While it is still possible to travel keep in mind that you will be doing battle with the rest of the population. These times are May and October weeks (the first week of the months) and Chinese New Year.<top>
What qualifications do guides have?<top>
Before the spring and autumn seasons Chinaclimb hosts training both in-house and outsourced to internationally recognised companies. Prior to the spring of 2007 Chinaclimb hosted instructors from Wilderness Medical Associates (www.wildmed.com) to update staff with Advanced Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder certifications. Prior to the autumn 2006 season instructors from Australian Climbing Consultants
(www.australianclimbing.com.au) certified guides with "Top Rope" and "Lead Climbing" certifications. As well, staff are hand picked from around the world and throughout China and bring with them a large pool of various certifications for example industrial rigging and life guarding.<top>
What is the story with the waiver?
The waiver's existence is indicative of the many measures we undertake to ensure that the quality, professionalism and safety of our programs meet or exceed international best practice. By this we mean the waiver is a standard in the rock climbing/roped activities industry and ours is in fact more kindly worded than that of the American Mountain Guides Association (www.amga.com/images/forms/waivers/General_Waiver.pdf). This type of waiver has also now become both the suggested standard for all school trips with activities such as swimming, canoeing, sailing, rafting, horseback riding, mountain/rock climbing, football, rugby, soccer, etc. Our stance on our waiver is thus both one of sympathy and yet necessity. Rock climbing is one of those activities that, in its wild form has obvious danger and yet in its institutionalized form it is one of the safest forms of outdoor adventure. This is the result of a multitude of cautious, thorough and overlapping forms of standardized protection and risk management. Our commitment to exceeding international standards extends to all areas of our operations and in six years of guiding with thousands of international school students we have neither ever had nor ever plan to have an accident on one of our climbing trips. Our commitment to safety includes thorough planning, use of the best equipment and investment in our team through thorough internstionally recognised training.<top>
How can I be sure I will be safe?
Chinaclimb has many different levels to ensure the safety of those involved in Chinaclimb excusrions. The first being risk management.
The second level is ensuring first aid and evacuation equipment and services are always on hand. Comprehensive well stocked first aid kits are carried at all times including
during transportation. First aid kits do not contain prescription drugs such as epinephrine and ventolyn and we ask customers to supply their own. Chinaclimb also owns rescue materials such as a full rescue litter and backboard which are always available at Chinaclimb. Chinaclimb's guides are certified with Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness Advanced First Aid certificates.
The third level to have a clear line to advanced care. All emergency proceedures start with care at local hospitals. Yangshuo's public hospital has around thirty full time doctors and advanced medical equipment such as and MRI and digitial X ray machine. If necessary Chinaclimb also has an evacuation plan to advanced levels of care by way of transport to Guilin and onward to major cities. The Guilin People's and Military Hospital is an 80 to 90 minute trip and are capable of airlift to major cities by commericial flights. Flights regularly leave to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai. Commerical flights to Hong Kong are able
to remove seats for a stretcher syled evac.
Chinaclimb has never had a
serious accident involving customers and because of our expertise has been called upon to lead three rescue operations involving members of the public in the last three years. <top>
Do I need vaccinations or malaria medications for Yangshuo?
As Yangshuo is sub-tropical it not burdened with malaria and dengue fever, though mosquitoes are problematic in spring and summer. You will not need malaria medications. Medical professionals will advise to obtain vaccines before travelling to China. It is best to consult a medical professional to learn the best treatment.<top>
Schools
What is the instructor to student ratio?
Chinaclimb operates safe and professional ratios depending on the activity; for non-technical activities such as hiking, ratios of 1 guide to 8 students. For more technical activities such as rock climbing the ratio is better than 1 to 4.<top>
Where do you offer trips in China?
Chinaclimb currently offers adventure trips in Yangshuo and Longsheng, (Guangxi Province) Yunnan, Sichuan Provinces. We can also travel and work at outdoor activity centres near you.
Working with partners we are now able to also offer locations such as Inner Mongolia, Beijing (Great Wall), Xian and the Silk Road.<top>
Does Chinaclimb offer trips outside of China?
We are actively scouting and searching for international program locations. Please contact us for further information regarding our international trips.<top>
Do you take schools from outside of China?
Yes, we have led trips for schools and groups from the UK, US and Saudi Arabia.<top>
How many students can Chinaclimb accommodate?
Chinaclimb has operated with groups as low as 8 and as high as 140 (though we prefer to work with groups of less then 100 in one location). Typically larger school groups will be separated into smaller sub-groups to for half-day rotation of activities. The sub-group size normally ranges from 10 to 15.<top>
Does Chinaclimb offer camping and multi-day trekking programs?
Yes, we offer both camping and multi-day trekking trips in Guangxi, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.<top>
How can Chinaclimb programs fit in with IB CAS or Duke Of Edinburgh goals?
Chinaclimb programs are customised to meet requirements of schools’ outdoor education and extra curricular curriculums. Please contact us for more information about the opportunities offered to meet the criteria on our various programs.<top>
Does Chinaclimb offer subject and curriculum specific programs?
Yes, we have experience in building subject specific trips such as geography and mathmatics.<top>
Can I please download a copy of your brouchure?
Click here to download the brouchere.<top>
Corporate
Does Chinaclimb arrange corporate packages?
Chinaclimb’s offersoutdoor corporate events and team building days. The same team of qualified, friendly, professional staff can design a customised adventure or relaxing based program to bring the people of your business closer together. We offer a range of themed programs and activities for:
• Team Building Days
• Conferences
• Staff Conventions
• Social Functions
• Product Launches
Please contact us for further information and we can design a program to suit your desired goals and outcomes.<top>
Does Chinaclimb provide consulting based services?
Yes, Chinaclimb can work with you business to supply specialised services and consulting tailored for your needs. Examples include climbing wall training, specialised rigging and training, adventure race work ,and TV and film rigging.<top>
Families and Independent Travellers
Do you provide trips for families?
Yes, Chinaclimb can arrange all the details for a hassle free, fun, adventure package holiday excursion in Yangshuo. We offer fully inclusive packages and partial packages. All activities offered at Chinaclimb can be incorporated into a family package weekend (some activities have minimium number quotas). Chinaclimb also has experience providing activities for children as young as five; Chinaclimb babysitting services are also available on request.<top>
Can you arrange hotel accommodation and airport pick-ups?
Yes, Chinaclimb can arrange details such as accommodation, airport transfer, transport and meals on top of activities. A gate-to-gate service so that all you have is sit back, enjoy the scenery and have fun!<top>
Casual Guiding
Can you please tell me more about guided activities offered at Chinaclimb?
At Chinaclimb we can offer a range of activities to casual customers. These usually are rock climbing, but can include kayaking, caving, biking and abseiling.
A typical half day of rock climbing includes two professional bi-lingual qualified guides, all the necessary safety and climbing equipment, transport to and from the climbing site, safety briefing and instruction,water and fruit. A typical half day climbing session last 3.5 hours at the climb site usually in the morning or afternoon.
We also can offer fuller and longer rock climbing programs tailored to your needs. For more information please contact us.<top>
Climbers
What is the climbing like in Yangshuo?
The level of interest among the climbing community is rising to equal that of Thailand’s Krabi and Chang Mai areas. However as the seasons in China and Thailand do not overlap these destinations make excellent stops on an exploratory expedition of climbing across Asia.
There are currently 250 bolted sport routes across 24 crags, and these numbers are growing quickly. China uses the Yosemite decimal system and has routes ranging from 5.5 to 5.14a, while most lie between the 10, 11 and 12 regions. The majority of the lines are single pitch sport routes, although there are few multi-pitch routes often topping out on the towers. There is a small amount of bouldering and dedicated trad lines in the area.
Most climbing areas are within 10 kilometres of the centre of town and can be accessed by bicycle, mini van taxi, motorcycle taxi, or bus.<top>
What are the other activities apart?
Rest days activities include hiking, caving, biking, tai chi, kung fu, calligraphy and general lazing about in the climbing shops. There is also swimming and tubing (tubes available from Chinaclimb) in two rivers that run through Yangshuo. There are a few smaller villages that make an excellent day outing, again most can be accessed by bus or bike.<top>
How do I get to Yangshuo?
With the approach of the 2008 Olympic Games, China has a new found enthusasim for learning English, however knowing a little Chinese can go a long way. The Chinese generally do not use the roman alphabet (ABC’s), so it is best to have things written down in Chinese characters. The Chinese characters for Yangshuo is ÑôË·, and Guilin is ¹ðÁÖ.
There are some bus routes direct to Yangshuo and its nearest city Guilin is an hour away and is a easily accessed transport hub both nationally and internationally. There are several ways to get to Yangshuo, below is a short list :
| Location |
Cost |
Duration |
Special Notes |
| Hong Kong |
|
|
|
| Air* |
1000-2000 CNY |
2 Hours |
|
| Bus (Shenzhen) |
230 CNY |
12 Hours |
Bus with short beds |
| Train* (Shenzhen) |
250 CNY |
15 Hours |
Comfortable beds |
| Macau |
|
|
|
| Air* |
1000-2000 CNY |
2 Hours |
|
| Bus (Zhuhai) |
200 CNY |
12 Hours |
Bus with short beds |
| Beijing |
|
|
|
| Air* |
800 - 2000 CNY |
2 Hours |
|
| Train* |
450 CNY |
22 Hours |
Comfortable beds |
| Shanghai |
|
|
|
| Air* |
800 - 2000 CNY |
2 Hours |
|
| Train* |
400 CNY |
28 Hours |
|
| Kumning |
|
|
|
| Air* |
|
|
|
| Train* |
270 CNY |
19 Hours |
Comfortable beds |
| Nanning |
|
|
|
| Train* |
50 CNY |
6 Hours |
|
| Bus |
98 CNY |
5 Hours |
|
| Guangzhou |
|
|
|
| Bus* |
180 CNY |
10 Hours |
Bus with short beds |
| Bangkok |
|
|
|
| Air* |
150 USD |
4 Hours |
|
* - travels to Guilin, a bus can or taxi can be taken from Guilin to Yangshuo. A bus service runs from the Guilin Railway Station's car park to Yangshuo’s bus station. Buses leave run every ten minutes from 6 AM to 11 PM and cost 15 CNY. Taxis from Guilin should cost about 200 CNY.
It is possible to cross the border between Laos or Vietnam in to China. Once in China either option from Kumning or Nanning can be used.<top>
What can you tell me about Chinese visas?
Before entering China you need to obtain a visa, they are not supplied on entry (excluding Hong Kong or Macao – see below). Most embassies will provide 90 days tourist visas to most passport holders. Visas for China can be obtained from any Chinese embassy and from travel agents in Laos, Vietnam and Hong Kong. Some holders of American passports have experienced difficulities in obtaining visas. Always ensure the exact specifications of the visa, some 90 day visas require exit from the country every 30 days. Note that Hong Kong and Macao are not considered mainland China and have their own visa system, a 7 day tourist visa can be obtained on arrival.
Using a Hong Kong travel agency, the application process is simple and quick. Our preferred supplier is Japan Travel Agency. Simply hand over a passport and 250 HKD (450 HKD for UK and US citizens) cash, no hassle. You can optionally pay $100 HKD extra first thing in the morning and you can get your passport back the same day. Japan Travel Agency can be found on 5th Floor, East Ocean Centre, 98 Granville Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowlon, Hong Kong, +852 2368 9151.<top>
How much do things cost in Yangshuo?
Life in China is relatively cheap compared to its Asian counter-parts. Here’s another list:
A bus to a crag – 2.5 CNY
A beer in a bar - 10 CNY
A loaf of bread - 5 CNY
A bowl of noodles – 2.5 CNY
A main meal in a western restaurant - 20 to 30 CNY
Day rent of a bike - 20 CNY
A taxi to a crag – 30 CNY
Dormitory bed – 30 CNY
A guest house room – 70 CNY <top>
How is the accomodation in Yangshuo?
Yangshuo has an abundance of hotels and guest house to choose from, most are clean and modern. Centrally located guest houses start at about 30 CNY for a dormitory bed and range from about 50 CNY to 150 CNY for a double room with air conditioning. Be aware of touts who may approach you, they can offer cheaper rooms but are usually located away from the main tourist areas. More expensive and up market accommodation is available depending on the levels of comfort up to a five star resort in the middle of the town. Because of the huge selection of accomodation, it is easy to organise when you arrive (except in busy periods see
Are there any times I shouldn’t come?).
<top>
What gear do I need to bring?
Generally routes are less than 25 metres and have less than 12 bolts. A 60 metre rope and twelve draws will allow access to access to most routes. Some climbing shops rent out equipment (Chinaclimb does not), however it is pretty cheap to buy when compared with western prices. If you are planning on bolting please bring anchors. Bolts, drill, and other equipment are available from Chinaclimb. Please ensure that you check ahead with an e-mail or phone call to before buying equipment.
Clothing is dependant on the season. Prices of imitation clothing and winter wear are relatively cheap and there are numerous retailers along the main street waiting for you.<top>
How easy is it to find people to climb with?
Typically there are a number of climbers in town and everyone here seems pretty happy to have people along. Chianclimb hires typically around thirty people so someone is usually climbing everyday. The best place to find fellow climbers is Chinaclimb and Karst Cafe in the evenings.
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