We caught up with Kenny Ly from the Masterhand Rock Climbing Club to find out more about the climbing scene in Shanghai. If you can master your fear of heights, this might be the sport for you.

How long have you been climbing?
My first experience was on an artificial wall at some carnival when I was really young, maybe 6 or 7 years old. I nearly fell out of the harness because it was too big for me. After that I was hooked, but I never really got the chance to climb until I came to Shanghai, simply because of the cost. Here, I can climb all day, with rentals, for only RMB45.

Why did you get hooked so quickly?
Rock climbing is addictive. It’s like one of those annoying flash games on the internet that you can’t stop playing until you beat it. The more you attempt a wall and fail, the more you want to try again and conquer it. And, once you do, it feels great.

How strong do climbers have to be?
Rock climbing is, in a lot of ways, very intuitive. If you ever climbed a tree as a kid, you’ve got the basics. Unlike what some people think, rock climbing isn’t all about strength. Much of it is technique as well, and friends help with that. While you’re on the wall, your friends on the ground can see stuff you can’t and point you in the right direction. It’s an awesome workout–it helps you work on your upper body, lower body, core and your balance.

Do you ever climb outside?
I enjoy being in the gym. You can climb year round without freezing your fingers off but, hey, you just can’t beat fresh air, dirt under your fingernails and real rock under your hands. The Masterhand Rock Climbing Club organizes climbing trips to Zhejiang, Hangzhou, Guilin and a bunch of other places. I haven’t been able to join them on any of their trips yet, but I hope to soon.

Think you might want to give rock climbing a go? Check out Masterhand Rock Climbing Club for more info.