While most people rely on their legs to hike mountains, 38-year-old Sun Guo Shan has taken on a remarkable challenge—scaling China’s most famous peaks entirely on his hands.
A former educator, Sun began training for handstand climbing in May 2023, inspired by the emphasis on physical fitness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His mission is to climb 50 of China’s iconic mountains by spring 2025, promoting health and paying tribute to the country’s stunning natural landscapes.
Sun officially began his challenge in May 2024, but it wasn’t until November 2024 that he captured widespread attention. A video of him climbing Haibat, the 1,612-meter-high peak of Wudang Mountain, went viral.
“Every Chinese person carries a dream of martial arts in their heart,” Sun explained. “I want to use my unique climbing method to complete the journey across 50 famous mountains this spring.”
In December 2024, he tackled one of his toughest feats—ascending the 999 steps of Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province. The arduous climb, which took five hours, saw him fall nearly a hundred times before reaching the summit.
“This is the 34th mountain I’ve challenged, and also the most difficult one,” Sun said after completing the climb.
With just 16 peaks left to conquer, Sun is determined to finish his mission by spring 2025 and submit his achievement to Guinness World Records. His unwavering dedication and extraordinary endurance continue to inspire countless people across China and beyond.
