Chinese Woman Climbing 100m Cliff Barehanded... A Sad Secret Revealed

Learn Rock Climbing Passed Down from Tradition at 'Gojidae Store'

A woman in her 40s from China has become a sensation for climbing up and down a 30-story high cliff using only her bare hands, without any protective gear. This woman belongs to the Miao ethnic minority in China, and barehanded cliff climbing is a unique custom among them.

The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) recently shared the story of Luo Dengpin (43), nicknamed the "Chinese Spider Woman," who gained fame on Chinese social media platforms. Luo Dengpin is from the Ziyun Miao and Bouyei Autonomous County in Guizhou Province, southwestern China, and is known as a practitioner of the Miao tradition of barehanded rock climbing.

Miao climbers ascend and descend cliffs with their bare hands and no protective equipment. The cliff height reaches about 108 meters, equivalent to a 30-story apartment building. Even within the Miao community, those who hone rock climbing skills are now very few, and Luo Dengpin is said to be the last female practitioner.

Luo Dengpin climbing a 108m cliff with bare hands [Image source=Weibo capture]

In fact, the Miao rock climbing tradition originated from a past "burial culture." They lived in remote mountainous areas and had a unique custom of moving the deceased's body to high ground for burial. Burying the body in a high place allowed the deceased to overlook their ancestral homeland. They also wove boat-shaped coffins to symbolize the soul’s journey back home later.

SCMP added that the "high-altitude burial" tradition also had practical reasons. Due to living in limited spaces, they lacked arable land, so burying bodies on high ground helped preserve precious farmland.

[Image source=Weibo capture]

The rock climbing tradition passed down through generations is now almost forgotten. However, Luo Dengpin has steadfastly remained a practitioner since she started climbing with her father at age 15. Initially, it was for livelihood purposes such as gathering medicinal herbs or collecting bird droppings from cliff nests to make fertilizer. But now, she feels pride as a traditional practitioner.

Luo Dengpin told the media, "Everyone thought only men could do (rock climbing), but I was taught that men and women are equal. After doing it many times, my hands hardened and I got used to it."

She also emphasized, "Visitors from outside want to see how we do this work. I perform rock climbing demonstrations and earn money. The income is not much, but I am proud of the nickname 'Spider Woman.'"