Climber Liu Yong
“The meaning of our existence lies in ceaselessly seeking and understanding ourselves. In nature's seemingly unreachable, uninhabited peaks, perhaps the answer lies.”
The Future of Mountain Sports
At KAILAS, we are committed to advancing the future of mountain sports. Anchored in the "Unclimbed Peaks Programme", we continue supporting alpine exploration and new‑route development—laying the professional groundwork for China's high‑altitude mountaineering.
Through systematic investments in coaching systems, youth talent development, professional event platforms, outdoor education and public engagement, we connect national teams, universities, communities and mountain‑sport societies. We believe and observe that through sustained strategic investment and professional resource support, the next generation of mountaineers, rock climbers and mountain athletes now possess greater opportunities to venture into the wilderness and onto the international stage.
KAILAS Unclimbed Peaks Programme
Since its launch in 2006, the Unclimbed Peaks Programme has pursued the exploration of untouched summits—supporting climbers in opening new routes and advancing China’s high‑altitude climbing progression. To date, the programme has supported more than 120 climbers, completed 66 expeditions and contributed to over 50 first ascents and new‑route achievements.The programme’s mission extends beyond summiting. It has gradually built a comprehensive archive of imagery, geography, climate, humanistic context and ecological data—creating a valuable foundation for scientific research and environmental protection.
These peaks have become symbols of aspiration for climbers, guiding them toward exploration, growth and self‑discovery. Meanwhile, KAILAS actively champions the legacy of the climbing spirit, supporting enthusiasts eager to explore mountaineering and experience the resilience, responsibility and courage it embodies. We believe that every breakthrough achieved without reaching the summit carves new pathways for humanity's exploration of frontiers, serving as a spiritual beacon that inspires more souls to venture into the unknown.
Climber Zhou Song
“From a follower to a leader, that was a significant transformation. Exploring unclimbed peaks is, in truth, a journey of personal growth.”
Competition and Athlete Support
By the end of 2024, KAILAS has supported more than 100 mountaineers and influential mountain‑sport and trail‑running athletes around the world.
We believe that every athlete is not only a challenger on the competitive stage but also a messenger of outdoor values and responsible exploration.Through systematic event support, coaching development and athlete training, KAILAS is steadily building global influence in sports such as mountaineering, trail running, rock climbing and ice climbing. It continues to inspire more people to embrace the outdoors, challenge their limits and achieve personal breakthroughs.
Mountaineer Support
Since its inception, KAILAS has supported nearly a hundred mountain outdoor athletes, climbers, ice climbers and mountaineers from around the world. They are not only pioneers in outdoor mountaineering, but also the true embodiment of the philosophy of ‘humanity and responsibility’. Through its collaboration with these athletes, KAILAS continues to inject tangible action and international dialogue into core ESG issues such as diversity and inclusion, environmental advocacy, and women's empowerment.
Trail‑Running Athlete Support
KAILAS recognises the importance of professional standards and high‑quality races in ensuring sustainable growth in outdoor sports. Since its founding, KAILAS has organised, co‑hosted and sponsored more than 400 major domestic and international trail‑running events every year—such as TORX, KAILAS Moganshan, Northeast 100, Shenzhen 100 and Four‑Sisters Mountain Ultra (UTMS).
A total of 56 elite athletes from around the world have joined the FUGA team roster, including over 10 world‑class runners, 26 national‑level athletes and 11 ultra‑distance specialists.
Youth Development Support
The FUGA Youth Development Programme helps emerging runners access professional‑level coaching, with two open recruitment cycles each year.
Selected athletes receive structured training covering fitness, nutrition, psychology and environmental adaptation, as well as opportunities to train alongside world‑class runners.
Our Actions
In 2012, KAILAS launched the ‘Rock China’ public welfare initiative and established the Rock China Fund, to support teams of elite climbers from China and abroad in continuously exploring and developing China's untapped rock areas. This initiative promotes the conservation of China's natural rock resources and the sustainable utilisation of climbing sites, while exploring ways to transform these areas into attractive rock climbing destinations. It aims to create a richer and more vibrant mountain sports ecosystem for local communities and enthusiasts, while also providing new employment opportunities and economic support for local residents.
Protection of Natural Resources
When establishing new climbing routes on rock faces, the Seeking Rock China team employs manual techniques and specialised equipment to minimise environmental impact, thereby avoiding damage to pristine forests, rock formations, and ecosystems. Concurrently, the team undertakes the responsibility of regularly maintaining and replacing ageing bolts, ensuring the safety and reliability of both new and established routes while reducing resource wastage.
Community Collaboration and Inclusive Accessibility
Every climbing route developed by Seeking Rock China is a collaborative achievement with local communities, serving as a valuable platform for fostering cross-community exchange and stimulating local economic growth. The [Seeking Rock China Fund] empowers individuals and grassroots organisations, supporting greater participation in route development and maintenance. This strengthens the cohesion of the climbing community while driving community development in mountain outdoor destinations. To date, KAILAS has supported over 21,000 applications for bolting kits, enabling more enthusiasts to contribute to climbing route development. Popularising climbing — Over 12 years, Seeking Rock China has brought climbing to 53 cities, developing nearly 2,000 routes and installing more than 7,000 bolts. Graded routes ensure climbers at all levels can participate safely.
The Popularisation of Rock Climbing
Over the past 12 years, Seek Rock China has worked tirelessly to bring rock climbing to 53 cities nationwide, establishing nearly 2,000 routes and installing over 7,000 bolts. Graded routes ensure an accessible experience for climbers at all levels, driving the sport's widespread adoption.
Hanging Plaque Guardian
Preserving rock faces and enjoying safe climbing requires the collective participation of every climber. The bolts anchoring the walls bear witness to climbing culture's history while shouldering the vital responsibility of safeguarding climbers' safety. The ‘Hanging Plate Guardian’ initiative provides outdoor enthusiasts with a platform to learn about, discuss, and engage in rock face development, maintenance, and clearance. This empowers every climber to become a responsible and committed “Hanging Plate Guardian”.
Coverage: 53 cities Developed routes: 2,000+ Number of districts covered: 7,000+
Summer of Seeking Cliffs
As an extension of the ‘Seeking Cliffs in China’ initiative, KAILAS launched the ‘Summer of Seeking Cliffs’ programme in 2023, inviting fellow climbers to revisit established climbing areas and undertake maintenance, reorganisation and renewal of classic routes. These historic sites hold the memories and spirit of a generation of climbers, serving as the very roots of climbing culture. By involving the new generation, these routes are not only revitalised but also become conduits for passing down experience, technique, and ethos across generations. This initiative avoids the over-exploitation of new resources, upholding sustainability in environmental terms. Simultaneously, it allows young climbers to experience the depth of climbing culture through authentic routes, fostering values of respect for nature and reverence for the mountains.
Through ‘Summer of Rock Exploration’, KAILAS seeks to strike a balance between innovation and preservation, ensuring climbing's future is grounded in both substance and warmth.
Lead Climbing Mountain School & Outdoor Education
We believe the future of mountain sports lies not only in elite competitions and professional mountaineers, but also in shaping the younger generation's understanding of nature and their capacity for action. KAILAS has collaborated with numerous universities nationwide to establish a systematic mountain outdoor education pathway, supporting the collective growth of outdoor club leaders, young educators and ordinary students alike. This initiative injects broad and sustainable vitality into the mountain sports ecosystem. Through this educational framework, we aim to lower barriers to participation in mountain sports, advancing both their ‘socialisation and popularisation’ alongside ‘professional cultivation’. This builds a comprehensive talent pipeline spanning universities, clubs, and educators, laying a solid foundation for the preservation and development of China's mountain culture. Simultaneously, our instructors embody the sporting ethos of ‘challenging oneself, fostering teamwork, and respecting nature,’ continually inspiring a new generation of young people to achieve growth and transformation through mountain sports.
Pillar of the Leading University Ecosystem
COACH K Development Programme
KAILAS is committed to advancing the accessibility and professionalism of mountain sports education through its Coach K Development Programme. This initiative not only provides systematic training and technical support to coaches nationwide but also enhances their professional competence and sustainable teaching capabilities through modules covering curriculum design, safety protocols, and psychological counselling. This approach promotes equitable distribution of educational resources, enabling more young people to engage with and develop a passion for mountain sports within safe, scientifically sound environments. By establishing standardised training systems and assessment mechanisms, it drives industry standardisation and accountability, ensuring participants adhere to safety and sustainability principles throughout their development. Simultaneously, it provides schools, outdoor communities, and local groups with a replicable, long-term training model, gradually fostering a virtuous cycle. This programme not only cultivates a cohort of youth coaches with international perspectives but also plays a proactive role in social empowerment and future talent development, injecting enduring momentum into the sustainable growth of mountain sports.
Climbing Hope Star
A Sustainable Pathway from Interest Enrichment to Talent Development
In 2009, KAILAS and the Chinese Mountaineering Association jointly launched the ‘Hope Stars’ youth development programme. This initiative promotes the nationwide participation of young people in rock climbing through experiential activities, selection processes and competitions. It aims to popularise youth rock climbing, nurture China's future climbing stars, and inject robust momentum into the sport's development. This represents a key implementation of KAILAS's ‘social responsibility’ and ‘talent sustainability’ strategies.
By the end of 2024, the ‘Stars of Hope’ programme had organised over 350 events, attracting more than 50,000 participants. It has nurtured outstanding young climbing talents including Pan Yufei, Zhang Yuetong, Song Yiling, and Luo Zhilu. All these athletes embarked their journeys from the Stars of Hope initiative, progressing to compete on the world's premier climbing circuits where they have achieved remarkable results. This programme continues to inject a steady stream of fresh talent into the mountain sports community.