A ceremony was held on March 12 at Yantian’s Ontherock gym to launch a public benefit program, which will feature 22 free events this year aimed at encouraging more locals to try rock climbing.

During the ceremony, attended by local government officials, the gym was officially designated as the district's climber training base. Co-organized by Yantian’s cultural, sports and tourism authorities and the gym, the program will offer free lectures, training, and experience sessions to generate interest in the sport.

At the event, two local students — 9-year-old Cao Wenyi and 12-year-old Liu Lilu — quickly ascended the speed climbing wall to unveil a banner bearing the program’s official name: "首攀计划" ("Begin Your Ascent").

Cao, a member of the Yantian Youth Climbing Team, previously secured second place in national youth speed and lead climbing competitions. Liu, who started climbing just a month ago, has shown a natural gift for the sport.

The newly built gym is managed by a professional team and features advanced, fully equipped facilities, including a speed climbing wall, a lead climbing wall, and a bouldering area, all designed to international competition standards.

The gym's lead designer, Hugo Chinaglia, also designed the climbing venue for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The initial route setting was led by Akito Matsushima, a Paris Olympic Games route setter and a World Cup bouldering silver medalist.

As Yantian’s first indoor climbing gym and the tallest indoor climbing facility in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, it offers multi-level training and experiential services for various age groups.

The gym has already introduced a weekly half-day free experience for students from Meisha Kindergarten, Meisha Primary School, and Yantian Foreign Languages School. Plans are in place to gradually expand this initiative across the district, aiming to promote climbing among local youth and nurture talented young climbers. Since beginning trial operations on Feb. 1, the gym has attracted nearly 1,000 climbing enthusiasts.

The gym is part of the Ontherock sports camp, an outdoor sports center promoting a variety of recreational activities. The Shenzhen Cycling Association has also set up its base at the camp, offering cyclists a one-stop service that includes equipment supplies, bike repair and maintenance, and rentals.